[Smt-talk] Origin of Semper idem

Christoph Hust christoph.hust at gmx.de
Thu Nov 15 04:24:14 PST 2012


There is, however, a parallel "formula" devised by Schopenhauer (in W 2,508): "Die Devise der Geschichte müßte lauten: Eadem, sed aliter."

-- Christoph

Christoph Hust
HMT Leipzig

Am 15.11.2012 um 12:53 schrieb Nicolas Meeùs <nicolas.meeus at paris-sorbonne.fr>:

> It first appears on the cover of Tonwille 1 (1921), but it probably originates in Kontrapunkt II (1922 but maybe written earlier), at the beginning of each of the sections: p. 1 (three-part counterpoint), 122 (four parts), 164 (five parts and more), and 171 ("Bridges to free composition"). My page numbers refer to the German original, but the slogan appears also in the English translation. It aptly describes "prolongation" in its original meaning, the abandonment of strict counterpoint (which, for Schenker, can only be two-part counterpoint) for ever freer levels of writing.
> 
> I suppose Schenker coined it himself. At least, I found no trace of it anywhere else. 
> (He may not have been aware of the usages of "semper idem", "semper eadem" or "semper" described on http://www.thefleece.org/semper.html)
> 
> Nicolas
> 
> Nicolas Meeùs
> Université Paris-Sorbonne
> 
> 
> 
> Le 15/11/2012 05:04, Frank Samarotto a écrit :
>> Dear list,
>> 
>> I wonder if anyone knows the origin of Schenker’s famous slogan, Semper idem sed non eodem modo. (Feel free to respond privately or to the list.)
>> 
>> Frank
>> 
>> Frank Samarotto
>> Associate Professor of Music Theory
>> Jacobs School of Music
>> Indiana University Bloomington
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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