As a long-time fan of Ives' music, I've been very much enjoying this
exchange.
Today I walked through the local shopping mall, and my ears were assaulted
on all sides by festive music - every store was playing a different
'Christmas tape', the children's rides were doing their own bit for the
general noise level, and the lot was topped off by central speakers playing
carols. Thinking about Ives and the four bands converging from different
directions, I tried to find some sense of enjoyment in all this; but came to
the conclusion that though with Ives the textures may be complex, the
strands making them up are at least in tune!
Incidentally, talking of the poems of Robbie Burns with a Hungarian accent,
I did once hear the Hallelujah chorus sung by a Chinese choir, not in
English, nor in any of the Chinese languages, but in tonic solfa.
best
Joanna
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