Overview

Music pervades Shakespeare's work. In addition to vocal songs and numerous instrumental cues there are thousands of references to music throughout the plays and many of the poems. This book discusses Shakespeare's musical imagery according to categories defined by occurrence in the plays and poems. In turn, these categories depend on their early modern usage and significance. Thus, instruments such as lute and viol deserve special attention just as Renaissance ideas relating to musical philosophy and pedagogical theory need contextual explanation. The objective is to locate Shakespeare's musical imagery, reference and metaphor in its immediate context in a play or poem and explain its meaning. Discussion and explanation of the musical imagery suggests a range of possible dramatic and poetic purposes these musical references serve.

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9781847064950

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‘Wilson's contribution is to catalog the ""over 200 references to music and nearly 400 musical terms in Shakespeare's works""; he explains their meanings and explores their possible dramatic, poetic, and symbolic functions...This well-grounded study includes 414 notes and more than 15 pages of bibliography.'—Choice Magazine

'Wilson's contribution is to catalog the over 200 references to music and nearly 400 musical terms in Shakespeare's works ; he explains their meanings and explores their possible dramatic, poetic, and symbolic functions...This well-grounded study includes 414 notes and more than 15 pages of bibliography.'-Choice Magazine

Author Information

Christopher R.Wilson is Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Hull, UK.  He has published on English music/words topics from the late medieval period to the 20th century.

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