Is There a Theory of Musical Criticism?
Is There a Theory of Musical Criticism?

Summary/Abstract: Alan Walker contends that criticism has always have been faced with controversies on which, due to the esoteric nature of music and to the diversity of answers, no consensus has been reached yet. Questions like: “Are there standards in criticism?”, “Can they be defined?”, “Are they objective or subjective?”, “How can their authenticity be verified?” – reveal a philosophical side of criticism. If the pragmatism of music criticism resided only in expressing judgments of value, then a theory of criticism would imply their explanation. The assertion that a work is a masterpiece and another one is mediocre has no validity without an answer to the question: why...? Hence it results that behind the judgments of value there is a process based on which conclusions are drawn. This article presents, in chronological order of publication, the perspectives of five personalities who have expressed their doubts or convictions, principles or opinions, subjectivity or objectivity, in the field of musical criticism.

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