TALKING PICTURES, SOUNDING SENSE

When narrative in literature and poetry has the capacity to inspire the eye and ear with equal force, composers and painters alike are found rushing to re-deliver that impact in the language of paint and music. This is how it looks, they say, or, this is how it sounds; and what they say suggests that music and art created from the same poem or story can often reward our attention to both of them at once. Talking Pictures, Sounding Sense will offer some striking examples of this from both art and music. Here are five especially memorable moments when painters and composers (sometimes more than one of each) have met like moths round thecandle-flame of the same narrative.

OUT OF THE STRONG CAME FORTH SWEETNESS

Samson’s début is his Bible life-story. Milton’s poem finds him already blind and in prison. Art and music fall upon the shearing, the betrayal, and the demolition, but to do the great inner drama justice too, Mantegna, Rubens and Rembrandt have to balance colour and shadow as Handel and Saint-Saëns do voice against orchestra in this dark tale.

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund