Lately I have been hearing people complain about music, both from the choral as well as the organ repertoire, because it is 'too victorian'. Not understanding what this meant I hit the history books to find that this era spans the reign of Queen Victoria (no surprise there then!) which was from 1837 - 1901.</P>
Perhaps not an organ question initially, but does French music from within this period count as being victorian, since if I am correct it was part of the British Empire? Some of my favourite composers of organ music fall right between these two dates, for example Franck, Guilmantfrom france.Or what about Reger, or Rheinberger. I know many of you here on the forum also admire this music very much, but certainly where I am at this is not always the case.</P>
What I'd like to know is why some people constantly tell me, with a decidedly negative tone, that this and other stuff sounds too victorian. I'm afraid I've been immersed in and playing this stuff for so long I perhaps don't hear it as others do, but I really don't see anything wrong with it and the comments are getting on my nerves actually.</P>
Any thoughts on the issue???</P>
Cheers</P>
M. O.</P>
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