Satoshi Akima writes:

>I see only a continuum of development.

Of course this is true.  Even self-proclaimed stylistic breaks such as the
Ars Nova and New Monody had their own precedents.  People should realize
this.  Naivete on what should be obvious facts such as this does not, in
my mind, have much to do with language.

>[categorization] should be done using value neutral terms

The term "baroque" is pejorative on its face, yet Baroque music has become
very popular.  These sorts of things are not very important.

>I agree it is uncommon to see writers referring to Josquin or Ockeghem as
>a "late Medieval" composer, but you do see it from time to time.

It depends on where one is.  In France, Ockeghem is very much a late
medieval composer and Josquin (with his approach to text and access to
the printing press late in life) is transitional.  I use the typical US
reference to Dufay as the beginning of the musical Renaissance in the FAQ,
but I use the French in my own work, because that is my formal aesthetics
school.  It is a personal affectation as well, because under this usage,
when "Renaissance" music happens, it is no longer music I personally enjoy
very much.

>The trouble is that it tends to lump a huge variety of styles and
>trends into the same basket.

Yes, this is true of "medieval" everything.  The various events are not
very well understood, so a broad period of time is indicated.  For those
of us who have little difficulty knowing the decade of a piece of music
upon first hearing, the broad term means little.  When it comes to history,
the same could be said for "ancient," as Ancient History covers millennia.
This is due to relative lack of information and familiarity.  The
categories at this level are in terms of equal information, not equal
homogeneity.  This is how categories often are.

>Traditional Historico-Esthetics Periods ... should no longer be used.

I have to say that I am bemused by your passion on this issue.  I think you
know as well as I do that nothing can stop people from continuing to use
the categories they've learned.

Todd McComb
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