Music and the Ordinary Listener
Michael Tilmouth, David R. B. Kimbell, Roger W. H. Savage · 2001
Abstract My title to these talks-’what the composer expects from the listener’-suggests a number of difficult questions, most of which depend more upon the composer than the listener. [In broaching this subject] I am much more frightened of you than you can possibly be of me; I have often myself administered the click of my switch on my portable wireless which so ruthlessly garrottes a speaker, or I might have been more particular in my title. I could have given offence to every living composer who does not agree with me by proposing to talk on what the sane composer expects of the listener.