CULTURAL TRANSMISSION AND GLOBAL INFLUENCE IN THE GUITAR INTERPRETATION OF THE MAGIC FLUTE
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Abstract
This article explores the cultural transmission and global influence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute through its reinterpretation in classical guitar repertoire, focusing on Fernando Sor’s Variations on a Theme from The Magic Flute. As one of Mozart’s most symbolic and culturally embedded operas, The Magic Flute represents Enlightenment ideals, Freemason philosophy, and a synthesis of German folk and Italian opera styles. Its transformation into a solo guitar work by Sor exemplifies how European musical heritage traverses cultural and geographical boundaries. By analyzing the melodic structure, harmonic development, and technical performance aspects—including legato, ornaments, glissando, arpeggios, and chordal playing—this article reveals how guitar techniques serve not only as a tool of musical interpretation but also as a medium of cultural adaptation. The research highlights how global classical guitar traditions preserve, reinterpret, and transmit iconic European compositions across time and context. This investigation affirms the enduring relevance of cross-cultural music-making and its role in shaping a shared global musical culture.
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