Esther Sims wrote:

>I am a student interested in the music of Schoenberg, (although this is not
>strictly in the classical period!.) What are people's views on serial music
>- does it only appeal to people who have an informed musical background,
>or can anyone listen to and appreciate it?

Well, from personal experience I incline to the latter view, although
much depends on how you define 'informed musical background'.  I can just
about follow large lines when reading a score with a CD on, but have no
understanding of formal structure, interrelationships of keys etc.  I just
listened to the 3rd anf 4th quartets again and was fascinated throughout.
Yet I threw aside the extensive notes and analysis in the accompanying
booklet after a few lines.  Couldn't get throught it.  I guess is helps
that I knew Schoenberg's gorgeous early work before I started to explore
the later 'atonal' stuff.  It's just a case of wanting to explore new sound
worlds, to sit and wonder.  I my case, I think it helped that I had been
exposed to classical and romantic music of increasing complexity and
variety before reaching 'atonal' and serial composers, but I have heard
of other people for whom they had immediate appeal.

Ruben