ABSTRACT

Music has long ago been called “the language of the emotions”, and the meaning of music has sometimes been interpreted as consisting in the emotions or even ideas expressed. Such interpretations have seemed to be implied in the sayings of some great composers themselves, and of some music critics. Another familiar interpretation is that of Schopenhauer, that music is the “objectification of the will”, a view said to have been followed by Wagner. On the other hand there have been those who have said music expresses nothing but itself, and that it would not be music if it tried to do so.