Re: "Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast."

[Jost Ammon <Jost.Ammon@telda.net>]

> I'm fascinated with literature that suggests that a deep love of the
> world's greatest music has utterly no predictable effect on the human
> soul, and is as likely to produce ghastly human beings as lovely and
> enlightened ones.

It remains one of the most unthinkeable facts of life that Hitler listened -
and loved - Wagner. It is so unthinkeable for me since Wagner belongs for me
to the most "musical" composers in terms of melodic developement,
counterpoint, complexity, which one might assume - among others - as deep
human concentrates since it implies pure thought. I know its rambling, but I
feel Tristan Ouvertüre or Liebestod or even the Vorspiel to Rheingold, the
ascending triads, as such deeply human a comment that I have no way of
thinking of Hitler listening and appreciating this deep human music. I think
life has not witnessed much contradictions like this. It is a desparating
thought.

Did Hitler really hear the music? Was his appreciation of Wagner music
driven? For the sake of mankind one can only hope the answer is a clear no.

Jost