Hysteria
Hysteria refers to the way people would view the female orgasm in the past. Ultimate excitement was only accepted as ultimate devotion to the divine, like shown by Bernini. In later periods it became a medicale disease that required treatment. The female orgasm had to be treated, denied and avoided. Like the sound of the glass harmonia – the sound Mozart used in his compositions – was banned because it would provoke lust.
THE MUSIC
The sound of the glass harmonica, on its own or as accompaniment. After a popular start in the 18th century, the instrument was banned for 200 years because it was suspected to provoke lust. The four fragments represent the four stereotypes of women: mysterious, innocent, sensitive, sereen and emotional.
Mysterious: Glare (2012). By Camille Norment (1970).
Innocent: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (1892), Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). By William Zeitler (1954).
Sensible, sereen: Adagio für Glasharmonica (1791), W.A. Mozart (1756-1791). By Christa Schönfeldinger (1965).