Larry Sherwood wrote:

>It seems to me that the article overlooked a classic- and well known-
>retort by Brahms.  I've heard that a review of Brahms' First Symphony
>contained the criticism that the work owed rather much to Beethoven.
>Brahms reportedly replied, with understandable irritation, "Well any
>fool could see that".

Ah, but the Slate article was about Brahms's mastery of the *subtle*
putdown.  The above remark was about as subtle as, well, the Brahms
First Symphony's debt to Beethoven.  Glad you liked the article, though.

Mitch Friedfeld