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Reader comment on:
The Musical Century

Submitted by Patrick Crowe, Sep 28, 2007 00:28

As a very common man -nearly a nonogenarian - soon to step out of this wonderful experience of life ,I look back on the dreaming years of youth when, poverty stricken ,life was illuminated by the almost fortuitous stumbling on the radience shed on the world by poetry and music,some almost contemporary .Before and through the second world war I worked for and dreamed of the time when all might share that glory. Now I live mute and bewildered viewing a world where the provision of everything material seems possible but which , given, provides no joy. Why have the gifted among us in this age nothing to offer save what seems discordant ugliness? Times before this have been terrible ;yet still with few exceptions those who sang for us gave us hope and joy. Why have they accepted the distortion of their voice? Time they donned their Childe Harold armour and turned toward the Dark Tower. Please Mr. Ross and Mr reviewer- drive them on!

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Comment By Date

The probelm here is one of definition. Some people find modern music 'difficult.' But we have always had music that... [MORE]

kevin o connell 

Oct 29, 2007 06:58

I would definitely read this book. Neither a musician nor critic, I just enjoy a wide range of music with... [MORE]

Morgan Sheridan 

Oct 1, 2007 23:02

If Adam Kirsch dislikes modern and contemporary music, that is certainly his right. But conservative taste should not simply be... [MORE]

Reginald Shepherd 

Oct 1, 2007 20:19

Interesting article,but I do not agree with the statement that the classical canon is"essentially closed" In fact,new works by... [MORE]

robert berger 

Sep 29, 2007 11:56

As a very common man -nearly a nonogenarian - soon to step out of this wonderful experience of life ,I...

Patrick Crowe 

Sep 28, 2007 00:28

I'll take a look at Ross' book, but based on this review I'm not very optimistic. His apparently non-judgmental approach... [MORE]

Lester Hunt 

Sep 27, 2007 15:16

Neither is scoring for 50 strings individually, which would strike some composers as being both purposeful and meaningful. Otherwise, why... [MORE]

James Keepnews 

Sep 27, 2007 11:21

Mr Keepnews' bilious response to a generous review of a generous book is a reminder of how and why the... [MORE]

Bruce Williams 

Sep 27, 2007 23:56

This razor is best kept whetted and gleaming. Its purpose is to distinguish positive modern art from the mere performance... [MORE]

Todd Jackson 

Sep 30, 2007 13:05

I have precisely zero interest in what Boulez said fifty years ago, much less serialism, towards which I suppose it... [MORE]

James Keepnews 

Oct 3, 2007 12:51

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