{"product_id":"german-music-criticism-in-the-late-eighteenth-century-practical","title":"German Music Criticism in the Late Eighteenth Century - Practical","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of German Music Criticism in the Late Eighteenth Century the bottom line is straightforward: this book is an essential, research-driven resource for scholars and serious students who want a grounded account of how critics evaluated instrumental music between 1760 and 1798. Mary Sue Morrow derives a practical aesthetic theory from a large body of contemporary reviews, making this volume valuable for anyone studying the reception of Haydn, Mozart and their peers. The book's primary strength is its empirical base of 1,300 reviews, which supplies concrete evidence for shifts in criteria such as genius, expressivity and unity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExtensive primary evidence:\u003c\/strong\u003e The analysis draws on 1,300 contemporary reviews, providing a broad empirical foundation for the author's conclusions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePractical aesthetic theory:\u003c\/strong\u003e Morrow synthesizes review material into a usable framework for understanding how critics assessed instrumental music.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical context:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book situates musical criticism within concurrent trends in literature and philosophy, clarifying intellectual influences on taste.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on instrumental repertoire:\u003c\/strong\u003e It addresses the evaluation of works by composers such as Haydn and Mozart at a time when no formal aesthetic theory prevailed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChronological range:\u003c\/strong\u003e Covering 1760 to 1798, the study traces how critical criteria developed over several decades.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at musicologists, graduate students, and historians of aesthetics who need evidence-based analysis of late-eighteenth-century German opinion about instrumental music. It also suits librarians and academics building collections on music reception, criticism, and the intellectual history of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a general introduction to Mozart or an anecdotal biography will want a different, more popular treatment; this study is scholarly and focused on critical discourse rather than score-level analysis or composer life stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrounded in a large body of primary material, which strengthens its interpretive claims.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a clear, practical framework for assessing historical aesthetic judgments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnects musical criticism to broader literary and philosophical trends, enriching contextual understanding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe specialized, scholarly tone makes it less accessible to casual readers or those seeking a general music history.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGerman Music Criticism in the Late Eighteenth Century\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMary Sue Morrow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScope\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReviews published in Germany, 17606\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrimary sources\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 1,300 contemporary reviews\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAesthetic issues in instrumental music\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKey topics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenius, expressivity, unity, literary and philosophical trends\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor scholars and serious students of music reception, this is a rigorous, evidence-rich study that reshapes understanding of late-eighteenth-century German aesthetic criteria. Its empirical approach and clear theoretical synthesis make it a worthwhile investment for research collections, though casual readers may find its scholarly focus demanding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book rely on primary sources?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the study is based on about 1,300 contemporary reviews published in Germany between 1760 and 1798.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it focused on composers like Haydn and Mozart?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt examines how critics evaluated instrumental music by composers such as Haydn and Mozart within broader critical discourse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book suitable for general readers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIts scholarly tone and focus on critical theory make it better suited to academics and students than casual readers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mary Sue Morrow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48764366192859,"sku":"0521027454","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51Qrk2xuhVS._SL1000.jpg?v=1778531160","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/german-music-criticism-in-the-late-eighteenth-century-practical","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}