Which critic is associated with the view that Baroque music used confused harmonies with harsh melodies and dissonance?

• A. John Rousseau
• B. John Philippe Ramos
• C. Johann Sebastian Bach
• D. Louis XIV

Answer: (A)

This question tests how critics viewed Baroque aesthetics, specifically the pushback against its ornate, dense harmonic language and expressive dissonance. Jean-Jacques Rousseau is the name most closely linked to arguing for simplicity and naturalness in music, criticizing the elaborate, contrived aspects of Baroque style. He favored straightforward melodies and clear emotional expression, contrasting with the Baroque tendency toward intricate counterpoint and sometimes harsh-sounding dissonances. That stance makes him the best match for the view described.

The other figures don’t fit as well. Bach is a prime Baroque composer whose work embodies the very style being critiqued. Louis XIV was a monarch and patron, not a critic of musical style in this sense. Ramos isn’t known as a prominent music critic in this context.