Perusing some of Steve Schwartz's latest edifying and entertaining reviews
has prompted me to emerge from lurking to ask a few questions.  For those
of you who regularly seek and enjoy "modern" music (whether it be labeled
"contemporary", "avant-garde", "atonal", "evil and corrupt", etc.): Is
your emotional reaction immediate, upon first listen?  Or does it take
a while to "sink in"?  Does it depend on the mood you're in, time of
day, color of the sofa, etc?  Does it change dramatically over long time
scales?  Does it depend on your familiarity with the rest of the composer's
(or other similar composers') oeuvre?  Does it help you (in emotional
appreciation, not intellectual) to read liner notes/historical
perspectives/theoretical analysis/critical reviews?  (Let me anticipate
that a common one-word reaction to these questions will be "sometimes."
Or perhaps two words - "it depends." However, responses of any length
will be much appreciated.) In case you're wondering, I'm a relatively
conventional listener (i.e., I go with ease from medieval chant up to
some Bartok and Shostakovich, but beyond only with some sweat and bruises)
who is trying to expand.

Thanks,
Richard Tsuyuki