Western Classical Music was a cult by the middle of the 19th century. Music was at its best, and it inspired all other arts. Music, like societies themselves, experienced slow adaptations or resistance as a result of the inevitable paradigm shifts. Critique culture flourished when music was celebrated and enjoyed a prominent place in society. These criticism practices were often the catalyst for public debates. Few musical shifts have attracted more polarizing discussion than Wagner versus Brahm or Tchaikovsky against The Five of Germany, Russia. In the middle of the 19th century, there were a number of artistic divisions that were based on the views of prominent musicians from Europe. There was a conservative faction that favored traditional musical forms and a progressive faction that preferred newer forms. The period was marked by polarizing music discourse. Musical structure, limits of harmony and representational, program music versus non-representational, absolute music were the main areas of contention.In Russia, the 19th century period featured the emergence of great native classical composers. The Five, or the great handful, were the most influential of these composers. It featured the distinguished composers Mily balakirev, Modest Mossorgsky, Cesar cui, Nikolai R. Korsakov and Alexander Borodin. The Five were different from Pyotr Tachikovsky because they preferred a modern, nationalistic approach towards music to Tchaikovsky’s traditional classical music aesthetic. Tchaikovsky, who was the embodiment and champion of conservatism, preferred Russian-effected compositions. Traditional classical music followed western conventions in terms of tonality, tone progression and tonality. Although it allowed for the inclusion of Russian folk music forms, it primarily sounded Western music and kept Western standards. The Five preferred Russian-centered music. Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann, and others favored conservatism. Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt and other progressives took over the “Music of the Future”, also known as the New German School. The New German School for musical thought allowed music to be combined narratively and pictorially. Traditionalists preferred that music and traditional rules of engagement are preserved. The Wagner versus Brahm battle and Tchaikovsky/The Five arguments were both inspired by fundamental changes in how music is composed. Richard Wagner and other progressives made music that blended other arts with music, while conservatives shunned what was considered to be the adulteration. Tchaikovsky and conservatives, however, wanted to abandon western music culture influences completely. The debates revealed that all parties were influenced in large part by the music of their respective states. Wagner, Braham, Braham and many other progressives revere Ludwig Van Beethoven as a major contributor to the art of music. Tchaikovsky was also a fan of Mikhail Glinka. He is the father and founder of Russian classical music. Both rivalries resulted in compromises or relaxations of the stances. Liszt’s conservative writings of church Music had been abandoned by 1850s. Brahms’s first orchestral artwork lean more towards the German New School style than traditional. But the difference wasn’t limited to the site. It was not the only difference. The Germanic debate was sparked by key musicians who saw the stage as a perfect platform. A cultural shift towards nationalism led to the Russian one. The sacrifice of musical form for the sake of description and expression was a popular trend in Germany. It was a sign of self-heroism as well as grandiosity that progressives preferred. Russian progressives, however, tended to focus on cultural influences rather than personal influences when creating their music. The end result was the person-based music arts development. The efforts of Wagner, Liszt, and others led to strong Russian music identities. The musical arts were transformed by the new school in German musical thought. Wagner and other musicians believed that Beethoven had achieved music discipline at its maximum level. This belief catalyzed innovation in music production and creation. Progressives adopted the whole artwork concept and revolutionized music production by fusing music with drama arts to create musical dramas. They saw this as the future for the German operas. This was the new approach that Wagner’s ‘The Ring of Nibelung’ production reflects. This opera drama, which combines theatre and music, was four-cycles long. It featured the unusual use of leitmotifs. Because it was the only time that Russian musicians wanted to make their music exclusively Russian, the new Russian school of music was revolutionary. Despite the conflict in musical aesthetics that saw the best music composers clash, Russia’s musical identity was created from the discourse. And the compromise made possible. The revolution in Russian music was significant as it complemented the nationalism movement after the Napoleonic Wars. The Russian elite used French as their primary language for centuries to distinguish themselves from their lower-ranking colleagues. Also, the majority of the music they performed was composed by Germans or Italians. After Napoleon’s defeat Russia became a world political and cultural power. Following the cultural crisis, debates erupted about the elements of Russian culture within various disciplines and fields. A firm Russian Musical Identity was also created as a result of this shift. The long-standing legacy left by Wagner and Liszt are a perfect example of how important musical principles were. These changes influenced future-oriented peers and shaped many trends. The New German School’s innovative approach to music has made a significant contribution to the 20th- and 21st century cinema music. The music arts have been greatly enriched by the invention of harmonies. textures, orchestration.nal progression, compositions, and dramatization. Finally, the process of delineating the boundaries between classical and modern music, or in Russia, nationalist musical, was validated by the rich legacies that were created through lengthy discussions.

Published by treyknox
I am Trey Knox, 26 years old, and I'm a education blogger and teacher. I blog about various subjects in education, and I also teach high school English and writing.
View all posts by treyknox