Dear Marion,

Thank you for your letter. I regret to have ventured
an opinion about the financial value that might be attached
to contemporary music in rigorous imitation of classical
styles. I don't know what that financial value would be.
I don't believe anyone can know except by experiment.
I should have reminded myself that the monetary value
attached to art is irrational, and that it is foolish
of me even to hazard a guess. Historically imitation in art
has a long and distinguished history. Don't forget the
Greek revival ushered in by the likes of Johann Joachim
Winckelmann in the 18th century, whose rediscovery of
edle Einfalt und stille Groesse made many architects
and builders wealthy.

As for your question, whether or not my statement was
made as a joke, I cannot remind you often enough that
my role model is Till Eulenspiegel, that nothing I say
or do can be taken seriously, that everything I write
is a joke, that I myself am a joke, and that the only
appropriate response to what I write and to what I am
is laughter.

Please don't worry about offending me or hurting my
feelings by being highly critical of me or calling me
names. I am a passionate advocate of unfettered
expression, and consider any candid opinions no matter
how derogatory, a compliment. My belief, of which I
have been unable to convince you, that guilt is inherent
in and inseparable from existence, effectively immunizes
me against criticism. In time you'll see that there is
method in my madness.

Jochen