Robin Newton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>It would be interesting to know the context of Benjamin's original
>quotation.  To me it looks like he was asked about his view on the
>'accessiblity' of his music.  I don't believe that Benjamin is part
>of either (as Stirling Newberry wrote):

I think Mr.  Benjamin's words speak for themselves, I think any objective
observer who understands the nuances of current discussion in classical
music will agree.  What you would like to believe about what he said, and
your apologies mean very little.

"Accessibility" is, as I pointed out, a buzzword.  It is a word that is
used by one group of people - primarily followers of tonal or minimalist
composers - to describe what they feel is lacking in music they don't like.
However rather than coming out and saying it, they wrap it in a word which
they can use in their political in fighting.

Mr.  Benjamin is not an idiot or a fool.  He knows that this word is aimed
at him and at music he likes.  He thus tries to argue that the need which
the word has become attached to does not exist.  This is as dishonest and
unartistic a response, because he then turns and attempts to use his sides
buzzwords.

The raging, buzzing, flurry of words - from the usual suspects I might add
- that enters in after my comment is, to any reasonable observer, proof of
the original observation.  This is not about music, it is about musical
politics and who can push who out.

So far the people pumping out attacks from the other side are doing
nothing than offering excellent proof of the charge against them:  that
their social nastiness is a tremendous disincentive to truth, art and the
growth of classical music.  They do not wish to put up with me, but the
truth is that there are even more people who do not wish to put up with
them, and so avoid concert halls, dicusssions of classical music, and the
like.

Stirling Newberry <[log in to unmask]>