Aman Ahuja wrote:

>How about "Beethoven or Bust: A Practical Guide to Understanding and
>Listening to Great Music" by David Hurvitz(Anchor Books/Doubleday, 1992)

The quoted review: Watch out when people are too cowardly to name
themselves.  It's obviously someone from the Internet boards where there
are longtime Experts who did not appreciate a strong-minded person who had
spent his adult years as a paid music reviewer opining negatively on
conductors they idolize.

David Hurwitz very much knows how to read a score and pointed out problems
in recordings by pointing to such scores.  Others in the newsgroup found
such details unnecessary.  So, there is silliness supreme there and take
that anonymous "review" with a grain of salt.

As for me, I'm 62 tomorrow, or today, by the time you read this, so am in
quiet shock.  I was lucky to grow up in a household that had a phonograph
with lots of 78rpms of classical type as well as the jazz and swing of the
time.  My parents both played and sang, so it's been Music since I could
walk.  And I'm very thankful for it, phoning my dad when he was 87 or so,
to thank him after just having had a good time at the piano and thinking
how I had taken all this for granted.  (My mom is long gone.)

I'm torn between playing, singing, and listening.  As a result, my record
collection is well below the size of most aficionados, but I listen quite
a bit.  To just about everything except most country:-)

My first 'hi-fi' was in '55 or so and I was thrilled.  The first albums
bought for it were Grofe's Grand Canyon (for the sound) and Roger Wagner's
Chorale of Xmas songs which I still have somewhere but can't find...  The
words for my favorite track on this piece still get to me.  And in the
sudden surge of uncharacteristic sentimentality that may fit this season
(and help after this divisive election), I'd like to quote that and ask if
someone would fill in the part I don't remember...

  I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
  The old familiar carols play
  And Loud and Sweet
  The Words Repeat
  Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

  And in despair I bowed my head
  There is no God on Earth, I said.
  For Hate is strong
  And mocks the song
  of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

  And ______________________  (?)
  God is not dead, nor doth he sleep
  For Wrong shall Fail
  And Right prevail
  With Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

The orchestration was beautiful to hear on an Xmas day almost 50 years ago,
as I was shopping, and this piece was played with speakers on the sidewalk.
I hadn't heard much 'hi fi' sound yet so it was quite a thrill.  The words
and music have just stayed with me all this time.

Andrys in Berkeley
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