Pynchon & Jazz

[The Great Quail]

Prozac writes,

> Romanticism, outside of the names and times given it by critics, is a
> philosophy which permeates European culture. While Bach may not have
> been a "musical Romantic," he had Romantic values among others in his
> heart/mind while composing.

I'm sorry, I have to take issue with this. Unless you mean "Romanticism" in
the very broadest possible sense, in which case it permeates nearly all
artistic human endeavor.

First of all, the precepts of high Romanticism were not part of the baroque,
and Bach was a very workmanlike composer. I am not saying that his work did
not bring him pleasure or joy, but he did not locate himself at the center
of a subjective world in the fashion of the Romantics. Nor were the values
expressed by his music particular Romantic values -- they were for the most
part, spiritual and even pious; or when not religious, Enlightenment kind of
values, with an emphasis on craft. Now, of course you may argue that his
more "profane" works were largely based in the expression of joy; but you
could say that about African drumming, Haydn, or Philip Glass, too.

While I sort of "get" what you are trying to say, I cannot so easily dismiss
critical terms, especially one so important as "Romanticism." I think you do
artistic theory a small disservice by your generalizations, which bring Bach
too closely aside Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Wagner, and Mahler....

Happy to quibble over classical quiddities,

--Quail