EDITOR’S NOTE
Critical thinking ical think
What is the role of criticism in classical music? When it comes to reviewing a CD, the answer is relatively straightforward. Readers of magazines such as this are generally looking to be informed about new recordings, and to be advised whether the album in question is worth purchasing.
conscience of the critic, wouldn’t it also mean missing the opportunity for a more thoughtful and sustained conversation? Perhaps social media is not the right forum, but classical music could definitely benefit from a freer flow of ideas that invites multiple viewpoints, rather than creators, interpreters and their consumers operating in separate spheres.
If a recording features new music, it is also the role of the critic to assess the effectiveness of the composition. This is a much trickier task. Effective on what terms? And even if the performance of a contemporary work is successful in expressing the composer’s intentions, does it deserve the attention of audiences? With the advent of the internet and social media, there is huge scope for today’s reviews to stimulate meaningful dialogue between composers, performers and audiences, contributing to the development of the artform and its reception. This kind of dialogue used to exist in the past – think of the Schumann vs Wagner debate that raged in Germany’s various popular journals during the latter half of the 19th century. Yet despite our advances in communication technology, we now seem to be moving further away from such engagement.
Charivari (page 14) highlights a recent case of an artist who publicly posted a negative review of their work on social media. This unleashed a torrent of personal comments – for and against – the artist in question. Appalled by the level to which some interlocuters descended, Charivari suggests taking a less public approach to such matters. While undeniably true that a personal letter or phone call might have been more successful in pricking the
The kind of forum I’m advocating would restore the role of criticism as an exercise in constructive thinking, rather than the negative carping with which it is too often confused. Owen Mortimer, Editor
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