On the one hand, everything said here is worth saying and thinking about.

On the other hand, it is very weird to talk about class and classical music and not make any reference the very different vision and achievements surrounding classical music in other countries, and especially in the Soviet Union. I don’t know enough to write the thing, but I know enough to see when the comparison would be warranted–y’all, you cannot be serious about classical music and not have the Soviet Union take up space in your head. It’s like talking about ballet or space without them. America in the 20th century very consciously shaped its institutions to be differently shaped from the Soviet Union’s. Shouldn’t we get into that a bit?

Anyway, if anyone knows something good on the topic that isn’t propaganda I’d love to read more.