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Part 8, Chapter 5
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Buddenbrooks, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Family and Sacrifice
Tradition, Modernity, and Change
The Protestant Ethic
Personal Fulfillment and Self-Knowledge
Pretense and Etiquette
Summary
Analysis
Gerda is playing music in the salon with Herr Pfuhl, the organist of St. Mary’s. In between pieces, Pfuhl and Gerda enthusiastically laud the compositional prowess of J. S. Bach. Hanno happily listens from off to the side. Some time ago, Gerda sneakily tried to get Pfuhl to play Wagner, but he reacted obstinately to this wretched “new music.” Gerda reasoned that even Beethoven had sounded modern and dissonant to his contemporaries’ ears, but Pfuhl was doubtful. Eventually, though, he came around. He even wants to add an appendix entitled “The Use of Traditional Keys in the Sacred and Folk Music of Richard Wagner” to his book about church music.
Herr Pfuhl’s initial disdain for Wagner is yet another example of a character clinging to the past—in this case, to established musical traditions. But as Gerda pushes Pfuhl to give the “new music” a chance, he becomes more familiar with its harmonies and warms to it. Mann’s mention of Wagner here is characteristic of his writing, which often references contemporary and historical fixtures of German culture.
Active
Themes
Hanno listens to Gerda and Pfuhl talk. He rubs his tongue across his molar, a habit of his. It’s sitting in on these performances of Gerda and Pfuhl’s that inspires Hanno to take up music himself. At seven years old, he begins to mess around on the keyboard. Gerda observes this happily, instructing him on harmony and correcting his technique here and there. Eventually she decides to arrange for him to take formal lessons from Pfuhl, who now visits the family on Monday afternoons to instruct Hanno and play duets with Gerda.
Unlike Thomas, who can only see Hanno’s shortcomings and criticizes him as a result, Gerda indulges Hanno, encouraging him to pursue music when she sees he might have an affinity for it. Of course, it helps that Hanno has inherited her interests.
Active
Themes
Hanno is an enthusiastic student and catches on quickly. Sometimes they have lessons at Pfuhl’s home, where Pfuhl lives alone. Other times, Pfuhl lets Hanno play the organ at the church. Hanno’s musical prowess sets him apart from his paternal family, none of whom have even the slightest musical talent.
Active
Themes
On April 18, 1869, on Hanno’s eighth birthday, he performs a fantasia for piano and violin that he wrote himself. Pfuhl criticized Hanno’s piece, particularly the minor third Hanno chose to end the piece with. But the minor chord was Hanno’s favorite part, and so Gerda insisted that the minor chord stay as it is. And that’s how Hanno plays the piece today at his birthday recital. The whole family gathers to watch him. Hanno begins to play and is immediately, fully immersed in his music. The music is simple, but he plays it with such passion, coming alive at the keyboard. When Hanno finishes playing, Tony is filled with pride despite not understanding music enough to sufficiently appreciate Hanno’s piece. She praises Hanno to Gerda and Thomas, to Thomas’s chagrin.
Active
Themes
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