|
Here's a site I've perused in the past, though the validity of
its theories need to be evaluated by the reader; more often than not I
find their defenses very weak, but still interesting. Brahms is
identified herein as agnostic, at least:
And while I do find the statement by Brahms must be taken for what
it's worth (in my case, absolutely nothing at all) I don't attack Brahms
for having made the statement. Full of shit? Yeah.
And also (at times) full of splendor, drudgery, genius, boredom and
inspiration whether divine or worldly. Somewhat
like we all - in wildly varying amounts, I'd think. And so I take the
comment from Brahms as nothing more than simple-mindedness in an
artistic/philosophic area in which we would have been in total
disagreement. I take the defense of such an inane statement likewise
as simple-mindedness. I'm not actually insulted by the line nor by
the defense of it. I just find it ALL to be a somewhat smelly load....of
shit; insulting in the usual holier-than-thou fashion -- and therefore, at least
to me: meaningless. Perhaps his opinion changed as he
aged. Don't know. As perhaps will yours. And
mine.
To those who have read their correspondence and as well their mutual
letters to Simrock, Dvorak obsequiously idolized Brahms in the early years of
their relationship. It's nearly embarrassing when Dvorak grovels and refers
to Brahms as 'Your Nobleness' and other such toadying terms. Fortunately
he was able later to relate to Brahms as a peer and not a master.
But Dvorak the devout Catholic was able to leave us his
evaluation of what he described as Brahms's lack of faith after one of
their in-person discussions on religion:
But: what a great output of music -- one of my favorites.
Best,
Les
Les Marsden
Founding Music Director and Conductor, The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra Music and Mariposa? Ahhhhh, Paradise!!!
|
_______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
