The Oxford Handbook of Faust in Music

Since its emergence in sixteenth-century Germany, the magician Faust's quest has become one of the most profound themes in Western history. Though variants are found across all media, few adaptations have met with greater acclaim than in music. Bringing together more than two dozen authors in a foundational volume, The Oxford Handbook of Faust in Music testifies to the spectacular impact the Faust theme has exerted over the centuries. The Handbook's three-part organization enables readers to follow the evolution of Faust in music across time and stylistic periods. Part I explores symphonic, choral, chamber, and solo Faust works by composers from Beethoven to Schnittke. Part II discusses the range of Faustian operas, and Part III examines Faust's presence in ballet and musical theater. Illustrating the interdisciplinary relationships between music and literature and the fascinating tapestry of intertextual relationships among the works of Faustian music themselves, the volume suggests that rather than merely retelling the story of Faust, these musical compositions contribute significant insights on the tale and its unrivalled cultural impact.

Lorna Fitzsimmons is Professor of Humanities at California State University, Dominguez Hills, in Los Angeles. She has taught an interdisciplinary course on Faustian literature, music, and visual culture for over a decade. She is also the editor of Lives of Faust. The Faust Theme in Literature and Music. A Reader; International Faust Studies: Adaptation, Reception, Translation; Goethe's Faust and Cultural Memory: Comparatist Interfaces; and Faust Adaptations from Marlowe to Aboudoma and Markland.

Charles McKnight is Associate Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He holds a PhD in Music from Cornell University, specializing in Russian music. A professional trombonist in New York City for eighteen years, he performed with ballet orchestras such as the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet. As an academic he teaches music history, music theory, and Russian studies.