John Smyth writes:

>I so need to re-acquaint myself with the Canon again.  Even Tchaikovsky
>and Grieg.  SACD gives me the excuse.

I agree that it is great to do the Canon again and cds give you that
chance.  As I understand John's position the new technology gives him
the opportunity to revisit the Canon in even higher fidelity.  Previously
John stated that he had sampled all the good stuff and some music which
was not so good, and his interest in exploring the unfamiliar had been
exhausted, at least for now.  But good stuff is being written and released
even as we speak!!  Len Mullenger's web site offers a review of a new
violin concerto by Norgard - on the basis of his previous work, and that
review I want to hear it.  I have cds by composers I had never heard of
until recently- Marshall Ingram, Andrew Violette, Elisabetta Brusa,
Georges Lentz, to name a few .  Not everything new is great, but these
composers all offer works worth listening to.  None of this is easy
listening, but then again that is not what we on this list are here for.
But none of it is unapproachable.

I regret that this list does not concern itself more than it does with
new music.  I do appreciate Steve Schwartz's busy executive reviews which
more ofter than not are about new music.

Along with the new work I am increasingly inclined to visit the old
repertory- Byrd, Lassus,  etc. That is an area virtually unknown to
me.

Bernard Chasan