Chamber music Quote by Donald Francis Tovey
““The trombone and side-drums in the chamber music of Stravinsky will do well enough in a very smart house-party where all the conversation is carried on in an esoteric family slang and the guests are expected to enjoy booby-traps. Very different is the outlook of some of our younger masters such as Hindemith, Jarnach, and others, whose renunciation of beauty was in itself a youthfully romantic gesture, and was accompanied by endless pains in securing adequate performance. The work of masterly performers can indeed alone save the new ideas from being swamped in a universal dullness which no external smartness can long distinguish from that commemorated in the Dunciad.””
About This Quote
Source Music criticism essay, date unknown
Stravinsky’s modernist music challenges listeners; youthful rebellion in art can be both romantic and painful.
In simple terms: Modernist music can be rebellious and painful.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate artistic innovation despite discomfort.
Themes
music
modernism
rebellion
artistic expression
youthful romance
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
critical
historical
When to use this quote
- concert attendance
- music education
- art appreciation
Key Concepts
aesthetic theory
cultural criticism
performance practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How does modern music affect you?
- What value lies in artistic discomfort?
A Different Perspective
Rebellion may alienate audiences.
