Classical Composers as Tarot Cards

[JayBee]

Over on the Talk Classical website, someone started a thread I just noticed today, so I thought I'd share.

https://www.talkclassical.com/66238-com ... -card.html

[fire cat pickles]

Bach was THE rock star of his day, certainly no Hermit. According to the Bach Reader, he once had a warrant put for his arrest for starting sword fight with someone, someone he had called "a nanny goat bassoonist". In another incident he tore his own wig off and threw it at another organist because he disliked his playing. Bach died from a botched eye operation. The reason? He feared his failing eyesight would prevent him from performing. Does this sound like a Hermit to you?

[Papageno]

Bach was THE rock star of his day, certainly no Hermit.

I completely agree.

Osvaldo Menegazzi (Il Meneghello) / Tarocco della Musica seems at first glance to have a very astute take on this playful subject.
The deck also draws heavily on operatic themes, which should make it very well rounded.
I don't own the deck, so I have no real idea.

Bach is the Ace of Swords, which seems much more reasonable to me.

Jean-Baptiste Lully as The Devil card?.......well, he may have been a favorite at the court of Louis XIV, but still, it seems to be a bit of a stretch.

That's an interesting list, I wish I knew more about classical music, the genre is a universe unto itself.

[fire cat pickles]

Why wouldn't Niccolò Paganini be the Devil? Do these people know music?

[Papageno]

Why wouldn't Niccolò Paganini be the Devil? Do these people know music?

why Paganini?, seriously, I haven't a clue.

how about Giuseppe Tartini / "Devil's Trill Sonata"

the legend of the composition is complete nonsense, but it does make for a delicious musical mythology:

https://www.violinist.com/blog/mariog90/200810/9155/

[Charlie Brown]

Here's my take off the top of my head:

I - Bach
II - Hildegard
III - Wieck
IV - Beethoven
V - Palestrina
VI - Tchaikovsky
VII - Liszt
VIII (Justice) - Haydn
IX - Chopin
X - Cage
XI (Strength) - Schumann
XII - Schoenberg
XIII - Mahler
XIV - Feldman
XV - Mussorgsky
XVI - Wagner
XVII - Copland
XVIII - Debussy
XIX - Mozart
XX - Monteverdi
XXI - Stravinsky
Fool - Leonin

[Nemia]

Charlie Brown, I love your list and would make only one change: Satie for the Fool. Schumann as Strength is inspired!

[Charlie Brown]

Satie makes a good fool, yes. My thinking behind Leonin is the idea of the Fool's Journey and the first step. Leonin is, after all, pretty much the first person who can rightly be called a composer in the sense that we're using it.

[Parzival]

Great list through the major arcana. I think Bach and Beethoven could be switched. Mahler certainly goes with XIII, although there is so much more to his music than that. Debussy for moon (XVIII) and Mozart for sun (XIX)-- absolutely perfect! I just don't know enough about Monteverdi for Judgement.
The World? All the World of Music belongs here--no one composer is The World. Once again, Beethoven comes to mind, could belong there for one demanded choice. All in all, a great exercise Charlie Brown! Thank you for that.

[fire cat pickles]

I was thinking Bach for Magician as well!

@Papageno: Paganini (for Devil) was rumored to have sold his soul to the Devil, though.

Haydn was known as "Papa" Haydn (ie, the Pope or Papa) V Hierophant...

What about Stravinsky for Fool? I immediately thought of Petruska.

Brahms for Hermit: The man actually burned his own manuscripts, he was so private. Odd character, that one.

And I wish Oliver Messiaen fit in there somewhere.

[SaturnCeleste]

@Charlie Brown I too love your list!

[Rachelcat]

Yay! Monteverdi! My absolute favorite and perfect for Judgment!

Why Copeland for the Star? Just curious.

This is a great list, but I don't know all the composers. I'll have to check them out!