QcCowboy

I think people need to cool down a tiny bit.

Simply because AntiAtonality didn't like the piece, or an aspect of the piece, doesn't really mean all that much. It's simply a reflection of how he sees music, and this piece in particular.

I've read his assessment of my music, I disagree wtih it. It doesn't mean he's wrong. He sees it that way. That's all. I don't think following his advice will in any way "improve" my composition. I see it that way. Period.

I think the only place where there's been any "problem" with accepting criticism, is that AA maybe feels his comment should carry more weight than I am giving it credit for. I've gone over this work with a number of people with far more impressive credentials than either his or mine, and his criticism just doesn't fall into any of the categories discussed with those people. So I can safely feel strongly that his criticism, while valid in his eyes, is just that: "valid in his eyes". Not mine.

Let's please not make a big thing out of this. Remember, people on this forum were quite willing to hand me my head on a platter over my clarinet sonata, a work that has been refered to as a masterpiece by people elsewhere (including the clarinetist performing it in september). Does it mean it's a masterpiece? I don't know, and I don't care. One day, history will tell. But I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over negative reviews. They are part and parcel of a composer's life.

If you can look at your work and STILL firmly believe that a critique is not valid, with absolutely no question, then you are the final arbiter. Well, maybe the penultimate arbiter. History will be the real final arbiter. More than likely, I'll be dead and gone by then.