Heidegger's Fugue: Musicality and the Heraclitus Lectures. Issue 2 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kopf, James M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aesthetics and phenomenology. Volume 8:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 85
• Page End: 98
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Phenomenology -- Heidegger -- fugue -- philosophy of music -- La Monte Young -- environmental philosophy; Phenomenology -- Periodicals; Phenomenology and art -- Periodicals; Aesthetics -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Esthetica; Fenomenologie; Aesthetics; Electronic journals; Phenomenology; Phenomenology and art; Periodicals; 701.17
• DOI: 10.1080/20539320.2021.2083363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-9320

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Martin Heidegger rarely explicitly dealt with the topic of music. The Heraclitus lectures, delivered in 1943 and 1944, offer a notable exception. Heidegger here speaks openly of the "Lied der Erde" ("Earth's song"). Most intriguing, perhaps, though, is the use of Fügung in relation to ἁρμονία ( harmonia ), which he links to understanding φὑσις ( physis; the "emerging" character of the world) and being. Translated by Assaiante and Ewegen as "jointure, " Fügung bears a connection with the German Fuge, which contains the double meaning of joint and fugue. Drawing on a close reading of the Heraclitus lectures, this paper will explore the dual nature of Fügung with an eye towards laying the groundwork for understanding a latent musicality within Heidegger's larger corpus, centering around perceiving, fugue, and their implications for listening to the "Earth's song, " which will be read in literal, environmental terms as the soundscape or, perhaps, musical manifold.