Bernard Chasan wrote concerning Varese:
>A lot of damage is being done and has been done to contemporary music
>by composers who are not particularly interested in listeners.
I don't know if Varese is interested in listeners, and I don't care. The
only thing I would ask of composers, although it's none of my business, is
that they create works that they want to create, not works that they think
the listener wants to hear.
This notion of damage caused by "modernist" composers and works has
been voiced before, and I think it is without merit. I see no logic to it
nor any causal relationship. We have many different types of contemporary
classical music to choose from - some like Varese, others like
Part/Tavener, while others like Tan Dun or Danielpour. There's no need to
"dump" on those composers you don't like and attribute "damages" to them.
Don Satz
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