Dave Lampson wrote concerning Susan McClary's book "Feminine Endings":

>Here's the most famous quote from the book concerning Beethoven's
>Symphony #9:
>
>"The point of recapitulation in the first movement of the Ninth
>is one of the most horrifying moments in music....which finally
>explodes in the throttling, murderous rage of a rapist..."

Cutting through the "politically correct" nonsense, Ms. McClary is
actually paying quite a tribute to Beethoven's music.  She listens to it
and has the powerful image of a rape; That's testimony to the strong impact
Beethoven's music has on Ms. McClary.  That's what music is all about -
impact.  Apparently, McClary prefers not to receive these types of images;
that's her problem since she creates them.

Don Satz
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