Absolute music: the history of an idea

Orpheus and Pythagoras

Isomorphic resonance

Expression. The separation of powers ; Music and language ; Music as language ; Mimesis

Beauty

Form. Form as number ; Form as content

Autonomy. Material autonomy ; Ethical autonomy

Disclosure. The composer as oracle ; Beautiful insights ; Cosmic insights

Wagner's "absolute" music

Hanslick's "pure" music. Hanslick the conventional ; Hanslick the radical ; Hanslick the ambivalent

Liszt's "program" music

Polemics

Reconciliation

Qualities recast. Expression ; Beauty ; Form ; Autonomy ; Disclosure ; Epilogue : since 1945.