Achim Breiling writes of Ustolvoska's symphonies:

>As its written in the booklet: *This music is salt permanently poured on
>the wounds of tonal sentimentalism

Well, somebody has to be the skunk at the garden party.  I have listened
to some of Ustvolskaya's piano sonatas, and on that basis, I would like to
put in my vote for tonal sentimentalism.  I love lots of twentieth century
music, and not just the conservative stuff.  Nonetheless I believe that
there is a deep vein of ugliness in much of this music.  Ugliness to match
ugly times? Perhaps.  And yes, I know that what I might find ugly to the
point of unlistenable, others find expressive and even beautiful.

Professor Bernard Chasan
Physics Department, Boston University