Speaker 1: "I quite like the way Philip Glass has taken the very context of pop music and married it with the grandiose elements of classical music and made something entirely new with the two. I think it's a very clear and clever arrangement which forces us to think of the boundaries in music and how it transcends the triviality of such genres."

Speaker 2: "I'm sorry but I just find that preposterous. Obviously that's his main aim is to find the perfect counterpoint between classical and pop music and it's an intelligent idea but ultimately pointless....."

S1: "Come now, it's a work of genius."

S2: "I think not.....and genius is not something I'd use lightly as you have on many occasions. I get the impression you are easily amused. Take Philip Glass' compositions on merit and they are very good....granted his use of minimalism can grate on the listener but essentially there is something in them that makes them unique. With this he has merely washed out his sound and dumbed down the arrangements so that they carefully accompany the singers with which he has in mind. And for me that's just not acceptable. Similarly David Byrne is a great singer who uses his songs powerfully and with a great deal of thought seems blocked out somewhat. It seems as if both are compromised and as musicians that seems a total failure."

S1: "But you always look on the whole idea of musicians compromised and the arrangements as something of vital importance. Can't you take it for what it is and that is that it gives a good ambience of some sort. And there are plenty more singers in this then just David Byrne."

S2: "I know that but even they feel stymied by this idea. They want to do something more but they are afraid and subsequently bottle it when they could really have gone out and done something. That goes for everyone there....they all feel compromised as if they don't know what they should really do. And that's terrible. As for the music itself it merely sounds as background for a meal in a restaurant for well off suburbanites such as ourselves and it's an all too knowing ploy that's used to fritter away in the background."

Speaker 3: "Listen can we stop this debate about the merits of Philip Glass, the roast lamb with croutons, marinaded asparagus with Caesar salad is ready to be served. Tuck in!
Speaker 1: "I quite like the way Philip Glass has taken the very context of pop music and married it with the grandiose elements of classical music and made something entirely new with the two. I think it's a very clear and clever arrangement which forces us to think of the boundaries in music and how it transcends the triviality of such genres. "

Speaker 2: "I'm sorry but I just find that preposterous. Obviously that's his main aim is to find the perfect counterpoint between classical and pop music and it's an intelligent idea but ultimately pointless.... . "

S1: "Come now, it's a work of genius. "

S2: "I think not.... . and genius is not something I'd use lightly as you have on many occasions. I get the impression you are easily amused. Take Philip Glass' compositions on merit and they are very good.... granted his use of minimalism can grate on the listener but essentially there is something in them that makes them unique. With this he has merely washed out his sound and dumbed down the arrangements so that they carefully accompany the singers with which he has in mind. And for me that's just not acceptable. Similarly David Byrne is a great singer who uses his songs powerfully and with a great deal of thought seems blocked out somewhat. It seems as if both are compromised and as musicians that seems a total failure. "

S1: "But you always look on the whole idea of musicians compromised and the arrangements as something of vital importance. Can't you take it for what it is and that is that it gives a good ambience of some sort. And there are plenty more singers in this then just David Byrne. "

S2: "I know that but even they feel stymied by this idea. They want to do something more but they are afraid and subsequently bottle it when they could really have gone out and done something. That goes for everyone there.... they all feel compromised as if they don't know what they should really do. And that's terrible. As for the music itself it merely sounds as background for a meal in a restaurant for well off suburbanites such as ourselves and it's an all too knowing ploy that's used to fritter away in the background. "

Speaker 3: "Listen can we stop this debate about the merits of Philip Glass, the roast lamb with croutons, marinaded asparagus with Caesar salad is ready to be served. Tuck in!