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“Play on, Invisible Harps”: Musicality in James Joyce’s Chamber Music
XIE Jingbeining
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2025.10.009
Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
James Joyce’s poetry collection, Chamber Music, which he defines as “chambermade music,” epitomizes his literary pursuit of musicality and resonates with his dual identity as both a lyric poet and an Irishman. Musicality in Chamber Music can first be seen in allusions to musical elements which contribute to the musical revelation of emotions. Furthermore, repetition pervades Chamber Music both in themes and structure, resonating with the cyclical nature of Irish music. Under the influence of the Irish Revival, Joyce creatively navigates the realm of musical lyrics, draws a balance between English and Irish traditions, and provides a seminal model for his further exploration of musical writing in his later masterpieces.
James Joyce, Chamber Music, musicality
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, October 2025, Vol. 15, No. 10, 799-804
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