Amazin'ly, Janos writes:

>Just as the Prokofiev, (Violin Concerto #1), represents a physical
>challenge (and not really great music), Varese's "Ameriques"
>is something to "get through."

Surely an excerpt worthy of a future edition of Nicolas Slonimsky's
"Lexicon of Musical Invective!"  (A collection of unprophetic critical
judgements.) Say it ain't so!

The Prokofiev 1st is magical, melodious, and seamlessly inspired from first
note to last.  As for the Varese, I humbly direct your attention to
Chailly's recent recording of the original version of "Ameriques" on
London--at times it's some of the most darkly impressionistic and inventive
music one could hear.

John Smyth