Articulations thar appear to be "contradictory" are not necessarily
confusing of difficult for audiences to absorb.  One example:  in the
first movement of the Symphony of Psalms the four-note ostinato is played
simultaneously by some instruments in staccato articulation and others
in a more sustained delivery.  For some older examples, look to the
ever-popular "Scheherezade." Here, in the second movement, there are
woodwind cadenzas (sustained) over plucked strings (staccato), and in the
fourth movement there is one noteworthy episode where woodwinds deliver a
sustained rendition of the "princess" theme from the third movement over
a virtuosic staccato obbligato from the trumpet (non-double tonguers
beware!).

Aaron J. Rabushka
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