Two Telegraph writers engaged in a spirited debate. One, a classical music enthusiast, surprisingly declared his disdain for Bach, Vivaldi, and pre-1800 composers. His fellow columnist, a music critic, retorted with a suggestion to revisit Wagner‘s works. We examine the heart of this passionate disagreement.
context A Spectrum of Classical Music
The Rolling Stones’ 1966 hit, Paint It Black, is undeniably a classic song, but it wouldn’t be classified as “classical music” by any music scholar. As Classic FM clarifies, this term denotes Western music from the Renaissance to the 20th century. It’s typically divided into Baroque (1600-1750), Classical (1750-1800), and Romantic (1800-1900) periods. Therefore, within the Germanic tradition, Bach is Baroque, Mozart is Classical, and Schubert is considered early Romantic.
These stylistic shifts mirror Europe’s social, cultural, and musical evolution, Classic FM notes. The term “Classical” (in the stricter sense) also signifies a renewed fascination with antiquity.
In the 20th century, “classical music” replaced the term “learned music,” which implied elitism. Classic FM cites Leonard Bernstein’s 1959 emphasis on avoiding a dichotomy between popular music (using jazz as an example) and supposedly “serious” art. He advocated using “classical music” as a general term, stating there was no better description.
These distinctions are key to understanding the heated debate ignited among two Daily Telegraph journalists (and friends).
“Mozart: Uninspired, Bach: Tedious”
In late November, Daily Telegraph columnist Simon Heffer declared war on certain classical music fans. His provocative headline declared his lack of interest in music predating 1800. He added:
I’ll shock you: I find most of Bach dull and Vivaldi only suitable for Italian eateries. ”
This dispute arose from Tim Bouverie’s new book, aiming to introduce the broad world of classical music to newcomers. The book, Perfect Pitch : 100 Pieces of Classical Music to Bring Joy, Tears, Solace, Empathy, Inspiration (and
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