Richard Tsuyuki wrote:

>I think this is the crux of it, for me.  Music "works on" me by evoking
>emotion (I guess at heart I'm a sentimentalist - e.g., I love Rachmaninoff).

Rachmaninoff was my first "favorite composer." He remains close to the
top of the list to this day (some 45 years later).

>This doesn't necessarily mean I favor simple emotions over complex ones,
>or the obvious over the subtle.  Atonal music can be exciting, threatening,
>mysterious, confusing, jocular, sardonic, goofy...but seldom, for me so
>far, sweet, passionate, triumphant, nostalgic - you get the idea.

For me, there are many non tonal works that convey to me great nobility
and can be sweet, passionate, etc.

>I do enjoy the former group of emotions, but it's often the latter that
>makes for my favorite pieces - old friends I can depend on when I need
>a recharge or an escape.

Music serves many functions for all of us.  I find that a work like
Schoenberg's Piano Concerto will engage my mind and my spirit and provide
me with a recharge and an escape.

>As I interpret Bernstein's lecture about modern music, emotional impact
>increases (or has historically increased) with tonal ambiguity until it
>crosses a threshold (probably different for each listener) and becomes
>just confusing, like (to me) Marianne Moore or Cubism (note: I don't
>dislike Moore or Cubism - but I doubt I'll ever *love* them).  I do find
>that with increased exposure, my threshold moves (slowly), so maybe
>that's it - just keep listening.

A story I have shared before on this list...I had just purchased a
recording of the Poulenc Organ Concerto. I loved the sound of the organ
and orchestra and one of my cherished recordings was the Saint Saens Third
Symphony conducted by Munch. Well, the Poulenc was conducted by Munch, so
as teenager I assumed Munch and organ and orchestra might give me another
favorite for my collection. My sister is an organist and we had an Allen
organ in the home. It came with a speaker system the size of a dresser.
I had wired it so I could play my records through it. I still remember
starting up the record and sitting in front of that big speaker, with
the volume turned up. I thought the opening was the most dreadful music I
had ever heard and was embarrased that my parents might hear some of it,
thinking I had wasted my money on the recording. Of course, today, the
piece is one of my many favorites.

I keep listening, however, I don't think anyone will ever find something
as dissonant as the Wolpe Symphony to be relaxing, but when I listen to
it, I do escape, marvel at its intensity and delight in its nobility,
reflect in its anger and feel enriched with each listening...even if the
tunes don't stay with me, the shape and gestures do, as does the expression.

Karl