In the Spring 2004 Musical Times

'During his lifetime, and even — astonishingly — in the half-century since his death, the music of Arnold Schoenberg has been influential and controversial out of all proportion to the frequency with which it has ever been performed or otherwise disseminated. His name has been a battle cry, a punching bag, an article of faith, a term of abuse, a finger in the dike, and a symbol for anything and everything: progress, degeneracy, élitism, integrity, disintegration, regeneration, sublimity, ridiculousness. According to some, he is the reason why serious music is dying. According to others, he is the only reason it has even lived this long. Nobody in the history of music has been a more dependable whipping boy; but neither has anyone been a trustier stick to beat with.'

Richard Taruskin reflects on on the poietic fallacy

Peter Williams interrogates the claims of (post)modern musicology

Chris Walton introduces Klemperer's ending to Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony, which receives its first publication in the Spring 2004 MT.

Right: part of Otto Klemperer's ending to Mendelssohn's 'Scottish' Symphony © Otto Klemperer, and not to be further reproduced

To purchase a single copy of the Spring 2004 issue (or back issues), please telephone (+44) (0)1442 879097.

For details of
the current issue
click here