18th-Century Musicians Saw Themselves as Craftworkers

18th-century metalworkers

The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.

— L.P. Hartley: The Go-Between (1953)

In the 18th-century people thought differently about music (and the arts) compared to the 19th and later centuries. Neither way is better or more correct than the other, but a deeper appreciation of 18th-century music can come with an understanding of the motivations and ideals of 18th-century musicians.

They produced works of art for specific occasions or audiences.

They were creating for their present and had no concept of creating something for posterity.

They strove to perfect their craft (skill) for the betterment of society.

A strong motivation was the desire to communicate directly with the audience in front of them, to move them and persuade them, to educate and entertain them. To share with them.

This way of thinking contrasts markedly from that of the 19th century and later.

Several revolutions took place at the end of the 18th century and into the 19th century:

• Industrial Revolution (c.1760–1840)
• French Revolution (began 1789)
• Romantic Revolution (Romanticism)

These revolutions led to changes in ideals and ways of thinking. There were paradigm shifts in aesthetics and other areas.

Before these revolutions music and the arts were based on values and practices that seem fundamentally different to those we today call ‘modern’.

We take our modern ideas for granted or as givens. Not only do we assume our way of thinking applies universally but also that it is somehow better or superior.

So the 19th century has created a veil between us today and the 18th century. The differences are often difficult to appreciate or even to see.

© Greg Dikmans