Subjective! Lecture series of András Batta
Lecture
Szervezés:
Subjective! Lecture series of András Batta
This programme is held in Hungarian.
Our whole life is surrounded by songs. We hope that every child still falls asleep to a lullaby, then learns songs in kindergarten that they will not completely forget at school either. In any case, at graduation the ancient Gaudeamus igitur can still be heard. We sing on holidays, at the beginning and end of life, at parties, on trips. This is true even of our world entangled in technology, and it has always been so. We forget songs and learn new ones. Unfortunately, the songs of classical music belong to the former category. In earlier times there were song recitals, even in the largest concert halls. Today classical song recitals are rare, which is why András Batta thought that in the seventh season of Subjective he would revive some works from this repertoire, and even look back at bourgeois concert life by leafing through the songbooks of a medieval and a Renaissance master. The first two lectures pay homage to the art of the individual song, while the third deals with a few genres that embrace the songs of the community.
“…that everyone sings or used to sing. That make hearts beat to the same rhythm. That we usually sing standing up. These include hymns, church songs, some opera choruses and, of course, the Ode to Joy, which is now a hymn, but also carries the loftiness of sacred songs – while at the same time being part of a symphony. The history and impact of some hymns are truly novel‑worthy, for example the old Austrian imperial anthem, the English anthem, the Marseillaise, or even ‘God bless the Hungarians!’ The Protestant chorales form a separate chapter: these congregational mass-songs, without which Bach’s art would be unimaginable. After the intimate songs of the previous two lectures, we turn toward the singing communities, place our hands on our hearts, and in our imagination stand among them” – András Batta.
Dear Visitor, We kindly inform you that during the event, photographs, audio recordings, and/or video recordings may be taken. By attending the event, you consent to the recording of such materials through your implied conduct.
I have deliberately left the words ‘music history’ out of the title. Although, of course, in my own case it is the basis of everything: my studies and more than 40 years of teaching. For me, however, music history is increasingly becoming a tool to see and, above all, to hear behind all great music and, inspired by the music, to imagine things that may or may not be true, but which enhance the experience of the encounter.
Subjective? Clearly it is: subjective fantasy in moments that only this deep and soaring art can create. I invoke words to accompany music, but the point lies in the gestures and in the experience of listening to music together. My aim is to draw the mysticism of music into an educational ritual. Those who want to learn from it are able to, of course, but the journey itself is more important, the thing that leads to the music and through it to its secrets. Let's slow down time together for a fleeting yet timeless hour.
Language: hungarian
