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