William Strother replied to my non-receptiveness to this work: >For me this has always been a frightening work, and a fine one. I first >heard it in a recording by Ormandy from about the time of the Cuban missile >crisis, and it is likely that association that gives this such a portentous >emotional sound for me." Is it then only political association that gives this work any meaning? Sad if music can only reach us through politics ... And other reactions I have had direct suggest I am not the only one on this list to strike, mentally, the work from one's internal music list ... CR