Mimi Ezust replied to me thus (abridged): >So why not give up Mozart for a few years and go immediately to something >you do like? Complaining about what you don't enjoy is hardly what I'd >call a fascinating contribution. Is someone forcing you? Are you being >compelled to listen to Mozart against your will? Are the classical police >after you, enforcing hard earwork and brainwork? ... There have also been similar postings on the subject of criticizing composers/conductors/works. Here's my reply: The reason I wrote this piece is that the two works have a lot of similarities and it was interesting to compare them. When I go into my local CD store I see an entire row of cds of Mozart's music and 10 rows devoted to every other composer that has ever lived. When I check the schedules for the main UK classical radio station, again, I find that 10% of their output is Mozart. There is something by him nearly every day. Yet you'd often have to wait years to hear something by Weber. Further I am constantly reading that Mozart's work is the highest form of art. Annoyingly to me, Trevor Pinnock after completing his Haydn Sturm und Drang series went on to record some late Mozart symphonies and described them as "the greatest music ever written". Also, when the first issue of the magazine 'Classic CD' came out a professor of music said that "everyone must appreciate Mozart" and that "those who don't must be behaving in a childish way". (Needless to say this got some brickbats.) Such statements seem to be made in absolute sense, no subjectivity about it. Also, usually little if any analysis is given to justify the view. You will, however, notice that when I give an opinion about a piece of music I usually make it clear the it is, just that, my opinion. Children are being brought up to believe that Mozart is the top man in classical music. Thus, perpetuating the perception rather like a religion is passed on from generation to generation. I believe that Mozart Mania is doing damage to music itself. My wife is not into classical music, but she loves Stravinsky. However, she would never had heard him if it weren't for me. Most newcomers to the classical scene (I reckon) consider that Mozart IS classical music. They buy a cd or two listen to it get bored and drift back to pop. If we had a more even playing field this would not happen. (You can verify this theory by looking at the record collections of music lovers who like mainly pop) In such a climate of massive hype I feel compelled to give an alternative view. And, as you suggest many people come out and, almost apologetically, tell me that they agree. I, myself, am fascinated as to why I have such a blind spot here when I find most other composers output enjoyable. And, to a certain extent I am trying to work this through. It is not necessary for me to tell you that I don't enjoy other composers work because everyone accepts that they are lesser composers so no one expects me to. I view this group as a bit like chatting in a street cafe. Would you only say positive things in such a conversation? How many negative things do you say in day? That's reality the world's not perfect. Are your really suggesting that every single posting to this group should be positive? That would be like Newspapers giving only good news - not truthful and not interesting. I think that if you examine some of my other postings you will find that many have been positive. Remember I have already mentioned that there are some Mozart works I do like. Why do I keep buying the mans music when I don't usually like it? There are two reasons for this. Firstly; the publicity has got to me too and feel there must be something there somewhere. Secondly; how can I justify my stance until I have at least heard the majority of the composer's output? My aim has not been to upset any Mozart fans. Rather to show that other views exist, in spite of the fact that expressing them is viewed by some as sacrilege. Bob Draper [log in to unmask]