You insinuate that music is nothing more than notes
I say so flat out, and if you have something else for it to be,
besides notes and percussion, please tell us what else it is.
and contains nothing of the composer
Where’s it meant to contain him? Is the composition a thing
that now exists, independent, somewhere in the universe?
(If there’s a sefer that says so, go ahead and quote it.)
and has little or no power
I didn’t even insinuate that. Music obviously has power, but its ability to,
say, bring people to do teshuva, does not mean that music which
is not experienced as life-changing has any significant ongoing
effect unbeknownst to the listener.
The power of music comes from your response to it – it is not something inherent in the music, as tone-deafness proves.
Exhibit A: A large majority of Jews (who listen to
classical music) who don't listen to Wagner.This has nothing to do with this. Whether music “contains its
composer” or not, it is identified with its composer and some Jews,
most of whom, in fact, aren’t religious, have an issue with Wagner.
…
[Ed.: – That last point is heavily disputed].