REFLECTION OF THE EVOLUTION OF KARL ORFF'S VIEWS AS A COMPOSER AND A CITIZEN IN THE ARTWORKS DURING THE TOTALITARIAN REGIME GERMANY IN THE 30 - 40'S OF THE 20 TH CENTURY

Abstract

The aim of the study. The article analyzes Karl Orff's attitude to the ruling regime in the dynamics of his work, namely, musical compositions, their plot and imagery. The tasks of the article are an overview of the situation of music and musicians in the Third Reich, highlighting the key moments of Karl Orff's activity in the era of German totalitarianism (in the context of Orff’s interaction with the authorities, or its absence), analysis of the composer's work in this period. The research methodology consists of: the cultural-historical method – the study of processes in the culture / counter-culture of Germany that took place under the influence of totalitarian power and ideology, with the aim of realizing the severity of the situation of artists in the conditions of strict censorship; cultural biography method – a study of the life and work of Karl Orff during the dictatorship, with the aim of developing an idea of the interaction of the artist with the totalitarian government; the musicological and cultural method – the analysis of the main musical and theatrical works of the composer of the era of totalitarianism – in order to draw conclusions about Orff's true attitude to the German dictatorship; the comparativist method – a comparison of Karl Orff's main musical and theatrical works – in order to trace the evolution of Karl Orff's views as a citizen. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that Karl Orff's works, which outwardly have nothing to do with politics, are subject to analysis purely as carriers of certain social and political views of the artist.
Conclusions. Despite the fact that Karl Orff did not openly express his political views, however, the fact is that he carried humanistic and people-centered ideas throughout his life and during the reign of totalitarianism is stated, which is already a kind of artistic and moral opposition to the misanthropic regime. Moreover, the theme and content of the artworks testify to the evolution of Karl Orff's views. After all, from simply proclaiming the ideas of goodness and humanity, the artist goes on to show an active struggle for good against evil, although this struggle is not carried out by forceful methods, but by using a sharp mind and folk wisdom.