Like Ian Foster, I, too, am flabberghasted that so many on this
list dislike Brahms' symphonies--C'mon, there's a lot about the Mahler
symphonies that "off-put" me but I would never say I dislike them!  "De
gustibus non est disputandum"--"There's no disputing tastes"--but at least
people on this list should recognize good, solid, musical craftsmanship!
For me, Brahms perfectly wedded a craftsmanship and architecture equal (or
at least close) to that of J.S.  Bach, but enriched by his own, unique,
soaring ecstacies.

Rob Baldwin
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