The Sources and Text of Richard Wagner's Opera Die Meistersinger We Nürnberg (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Anna Maude Bowen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0483163449 ISBN 13: 9780483163447

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Discover the roots of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger and how a 19th‑century scholar interprets medieval singing culture for modern audiences.

This nonfiction study traces the long history of Minnesong and Mastersong, explains their social context, and analyzes Wagner’s imaginative use of historical material.

The work situates the masters and burgher life of Nuremberg within a broader literary and musical tradition, clarifying how Wagner reshapes legend, ceremony, and song for dramatic effect. It also explains the rules, forms, and language of Mastersong as they appear in the opera, helping readers see what is traditional and what is Wagner’s invention.

• How Minnesong evolved into Mastersong and what that means for the opera’s world
• Wagner’s artistry in balancing historical detail with dramatic needs
• Key terms, forms, and singing practices referenced in the score
• How language and meter contribute to the authentic feel of the work

Ideal for readers interested in Wagner, musicology, and the cultural background behind Die Meistersinger.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0483163449
• ISBN 13: 9780483163447
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 101