Musikästhetik

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This book serves as an introduction to the esthetics of music, a topic once central to music discourse in the nineteenth century but now sometimes viewed as mere speculation. Nonetheless, judgments about music and musical activities are inherently based on esthetic presuppositions. The author, Carl Dahlhaus, explores the evolution of music esthetics from the mid-eighteenth century onward, employing both historical and systematic methodologies. Key themes in music are organized to reflect the historical progression and the systematic unity of essential esthetic elements. For this edition, Dahlhaus contributed an annotated bibliography, while William Austin has supplemented it with resources for English-speaking readers and provided helpful notes for students. This comprehensive study delves into the philosophy of music history, drawing from various philosophical traditions, including Enlightenment thought, French structuralism, German idealism, and Russian formalism. Dahlhaus evaluates these philosophies in relation to music history, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Notably, he gives special attention to Marxist critiques of conventional music history, identifying areas where traditional approaches remain relevant and where they require reevaluation. The extensive annotated bibliography enhances the scholarly value of this edition.