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Entry: The Death of Music by the Spirit of Government Subsidies Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_death_of_music_from_the_spirit_of_government_subsidies#15399 Post contents: Here is but a brief list of masterpieces that have been composed post 1945: Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 10 through 15 Britten: War Requiem Bernstein: Overture to <i>Candide</i>, <i>West Side Story</i>, Symphony No.2 <i>The Age of Anxiety</i>, <i>Chichester Psalms</i> Messiaen: <i>Turangalîla-Symphonie</i> Here is a list of living composers whose works deserve serious consideration: Arvo Pärt John Corigliano Henri Dutilleux Henryk Górecki The advent of atonality was a necessary and spontaneous development in the history of Western music. It was not the result of some government grant, as is evidenced by Schoenberg's dying in poverty. The "emancipation of the dissonance" has contributed immensely to the deepening and enriching of tonality, as is evidenced by the works of all important twentieth-century composers, whether they chose to remain within the confines of more traditional sonorities or not. The above names and works are but a small sampling of what I'm talking about. You can gripe all you want about Cage and Schoenberg, and I can sympathize with the discontent brought about by intellectualism, but I have heard and enjoyed works by both composers, from within and without traditional harmonic structures. Take a listen sometime to Cage's works for prepared piano, or Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra. Just because music may temporarily require more from your ear does not mean that the socialists are out to destroy your ability to hear and understand beauty. Does anyone honestly believe that Stravinsky turned to serialism late in life due to governmental interference, or because he had been propogandized against his own <i>oerves</i>? And speaking of Igor: <i>[T]he philistine audience who rebelled at the premiere of Stravinsky’s </i>Sacre du Printemps<i> had a legitimate beef.</i> Pardon me, sir, but <i>The Rite of Spring</i> is absolute perfection. Even Ravel could hear it at the premiere. I guess you would have walked out with Saint-Saëns, then? <i>Bon débarras</i>! Sent at: 2008 07 05