[Smt-talk] Predominant Hyperbole

[David K Feurzeig]

Michael Morse wrote:
>  I suppose it's no good saying that if Schenker hadn't been treated  
> like an infallible God in the first place, the distorting  
> denunciations would not have been called forth...
>  I wish I could decipher what it is about Schenker's thought that  
> unleashes such fanaticism...

I second the motion to separate the ideas from the hyperbole!

But I find the hyperbole less baffling than Michael does. I believe it  
stems largely from Schenker's own provocative and tendentious  
presentation, as well as the tendency Michael notes among many of his  
students towards apotheosis.

Certainly this is not unique to him among revolutionary thinkers and  
teachers, and no reason not to evaluate his ideas on the merits. But  
had he been less grandiose in his claims and less dismissive of other  
theorists and other repertoire, things might be different.

Best,
David

David Feurzeig
University of Vermont
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