Aaron Rabushka wrote: >In references to the Brahms/Wagner debate in 19th century Vienna I have >often run across the name of Eduard Hanslick as the proponent of the Brahms >(absolute) side. Was there a critic of comparable standing representing the >Wagner (programmatic) side? Franz Brendel, editor of "Neue Zeitschrift fuer Music" (founded by Schumann, I believe). I don't know if he is/was of comparable standing, but the journal was quite influential. Richard Pohl was another critic/theorist on the programmatic side. I think he fought a relatively clean battle compared to Hanslick, Wagner and Brahms. Much of the fuss was really about Liszt's music, but it was Wagner who fought the battle. [log in to unmask]