Europeans During The Enlightenment Era

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During the Enlightenment period, Europeans began to see themselves as the most rational and thoughtful people of the land and particularly ruined the reputation of Turkish people using musical exoticism emphasizing and theatrical musical stereotypes of the Turkish. Exoticism popularizes a trend influenced by different ethnic groups or civilizations. Musical Exoticism in particular is very interesting. It is intriguing how, in the 1700s, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used his musical talents to help perpetuate these stereotypes of the Turkish. In musical operas, Mozart incorporated several different techniques to create different atmospheres instrumentally and vocally. Mozart easily sets the mood by changing the tempo and the volume to make musical …show more content…
During the enlightenment period, the average European was seen to be very organized, rational, and thoughtful. Emperor Joseph II was in control of what music in operas can be performed at the various venues, which helped solidify the stereotype that Turkish people and their music were violent During the early 1780s Emperor Joseph II issued a series of decrees that limited the occasions when the most elaborate church music can be performed (Rice 202). Since Joseph II had ties with the church, he exposed Europeans to the idea that Turkish people were horrible people. Emperor Joseph II dismissed the opera buffa and ballad troupes… all that remained were a troupe for the performances of spoken dramas in German and the Burgtheater orchestra, to play overtures and incidental music (Rice 202). This was just one example of how much power joseph II had and how he had control over which troupes would perform. The idea of musical exoticism developed during the Enlightenment period. Music in Europe evolved to portray the Turkish as aggressive and uncultured people; while establishing Europeans as the most rational and thoughtful peoples. With the help of Emperor Joseph II and the talents of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, this stereotype was reinforced for many years to come .This was accomplished by implementing the stereotype in operas and regulating what is performed in these

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