The Role of the Critic pdf

The Role of the Critic

Role of a Critic

• Anyone can have an opinion. A responsible
critic will do more than just condemn or rave
about a performance. He or she will offer
convincing arguments to substantiate his or
her claims. For this reason, music critics must
be perceptive listeners. They must be able to
analyze what they hear so they can
communicate their opinions rationally and
coherently.

Role of a Critic

• A good critic also takes into account
nonmusical aspects of the performance. An
effective critique might include commentary
on the conductor, acoustics, and size and
reaction of the audience. Some comments
about the composer may also be in order.

Role of a Critic

• Music critics can and do influence public opinion
and, as such, shoulder a serious responsibility.
Their comments have the power to make or
break a career. For this reason, their views can be
controversial.

• The late violinist Isaac Stern expressed his distress
over critics who were always "on the attack." He
believed the most important quality of a critic
was "to be a first-class educator." Of course,
when reading a review, your most important task
is to distinguish between fact and opinion.