Music critic facts for kids
A music critic is a person who writes about music. They often write reviews of concerts or new songs. These writings appear in newspapers, magazines, or online. What they write is called musical criticism.
Musical criticism focuses on music happening right now. It's different from musicology, which is the study of music history or different music styles.
Music critics can be very important for musicians. Their reviews can help make a musician famous or make it harder for them to succeed.
Contents
How Music Critics Influence Musicians
If a critic writes a bad review, fewer people might go to a concert. But if a critic writes a great review, many people will want to hear that musician. This can help a musician become very popular.
Sometimes, a new piece of music gets a really bad review. But then, everyone wants to hear it just to see how bad it is! They might even end up liking it. This is called a "succès de scandale." It's a French phrase meaning "scandalous success."
A Famous "Scandalous Success"
A great example of a "succès de scandale" is Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This ballet music was first performed in 1913. Many people found it shocking and strange at first. But over time, it became one of the most famous and important pieces of music ever written.
Famous Music Critics
Music critics spend a lot of time listening to music. Many of them also work in other music jobs, like teaching. Here are some well-known music critics from history:
Robert Schumann
The German composer Robert Schumann was also a famous music critic. He started a music magazine called Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. In one famous article, Neue Bahnen (which means New Paths), he wrote about a young man named Johannes Brahms. Schumann said that Brahms would become a great composer. And he was right!
Hector Berlioz
The French composer Hector Berlioz was a good music critic too. He wrote many music reviews to earn money. This helped him support himself while he composed his own music.
Eduard Hanslick
Eduard Hanslick was an Austrian musicologist. He became famous for his strong opinions. He believed that Johannes Brahms was a great composer. But he thought that composers like Wagner, Liszt, and Bruckner were not as good.
George Bernard Shaw
The Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw also wrote interesting music reviews. He used a made-up name, or pseudonym, called Corno di Bassetto. Shaw was very honest about musicians he didn't like. This sometimes made him a few enemies!
Images for kids
-
Eduard Hanslick, an influential music critic of the 19th-century
See also
In Spanish: Crítica musical para niños
