Topoi umuzycznione. Przegląd koncepcji toposu w muzyce

Abstract

This article studies topos as a concept and its influence in Western Music. For this end, the history of how the understanding of topos developed, as well as how it manifested itself, shall be presented. This term, one which originates from the Ancient Greek’s study of Rhetoric, quicklygained acceptance in many cultural contexts. It is thanks to this growth that it was promptly incorporated into ars musica. During the Middleages, this concept from the Antique era was revived, notably influencing the illustrative nature of this era’s music. The concept continued throughout the Common era proceeding, especially in reinforcing the role of affects in music. The 20th century witnessed the progression of many unique understandings of topos coindependently. The contem- porary thought of this era has presented numerous propositions of one is to understand the term that oscillates between the fields of musicology, literature studies, and philosophy. It can be said, that defining topos in the field of music will be closely tied with the emerging „transcultural” pheno- menon; an appropriate paradigm with which to observe the variables shaping European culture, such as globalization and orientalism.