Ravi Narasimhan responds to me:

>> Very true -- all one can do is listen.  Empty your mind of
>>all expectations and of all music you've heard before (not an
>>easy task) and let the music take shape in your consciousness
>>on its own terms.  My own personal opinion is this is how you
>>should listen to ALL music, but that is another e-mail.
>
>I don't see that there is anything wrong in not liking, in my case,
>most of Bartok's music.  I've listened to a lot of it over the years
>with a semi-open mind.  I like some of his solo piano music and the
>strings/percussion/celesta piece thanks to a fine performance at Disney
>Hall by Berlin and Rattle in 2003.  The rest of it, especially the stuff
>heavy on the strings has the sharp taste of just-spoiled milk.  ...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with not liking Bartok.  Millions
of people do not.  I think all your friends here on the list are saying,
myself among them, is that because you do not like him now does not mean
that you will always dislike him.

Ray

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