All of a bother

After reading Earle Grey's (heavily disguised) record review, I sat down ail of a bother, but determined to refute some of his seemingly more outlandish statements. Possibly it was just his style which threw me ( a style brilliantly adapted to his content), but I found myself, on re-reading the review, agreeing with him more than I cared to admit. However I would like to proffer the following thoughts.

I take it that the obscure reference to 1936 means that Mr Grey has heard the fourth symphony and approves of it, at least in part. I also take it that Mr Grey thoroughly disapproves of the fifth symphony, in which case I would submit that the poor man very possibly wrote it just to stay alive. "Aha" says Mr Grey, "Why then did he not go elsewhere and continue the good things that he started in the fourth?"

Dare I say that the reason was love of his mother-country? (very anarchical things, emotions!) In other words he compromised and earned the wrath of those in the alleged "vanguard."

I don't think that Dmitri was really suffering from "the old humanistic illusion that work and struggle ennoble Man and give point to existence". What I think he was saying was "Life is all thats left us, so dont kick it in the balls" or does that amount to the same thing for Mr Grey? Mr Grey implies that he is ready and waiting for death, in fact he can't get there quick enough. However, if faced with the prospect I think he may do a little cringing and compromising himself. I would certainly agree that Dmitri hasn't come far since the halcyon days of the fourth, and that the fifth exists as an anachronistic masterpiece in splendid isolation. But I am still left with the feeling that all those agitated strings cackling trumpets and vulgar percussion are indicative of great conflict (and not just tension).

Perhaps he sees his destiny as the demolisher of classical form. No no surely not. My feeble mind wanders.

Tony King.