Tchaikovsky (poem)

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"Tchaikovsky" is a poem by Karl Jones.

Tchaikovsky

Unless, you know, grating dissonance is the intent.

Apparently some composers score dissonance.

And by some composers, I mean I am specifically giving John Cage and Terry Riley free passes on this, because they did work I like and admire.

Also, free pass to Tchaikovsky for the cannon in 1812 Overture, which is quite dissonant, within its aggressively narrow timbre window. (My parents listened to classical music; boys like cannons; we are what we are.)

But Tchaikovsky ... my God ... Tchaikovsky ...

Let all the voices of man and instrument alike be stilled and silent; let all the ears be stopped and never again hear a sound; let all the instruments rot or rust, according to their nature; let the music of the cosmos itself fade to a dull hiss of universal background radiation ... farewell Mozart, so long Beethoven, goodnight Stardust.

But let the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky be remembered forever.

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