Topic: Despair in music?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

A detached despair, or a despairing detachment... Quite the oxymoron, honestly. 

I see no contradiction. The definition of dispair is a "complete loss or absence of hope." That would naturally manifest itself as a detachment from the world.

[Mandryka]

Here's a medieval interpretation of despair

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/OuK55mm73kY" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/OuK55mm73kY</a>

[Florestan]

I see no contradiction. The definition of dispair is a "complete loss or absence of hope." That would naturally manifest itself as a detachment from the world.

Naturally? Hmmmm.... Have you ever felt a complete loss or absence of hope?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Naturally? Hmmmm.... Have you ever felt a complete loss or absence of hope?

Yes, but that is not a topic for this web site.

[Florestan]

Yes, but that is not a topic for this web site.

Agreed, it's too personal and intimate a matter toi be discussed publicly. I might have overstepped a red line, in which case I sincerely apologize.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Agreed, it's too personal and intimate a matter toi be discussed publicly. I might have overstepped a red line, in which case I sincerely apologize.

Not a problem.

[Florestan]

Not a problem.

Thank you.

[Ten thumbs]

I have recently been playing once more a piano piece that seems to epitomise despair (and also loneliness). Do not complain of overblown romanticism, this is bare bones music: Heller, Op.128 no.4, Einsame Blume. It is marked 'Sehr langsam' and begins with a bare melody, continually rising only to fall again; this is repeated with variation and is followed by rising phrases, each higher than the previous and each terminating in a dissonance. The music then drops to a repeat of the melody, now with minimal accompaniments after which the rising phrases re-occur, this time dropping from a high climactic note and a return is made almost reluctantly (despair indeed) to the opening bare melody leading to two bleak final chords.