Thursday, February 5, 2009

Open Question: Mozart and Freemasonry... Part 1?

Hi, I came across an article about Mozart and Freemasonry and I was just wondering what do you think and feel about this. "Freemasonry certainly played a big role in Mozart's work as a composer. Its humanistic ideals may well have added depth of thought and feeling to his compositions." 1 ) Does it reflect in all of his works( piano Sonatas, chamber music, symphonies ), or just only The Magic Flute and Requiem? When you listen, and compare/contrast between a Piano Sonata and The magic Flute, do you hear any similarities?I hear a very Mozartian spirit in ALL his Works, whether they are Fremasonic or not. What about you? Many Scholars suggest that 'The magic Flute' was a reaction against the repressive measures of the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, who was a sworn opponent by it. Her son, Emperor Joseph II took a hard line againts freemasonry and reduce the number of Viennese Lodges. The Scholars believe that Mozart and his librettist Emanuel Schikaneder intended the opera as a kind of advertisement on behalf of Freemasonry. 2) How is The magic flute an advertisement for a Semi-Secret Society such as this?And was any effort made to ban this back in those days? And how do people figure out its indirect meaning if it was suppose to be a secret society? Figaro was suppose to be banned too, wasn't it? The Freemasons used music in their ceremonies, and adopted Rousseau's humanist views on the meaning of music. "The purpose of music in the {Masonic} ceremonies is to spread good thoughts and unity among the members" so that they may "united in the idea of innocence and joy," wrote L.F. Lenz in a contemporary edition of Masonic songs. Music should "inculcate feelings of humanity, wisdom and patience, virtue and honesty, loyalty to friends, and finally an understanding of freedom." These views suggest a musical style quite unlike the style of the Galant, which was dominant at the time. Galant style music was typically melodic with harmonic accompaniment, rather than polyphonic; and the melodic line was often richly ornamented with trills, runs and other virtuosic effects. The style promoted by the Masonic view was much less virtuosic and unornamented. Mozart's style of composition is often referred to as "humanist" and is in accord with this Masonic view of music. 3) When I hear the word " Galant" I often think of CPE Bach. How does Mozart come into the picture? 4) Some Scholars suggest that the character in the vengeful Queen of the Night is meant to be Empress Maria Theresa ! ( In the movie Amadeus -it is is Mother in Law!) while the noble High priest Sarastro is a potrait of Ignaz von Born, a leanred sceintist and Viennese Mason. How true is this?

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