When you think of Brahms, do you think of pop music? It turns out that many famous composers, like Brahms, Strauss Jr., and Dvorak, wrote what today can be categorized as "symphonic pops." Yet we should always remember that the "popular" element in this music does not lessen its artstic value in the least. Popular music is not trying to be serious symphonic music, so we must judge it like any other musical current: it is the inspiration, craftsmanship, and that ineffable "magic" behind a composition that will ensure it survives, regardless of the target audience. That goes for all the many delightful examples in this episode!
