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The Composer as Seer, but not Prophet

1994; UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL FLUMINENSE; Issue: 190 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0040298200003673

1980-542X

Claire Polin,

Diverse Musicological Studies

Have composers developed a new role in our time? Are creative musicians today, by the gifts given to them, foretelling Armageddon, the musical Nostrodamuses of our day? Does Steve Reich's recent opera The Cave , despite its avowed peaceful message, actually foretell the Hebron massacre of last February? Are the sombre works of the Russian composers Alfred Schnittke and Sofia Gubaidulina predicting events of a similar nature, which are just waiting to be interpreted from the musical sounds to meaningful dialogue?