BEYOND PHILOSOPHY: A PERFORMER’S INSIGHT INTO FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE’S VOCAL MUSIC

Abstract

This study examines ten German Lieder composed by Friedrich Nietzsche between 1864 and 1865, preceding his first philosophical work, The Birth of Tragedy (1872), which marked his steps as a philosopher. Interestingly, in The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche explores the origins and nature of art through two opposing yet complementary forces: the Apollonian and the Dionysian. However, even before articulating these ideas, Nietzsche sought to experiment with and embody his philosophical concepts through music, particularly in his lieder. His early compositions reveal an engagement with key philosophical themes that would later shape his thought, expressed through musical elements such as language, romantic poetry, melody and rhythm, as well as dissonance and irony. By analyzing these works, this study aims to demonstrate how Nietzsche used music as a medium to explore and realize his emerging philosophical ideas and overcome his life sufferings from his youth.