Music exoticism, Mozart, Vienna, European characters, Violin Concerto, stereotypes, enlightenment, Russians, Germans, abduction from the Seraglio, Ottoman, promiscuity, society, musical tropes, cultural circumstances
Music exoticism is a term used to identify the musical practices borrowed from other people to evoke an alien frame of reference. It depicts the manner in which music composers and, to some extent, their listeners associate either rightly or wrongly with distant countries or people. During the 18th century, Europeans used music exoticism to form stereotypes about Turks. Similarly, Turks used music exoticism to form stereotypes about Europeans. This paper discusses Mozart's works: the abduction from the Seraglio and the Violin Concerto No. 5, Mov 3, and the way they defined and characterized the Turkish and European characters in Vienna during the eighteenth century. The paper argues that Mozart used music exoticism to highlight the major differences between European and Turkish characters.
[...] They take advantage of women and use violence to dominate other people. Harems are used throughout to depict promiscuity and horrible threats to portray violence among Turks. However, as a way of civilizing the Turks through western behaviors, the former appears in the majority of operatic drama played in Europe as unsuccessful in subjugating European women. On the other hand, European characters are depicted as civilized as well as constrained by their restrictive societies. They do not subjugate women like the Turks even if they covet Turkish promiscuity (Bellman 33). [...]
[...] On the other hand, the use of trumpets that play complete tunes reinforces the European cultural practice. Mozart's music employs these differences to reinforce the stereotyping aspects regarding the Turkish society. The music depicts a Turkish Islamic society that does not care for women. It also depicts the simplistic stereotypes about Turkish land (Bellman 33). The music also creates an image of a European society that cares much about women. Musical Tropes in Violin Concerto Similarly, the above musical tropes equally informed Mozart's violin concerto even in the absence of Turkish and European characters. [...]
[...] For this reason, the Turkish males were portrayed in European operates trying to control European female, but in most cases, they were unsuccessful due to cultural differences. The abduction from the Seraglio illustrates the same concept. It involves a European lady rescued from a notorious Ottoman harem, Seraglio. The purpose was to demonstrate the Turkish civilization through learned western behaviors (Bellman 33). On the other hand, European characters are depicted as emerging from a restrictive society that does not advocate for promiscuity. They are particularly portrayed as people who do not take advantage of women like Turks do. [...]
[...] The Abduction from the Seraglio and Violin Concerto No 3rd Mov - Mozart (1782 and 1775) - Exoticism and the Enlightenment Music exoticism is a term used to identify the musical practices borrowed from other people to evoke an alien frame of reference. It depicts the manner in which music composers and, to some extent, their listeners associate either rightly or wrongly with distant countries or people. During the 18[th]century, Europeans used music exoticism to form stereotypes about Turks. Similarly, Turks used music exoticism to form stereotypes about Europeans. [...]
[...] Although the stereotypes might be false, they are demonstrated as affecting life in Vienna during the 18[th] century. Work Cited Bellman, Jonathan. The style hongrois in the music of Western Europe. Boston: Northeastern University press Print. Rice, John. Music in the eighteenth century. New York: W.W. Norton and company. Weiss, Piero. Opera: A history in the documents. Oxford: Oxford University press Print. [...]
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