The perception of Classical Music through the Visual Analysis of Album Covers from the Deutsche Grammophon Record Label
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26807/cav.v11i21.652Keywords:
visual culture, classical music, semiotics, graphic design, reception aestheticsAbstract
This research analyzes the impact of Deutsche Grammophon album covers on the contemporary perception of classical music. Through an interdisciplinary approach that brings together visual semiotics, reception aesthetics, and visual culture, it examines how graphic elements contribute to the construction of musical meaning. The study develops a qualitative analysis of three emblematic covers: Beethoven: 9 Symphonien, conducted by Herbert von Karajan (1963); Mahler: Symphony No. 5, with Claudio Abbado (1994); and Bach: Transcriptions, by Hélène Grimaud (2009). It considers color, typography, composition, and iconography in relation to their historical and cultural contexts. The results reveal a transformation in the representation of the performer, from symbolic authority to contemporary introspection. Album covers function as devices of cultural mediation that guide listening, activate imaginaries, and resignify the musical experience.
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