Sunday's Boston Globe features an interview by Richard Dyer with composer
Geoprge Benjamin.  In the context of recent threads on the list and our
everpresent ruminations on the state of classical music, one of Benjamin's
quotes struck me:

   "'Accessibility' is an awful word isn't it? Some of the 'accessible'
   music being written today is music no one really likes or no one
   really needs; it is based on a vague idea of what people who don't
   like music might like if they liked music.  There is no potential
   for tears, or for anything glorious.  It is terribly sad when someone
   with original talent gets derailed by the need to be accessible.
   We need a system which allows, encourages, demands composers to be
   courageous--and with all the supporting systems in place as well.
   We need an intelligensia to listen to and support new work, and to
   argue about it at the very highest standard.  I believe in elitism,
   not as a matter of class or wealth, but as a matter of *quality.*
   But I am not as pessimistic about the situation of music as some
   people are.  There are always young people who are willing to play
   new music --there are lots of them here at Tanglewood-- and there
   are always composers who are passionate about the things they have
   to say."

Ed