Forkel is an idealist, meaning that he believes that the art of music can represent the highest conceptions of beauty. His writing reflects that belief. Forkel also writes on beauty and greatness without irony, which makes for a refreshing read for anyone who tires of reading many authors of today.
Forkel effusively praises Bach. He idealizes Bach. Seemingly every paragraph has at least one sentence of unrestrained praise.
Some readers are offended by Forkel's uncritical treatment. To them, Forkel writes neither as a critic nor a biographer--he writes as a fan and a champion for a cause. Experienced authors and critics cannot take the biography, and the presentation of Bach within it, too seriously. A more refined critic would put aside his or her opinions and agenda in order to objectively assess the subject.
I agree with these critiques of Forkel. However, I prefer this idealistic portrait to vain criticism, which seeks to find fault only in order to feign objectivity or a critic's discernment. In addition, when the subject merits excessive praise--as Bach merits it--then this idealistic treatment can be inspirational. Sometimes we need a pep talk for the journey to greatness.
Of course, Forkel's intent was to inspire reverence for the old master, rather than to critically appraise him. He succeeded.
On studying ancient masters in order to reveal deficiencies in our own time, which otherwise would go unnoticed
Moreover, Bach, whose influence pervades every musical form, can be relied on more than any other composer to correct the superficiality which is the bane of modern taste. Neglect of the classics is as prejudicial to the art of music as it would be fatal to the interests of general culture to banish Greek and Latin writers from our schools.
Modern taste exhibits no shame in its preference for agreeable trifles, in its neglect of everything that makes a demand, however slight, upon its attention.
To-day we are menaced by a proposal to banish the classics from our schoolrooms. Equally short-sighted vision threatens to extinguish our musical classics as well. And is it surprising? Modern art displays such poverty and frivolity that it well may shrink from putting itself in context with great literature, particularly with Bach's mighty and creative genius, and seek rather to proscribe it.
On sound musical training being necessary for the exalted subject of church music
The models he selected—Church musicians for the most part—and his own disposition inclined him to serious and exalted subjects. The models he selected—Church musicians for the most part—and his own disposition inclined him to serious and exalted subjects. But in that kind of music little can be accomplished with inadequate technique.
On the capacity of Bach's music to stir the listener to contemplation
Like every true artist, Bach worked to please himself in his own way, obeying the summons of his own genius, choosing his own subjects, and finding satisfaction only in the approval of his own judgment. He could count on the applause of all who understood good music, and never failed to receive it...
It was, in fact, the artist temperament that led Bach to make the great and sublime his goal. For that reason his music is not merely agreeable, like other composers', but transports us to the regions of the ideal.
No comments:
Post a Comment