Bill Pirkle replies to Robert Clements:

>>By & large, the most highly respected classical & romantic composers of
>>today were popular in their own days.  ...
>
>Is the lack of acceptance of music in its own time a defining
>characteristic of the avant-garde genre? Seriously asking and not being
>nit picky.

The best way to think of an avant-garde is one which is self-consciously
aware of attempting to create difference. Hence when Wagner declares that
only the artist of the future can experience the life of the future, he is
being an avant-gardist in his own time.

What is ironic is that many reactionary movements are as novel as any
avant-gardist, but claim to be the representative of tradition from time
out of mind.

stirling s newberry
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