Steve Schwartz writes:

>>...  Mainly through his writings on the operas, Shaw taught at least
>>English speakers how to listen to Mozart.  I submit he performed a
>>service for which we should all be grateful.

Jocelyn Wang responds:

>Yes, but to suggest that what Shaw wrote about music is as much a
>contribution as the music itself, or even comes close, would be highly
>inaccurate (I won't say "ignorant").

I wonder, however, if Jocelyn Wang would be tempted to use the "I" word
about those of us who derive a great deal of pleasure from good criticism,
musical and otherwise.

I, for one, find a well-argued, well-written piece of critical writing
every bit as exciting as a well-written, well-performed piece of music.
That is, I find both very exciting indeed.

Thus I'd like to hear why, in Jocelyn's opinion, fine writing about the
arts is, ipso facto, so much less worthy than fine art.  Indeed it seems
to me that the best criticism in its originality, its beauty, and its
intellectual heft is, thanks to those qualities, indistinguishable from
the best art.  Nothing if not critical,

David Cozy
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