Arnold Schoenberg

Re “Sic Transit Schoenberg: The Melody Doesn’t Linger On,” Opinion, July 21:

May I point out that Arnold Schoenberg did, in fact, write a piece for high school/university band: his “Theme and Variations in G Minor,” Op. 43A--an affable masterpiece in line with Brahms’ “Haydn Variations” and Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Moreover, I should like to intimate that Schoenberg’s lack of “popularity” has been and always will be due to his iron ethos of trenchantly citing and condemning metaphysical evil. Small wonder, because until one is prepared to acknowledge sin in one’s own life, the issue of good and evil in the world is not truly cognizable. Be that as it may, Schoenberg remains absolutely, undeniably the most important composer since Wagner, bar none, period.

TULLY ATKINSON