It is full of penetrating insights about a man who was not just one of the greatest composers in the history of music, but also a. Sep 06, 2001 wagner was one of the few major composers who studied philosophy seriously. Wagner and german idealism art and music roger scruton the tristan chord. A profoundly searching investigation that reveals for the first time the philosophical foundations of wagners artrichard wagners devotees have ranged from the.
Bryan magee the book follows wagners enthusiastic youthful socialism to the nearbuddhistic resignation of his final years and always in terms first and foremost of the effect of the ideas on his operas. Nietzsche, and from being the object of whole books of invective from. In this radically clarifying book, bryan magee traces wagners intellectual quests, from his youthful embrace of revolutionary socialism to the nearbuddhist resignation of his final years. But without his work, many of us would have grown up without any contact with philosophy at all and with no sense of how compelling it can be. Magee passed away on friday, and it is worth reflecting on why he had such an enormous impact. Richard wagner s devotees have ranged from the subtlest minds proust to the most brutal hitler. Sep 06, 2008 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Aspects of wagner by bryan magee goodreads share book. Magees 1998 book the story of thought also published as the story of philosophy would also cover the history of western philosophy. Bryan magees the tristan chord countercurrents publishing.
Jun 27, 2001 bryan magee has compiled a wonderful book on both the history and the actual tenets of philosophy throughout, mostly, the western world. In 1968 bryan magee published an influential little book called aspects of wagner now in an oup paperback and then, in 1983, a magisterial work, the philosophy of schopenhauer also now in an oup paperback. Ralph blumenau devours bryan magees new book about wagner the philosophical composer. The enduring fascination with his works arises not only from his singular fusion of musical innovation and theatrical daring, but also from his largely overlooked engagement with the boldest investigations of modern philosophy. Oct 12, 2001 wagner and philosophy, by brian magee penguin. Magee s most important influence on society remains his efforts to make philosophy accessible to the layman.
Bryan edgar magee is a noted british broadcasting personality, politician, poet, and author, best known as a popularizer of philosophy. Wagner and philosophy just wagner and philosophy in the uk combines two of my favorite subjects into an informative, stimulating, and highly readable book. The enduring fascination of his works arises not only from his singular fusion of musical innovation and theatrical daring, but also from his largely overlooked engagement with the boldest investigations of modern philosophy. Bryan magee presents a penetrating analysis of wagner s work, concentrating on how his sensational and deeply erotic music uniquely expresses the repressed and highly charged contents of the psyche. Wagner and philosophy by bryan magee the tristan chord. Wagner and philosophy by bryan magee issue 34 philosophy now.
He is also immensely knowledgeable of music, opera, drama, and in particular the works of richard wagner. A goodnatured, intelligent and musical friend of mine who once came to a party. Richard wagners devotees have ranged from the subtlest minds pr. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Bryan magee places the composers artistic development in the context of the philosophy of his age, and gives us the first detailed and comprehensive study of the close links between wagner and the philosophers from the premarxist socialists to feuerbach and schopenhauer. Wagner and philosophy by magee, bryan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Magee has a particular interest in the life, thought and music of richard wagner and has written two notable books on the composer and his world aspects of wagner 1968. Magee smiled grandpaternally back at me from where he sat, inside a small armsreach fortress of books and papers, wielding a copy of dumas the size of housebrick. Bryan magees aspects of wagner, a slender volume of 102 pages, is an ideal place to begin if you want to learn what the fuss is about richard wagner. Among his internationally acclaimed books are the story of philosophy, the philosophy of schopenhauer, and aspects of wagner. In wagner and philosophy brian magee addresses the prejudices and misunderstandings surrounding and impacting the public conception of the german composer. Bryan magee, who has died aged 89, was hardly a typical member of the political class of the late 20th century. Jan 18, 2001 discover book depositorys huge selection of bryan magee books online.
Magee was a writer, broadcaster and politician without a major original philosophical book to his name. But the book confronts wagners antisemitism headon, and also the hotly debated question of whether or not this, too, gets. Wagner and philosophy 2001, amounts to an intellectual biography of this most multifaceted of. A polymath and a compulsive communicator, he was a bestselling author with more. Bryan magee has had a distinguished and varied career as scholar, broadcaster and parliamentarian. The philosophy of schopenhauer first published in 1983, substantially revised and extended, 1997. Aspects of wagner bryan magee oxford university press. Wagner was one of the few major composers who studied philosophy seriously. Magee, a british writer on philosophy, music, and theater criticism and a former member of parliament, has made a remarkable contribution to the already extensive literature on the life and works of. His previous books include aspects of wagner 1968, on blindness with martin milligan, 1996, the philosophy of schopenhauer 1997 and confessions of a philosopher 1997. Magee shows how abstract thought can permeate music and stimulate creations of great power and beauty. Despite some distinctly warped views, lack of clarity here and there, unpleasant smell of prejudices from time to time, bryan magees wagner and philosophy is a fine book and a must read for every serious wagnerian. Books wagner and philosophy by bryan magee ralph blumenau devours bryan magees new book about wagner the philosophical composer in 1968 bryan magee published an influential little book called aspects of wagner now in an oup paperback and then, in 1983, a magisterial work, the philosophy of schopenhauer also now in an oup paperback.
Wagner and philosophy by bryan magee penguin books australia. In this radically clarifying book, bryan magee traces wagner s. Bryan magees aspects of wagner countercurrents publishing. Bryan magee places the composers artistic development in. Mar 02, 2018 richard wagner is discussed in relation with hegel and german idealism, the philosophy of revolution, schopenhauer, nietzsche, and theodor adorno. He does so smoothly, elegantly, and with scrupulous honesty. Bryan magee, who died last month, had a career of intimidating sweep. He is well known for two popular bbc television series on philosophy. Starting from the earliest greek philosophy right up to the present day although current philosophers are not considered given their, as yet, unknown claims to fame, to be decided by future generations. Bryan magee places the composers artistic development in the context of the philosophy of his age, and gives us the first detailed and comprehensive study of the close links between wagner and the.
He attended keble college, oxford where he studied history as an undergraduate and then philosophy, politics and economics in one year. He is also an admirer of the philosophy of karl popper on whom he has written an introduction modern. Wagner and philosophy all english book pdf bryan magee. Sep 06, 2008 author of story of philosophy, popper, aspects of wagner, the philosophy of schopenhauer, the tristan chord, the democratic revolution, the great philosophers, modern british philosophy bryan magee open library.
He wrote books on philosophy and no doubt could have made an academic career if he had not been a composer. Wagners philosophers idealism, revolution, schopenhauer. Bryan edgar magee was a noted british broadcasting personality, politician, poet, and author, best known as a popularizer of philosophy. Jul 26, 2019 bryan magee, who has died aged 89, was hardly a typical member of the political class of the late 20th century. Bryan magee born april 12, 1930, british anchor, writer. A polymath and a compulsive communicator, he was a bestselling author with more than 20 books to his name, an awardwinning broadcaster and telly don, a philosopher, authority on richard wagner. Jul 28, 2019 the composer richard wagner was another passion. Bryan magee has had a distinguished career as a university professor, music and theater critic, member of parliament, and author. Magee explains the life and works of wagner in terms of wagners political.
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