Artistic Anthropology of Francois Delsarte in its Historical Perspective

Main Article Content

Elena V. Pridanova

Abstract

The article is aimed at a research understanding of the concept of “expressiveˮ person F. Delsarte, created in the context of the increased interest of the 19th century second half European musical community representatives to anthropological problems. An outstanding artist – a singer, a vocal teacher, a stage theorist interprets an art work as a way of self-knowledge and self-expression by a person of his nature in its best manifestations (“art as an illuminated nature”). He considers the possibilities of plasticity, voice and word in the unity of physical, emotional and intellectual manifestations of a person. In modern holistic concepts, scholars again return to the ideas of the psychophysical integrity of a person, revising, in particular, the role of corporeality in the cognition and thinking. These tendencies are in line with Delsarte՚s ideas about the fundamental role of gesture in the process of thought formation and expression. Thus, the theoretical significance of the concept, considered in the article acquires a new relevance, suggesting going beyond the established musicological methodology into the sphere of interdisciplinary research. The purpose of the article is to reveal the features of the artistic and anthropological approach to musical art in the second half of the 19th century by using the example of F. Delsarte theory and practice in its historical perspective.


Keywords: F. Delsarte, expressive person, musical and theatrical art, gesture, artistic anthropology, musical science, interdisciplinary research.

Article Details

How to Cite
Pridanova Е. В. (2021). Artistic Anthropology of Francois Delsarte in its Historical Perspective. Music Scholarship / Problemy Muzykal’noj Nauki, 45(4), 58–66. Retrieved from https://musicscholar.ru/index.php/PMN/article/view/1309
Section
History of Western Music
Author Biography

Elena V. Pridanova, Nizhny Novgorod State M.I. Glinka Conservatory

PhD (Arts), Associate Professor at the Music History Department, Deputy Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Assistant Internship