Charles Rosen wrote an interesting article in the New York Review of Books
a while back defending the 'Avant-Garde' against its detractors like Andrew
Lloyd Weber.  His basic point was that works considered unlistenable when
first published, often many years later come to be popular and a part of
the repertoire.  He lists Shoenberg, and Boulez amongst many others.  He
mentions that Beethoven's late quartets were considered too dissonant to be
played before the public right up until WW deuce.  I didn't know Rosen was
such a defender of 'New Music' given his past writings and recordings.  The
title of the article was "Who's Afraid of the Avant-Garde".  Can't remember
the issue no. The 'Giants' of music are often only recognized many years
after their works are published and debuted.

Sam Pawlett