Chromaticism

chromatisme

Worked through in 5 videos · 7 passages.

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani starts from the Greek etymology, chrôma: in painting, the word refers to gradations of colour; in music, to the smallest intervals, such as those between two neighbouring notes on the piano1. He sees chromaticism as a subversive force present in every work, because it creates indecision about the tonality2. In Mozart, chromatic variation produces a dissonance whose resolution is delayed, and according to him this is where Mozartian voluptuousness comes from3. With Tristan und Isolde, Wagner pushes chromaticism to the extreme. Tonality is then threatened with disintegration4, and this legacy inspires the avant-gardes and prepares atonality5 6. Yet he qualifies this point: in the Tristan chord, the tonality remains uncertain for only a few bars, because the appoggiaturas end up resolving and Wagner "spreads a safety net"7. He mainly takes up this theme in connection with Nietzsche's critique of Wagner.

Summary produced automatically from 7 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.

Series · 27 Jul 2022NIETZSCHE - NO PITY FOR WAGNER • Pagani Parle Musique

1:30Use of very small intervals, which dissolves the reference points of classical music and prepares atonality.

Series · 13 Jul 2022BARTÓK - THE UNHEARD-OF SOUND • Pagani Parle Musique

4:21The exacerbated chromaticism deployed by Wagner in Tristan und Isolde dissolves tonality and inspires the avant-gardes.

Series · 6 Jul 2022TIPSY BEETHOVEN! • Pagani Parle Musique

10:09From the Greek chrôma; in painting, gradations of color; in music, the smallest intervals, for example between two adjacent notes on the piano.

Series · 7 Feb 2021Musicosophy 14. Mozart once more

26:43Chromaticism works the smallest intervals; it introduces an indecision about tonality and constitutes a subversive instance in any work.
56:42Chromatic variation produces a dissonance with delayed resolution, from which Mozartian voluptuousness emanates.

Series · 28 Jan 2021Musicosophy 12. Nietzsche (right up) against Wagner

8:51The exasperation of chromaticism stemming from Tristan brings about a threat of the dissolution of tonality.
13:50With the Tristan chord, tonality is uncertain for only a few bars: the appoggiaturas eventually resolve, Wagner casts a net.