In Reply to: Brahms was fighting bombasticism at times posted by MichaelV8 on April 18, 2012 at 17:30:37:
It hurts my brain.
I don't think Brahms ever dealt in bombast. He frequently called on the full power of the orchestra, but never solely for pretentious effect. Germanic certainly, but bombastic never. What is music without drama, without contrast? That (and tonal resolution, and no one other than LVB could resolve a key as Brahms did) is where it derives its power over us. Do we want just a series of whimpering, insipid lullabies strung together? Brahms could certainly tug the heartstrings with achingly tender melodies, but he set them up with all that muscle music first.
Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9
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Follow Ups
- Hope I never see that word again! - madisonears 22:21:49 04/19/12 (0)