Counting the notes: Numerology in the works of Mozart, especially Die Zauberflöte

Annals of Science 49 (3):201-232 (1992)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

A non-standard contribution to Mozart's bicentenary year is made by showing that he was a refined numerologist, especially in the opera Die Zauberflöte , but also in some other works of his maturity. An extensive analysis of this opera is furnished, showing that the numerology is evident not only in the structure of the work and the design of melodies and repetitions of musical and literary motives, but even in the timing and staging of the first performance. The numerology is shown to be inherited from the Masonic tradition, to which he and his librettist Schikaneder adhered. The suggestion is made that a significant but largely unnoticed aspect of Mozart's thought should become a normal part of professionalized musicological study of Mozart. The chances for such a development are appraised sceptically in the final section

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,314

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Analytics

Added to PP
2014-01-20

Downloads
50 (#457,975)

6 months
5 (#702,808)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references