The Craft of Musical Composition

This is a work by Hindemith. There is a fine distinction between art and craft. Classical Greek sculpture was at the time it was created considered craft. Much of Bach's work,considered art today, was crafted to fill a particular need. During the nineteen twenties and thirties, decorative art reached a level that tended to blur any distinction between art and craft. Telemann blurred the distinction between art and craft with his Tafelmusik. Mozart and Handel wrote many wonderful pieces for special occasions.Stained glass is the perfect example of the problem involved in distinguishing between an art and a craft. Hindemith and Weill both considered utility as the distinction between art and craft. This did not stop either of them from writing beautiful useful music.Much art originally had a religious utility. Some of Bach's religious cantatas are exquisite works of art.