Hans Mersmann and the Analysis of the New Music
Hans Mersmann and the Analysis of the New Music

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the concept of New Music, which in the 1920s involved considerations concerning the fundamentally different character of 20th century music. It focuses on the definition of New Music from its influential proponent, Hans Mersmann, and primarily looks at the relationship of the concept of New Music to Mersmann's phenomenology based on the notion of musical forces. Whereas with his phenomenologically-based aesthetics Mersmann pursued a practically verifiable application - aesthetics applied to concrete musical works - his definition of musical analysis and theory of musical structure cast doubt on the possibility of analytical exploitation of this applied aesthetics with regard to the music of the 20th century. This uncertainty is confronted with Mersmann's analytical comments on 20th century music.

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