The reception of Don Quixote by composers and writers of the 18th century in some cultural nuclei of Europe

Abstract

This article analyzes to what extent the novel Don Quixote was a source of inspiration for some eighteenth-century composers or literary writers in Europe. The reason of circumscribing this study at the time is that it was during that century when there were more examples of works based on this universal novel written by Cevantes. In the present work we reflect on how composers were adjusted to the aesthetic musical ideals of the country where each work was going to be interpreted. The number of musical examples and narrative adaptations with this Cervantes theme is not homogenous from the geographical point of view. Therefore, the article focuses only on some European nuclei (France, Italy, Germany, England and the Iberian Peninsula), whosedissemination of Don Quixote was more decisive.

Keywords: Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, Miguel de Cervantes, eighteenth century music