Few great philosophers had a closer connection with music than Friedrich Nietzsche. He was a fine pianist, composed music from age fourteen, and wrote on many musical subjects throughout his productive life. This talk considers Nietzsche's stormy friendship with composer Richard Wagner, providing insight into the musical qualities of his famous poetic-philosophical work, "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," and describes its influence on such later composers as Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. Course Leader: NICOLAS KRUSEK
