This study explores the manifestation of piety and sensuality in the operas Manon
and Thaïs by Jules Massenet. These two themes are prevalent in Massenet’s
operas as well as his oratorios, although it is not clear why this is so. His admiration
and love for the human voice and his ability to compose beautiful melodies are
reflected in the fact that he composed primarily for the lyric theatre. Piety and
sensuality in Manon and Thaïs are articulated predominantly by the eponymous
female characters. In order to understand the characters and the motivations that
steer their lives, it was necessary to gain an understanding of the socio-historical
context of piety and sensuality. This understanding was reached through means of
a traditional literature review, which also shed light on the nineteenth-century
Zeitgeist and its influence on Massenet and his work.
This is a hermeneutic study conducted in light of an interpretive paradigm. The
libretti of Manon and Thaïs were explored by means of a close reading to identify
sections dominated by piety and sensuality. Following the example of Lawrence
Kramer, a combination of close reading and analysis was used to look at the ways
in which piety and sensuality are articulated in the music.
It became clear that Massenet used various compositional techniques to
differentiate between piety and sensuality in his music scores. These techniques
were applied with such skill that a listener can identify these two themes through
close listening. / DMus (Performance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15572 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Stapela, Hanli |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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