Prolegomena to the musical idea: Socrates musician

Abstract

This article focuses on the analysis of the complex and constant relationship between music and philosophy, between musical idea and philosophical idea: from its understanding in Platonic thought to its delimitation in Adorno’s philosophy; from philosophy as a place of true music to music as space that guides philosophy to interpretation and saves writing from a content always expressible, exposed to judgment and evaluation. In the relationship between philosophical idea and musical idea, the hermeneutical interpreter and the musical performer hold the overcoming of the dichotomy, at the opening of a mutual questioning. The author presents the dialogue between Socrates and Adorno, open from the beginning. Finally, the musical idea is not displayed in the accumulation of words, concepts or theories, but in the ability to bring out a more essential content than the sum of all words.