The_AT Century_NNT1 Club_NN1 The_AT last_MD emperor_NN1 of_IO China_NP1 had_VHD just_RR assumed_VVN his_APPGE throne_NN1 ._. 
William_NP1 Howard_NP1 Taft_NP1 ,_, the_AT President-elect_NNB of_IO the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ meeting_VVG with_IW Theodore_NP1 Roosevelt_NP1 at_II the_AT White_NP1 House_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 deranged_JJ veteran_NN1 of_IO the_AT Philippine_JJ war_NN1 terrorized_VVD Edgcwater_NP1 ,_, New_NP1 Jersey_NP1 ,_, holding_VVG up_RP a_AT1 hotel_NN1 ._. 
The_AT diva_NN1 Nellie_NP1 Melha_NP1 disembarked_VVD from_II the_AT Lusitania_NP1 ,_, resplendent_JJ in_II a_AT1 broad-brimmed_JJ hat_NN1 ._. 
Gustav_NP1 Mahler_NP1 was_VBDZ about_RPK to_TO conduct_VVI the_AT last_MD of_IO three_MC concerts_NN2 at_II Carnegie_NP1 Hall_NN1 ,_, having_VHG unleashed_VVN his_APPGE Second_MD Symphony_NN1 a_AT1 few_DA2 nights_NNT2 earlier_RRR ._. 
And_CC Elliott_NP1 Cook_NP1 Carter_NP1 ,_, Jr._NNA ,_, was_VBDZ born_VVN in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ December_NPM1 11,1908_MC ._. 
A_AT1 hundred_NNO years_NNT2 later_RRR to_II the_AT day_NNT1 ,_, Mr._NNB Carter_NP1 walked_VVD onstage_JJ at_II Carnegie_NP1 ,_, a_RR21 little_RR22 hunched_VVN but_CCB moving_VVG under_II his_APPGE own_DA power_NN1 ,_, to_TO receive_VVI the_AT adulation_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 capacity_NN1 audience_NN1 ._. 
If_CS he_PPHS1 had_VHD done_VDN nothing_PN1 more_DAR man_NN1 show_VV0 up_RP ,_, he_PPHS1 would_VM have_VHI drawn_VVN a_AT1 standing_NN1 ovation_NN1 ._. 
In_II fact_NN1 ,_, the_AT composer_NN1 was_VBDZ taking_VVG a_AT1 bow_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 new_JJ work_NN1 :_: a_AT1 short_JJ concerto_NN1 for_IF piano_NN1 and_CC orchestra_NN1 entitled_VVN "_" Interventions_NN2 ,_, "_" which_DDQ Daniel_NP1 Barenboim_NP1 and_CC the_AT Boston_NP1 Symphony_NN1 played_VVN under_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO James_NP1 Levine_NP1 ._. 
If_CS this_DD1 new_JJ piece_NN1 had_VHD been_VBN merely_RR adequate_JJ ,_, the_AT crowd_NN1 would_VM have_VHI been_VBN happy_JJ ,_, but_CCB it_PPH1 turned_VVD out_RP to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 lucid_JJ ,_, vivid_JJ ,_, potent_JJ score_NN1 --_NN1 one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT immediately_RR likable_JJ works_NN in_II Carter_NP1 s_ZZ1 huge_JJ and_CC sometimes_RT forbidding_JJ output_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ something_PN1 almost_RR unprecedented_JJ in_II the_AT history_NN1 of_IO art_NN1 :_: an_AT1 artist_NN1 reaching_VVG the_AT age_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 hundred_NNO with_IW his_APPGE creativity_NN1 intact_JJ ._. 
Young_JJ composers_NN2 who_PNQS wonder_VV0 what_DDQ it_PPH1 takes_VVZ to_TO break_VVI into_II die_VV0 mainstream_JJ now_RT have_VH0 the_AT answer_NN1 :_: live_VV0 a_AT1 long_JJ ,_, long_RR ,_, long_RR ,_, long_JJ time_NNT1 ._. 
Carter_NP1 was_VBDZ featured_VVN on_II die_VV0 front_JJ page_NN1 of_IO the_AT Times_NNT2 ;_; visited_VVD "_" The_AT Charlie_NP1 Rose_NP1 Show_NN1 "_" ;_; popped_VVD up_RP on_II the_AT local_JJ news_NN1 ;_; and_CC appeared_VVD in_II Willard_NP1 Scott_NP1 's_GE parade_NN1 of_IO centenarians_NN2 ,_, on_II NBC_NP1 's_VBZ "_" Today_RT ._. "_" 
In_II interviews_NN2 ,_, he_PPHS1 spoke_VVD of_IO seeing_VVG warships_NN2 on_II the_AT Hudson_NP1 during_II the_AT First_MD World_NN1 War_NN1 (_( yes_UH ,_, the_AT First_MD )_) ;_; of_IO meeting_VVG Edgard_NP1 Varese_NP2 in_II a_AT1 speakeasy_NN1 during_II Prohibition_NN1 ;_; and_CC of_IO attending_VVG the_AT concert_NN1 that_CST inspired_VVD him_PPHO1 to_TO become_VVI a_AT1 composer_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 Boston_NP1 Symphony_NN1 performance_NN1 of_IO The_AT Rite_NN1 of_IO Spring_NN1 ,_, "_" at_II Carnegie_NP1 ,_, in_II January_NPM1 ,_, 1924_MC ._. 
"_" More_DAR than_CSN half_DB the_AT audience_NN1 walked_VVD out_RP ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 recalled_VVD at_II a_AT1 companion_NN1 event_NN1 at_II Zankel_NP1 Hlali_NP1 ,_, adding_VVG that_CST the_AT scandal_NN1 made_VVD him_PPHO1 like_VVI the_AT piece_NN1 even_RR more_RRR :_: "_" You_PPY know_VV0 how_RGQ young_JJ people_NN are_VBR !_! "_" 
In_II commemoration_NN1 ,_, Levine_NP1 ended_VVD the_AT centenary_NN1 bash_NN1 with_IW the_AT Rite_NN1 ._. "_" 
Looking_VVG down_RP the_AT aisle_NN1 at_II the_AT back_NN1 of_IO Carter_NP1 's_GE white_JJ head_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 had_VHD a_AT1 moment_NN1 of_IO temporal_JJ vertigo_NN1 :_: this_DD1 man_NN1 had_VHD heard_VVN the_AT same_DA music_NN1 in_II the_AT same_DA hall_NN1 almost_RR eighty-five_MC years_NNT2 earlier_RRR ._. 
Two_MC months_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, he_PPHS1 returned_VVD to_TO see_VVI George_NP1 Gershwin_NP1 play_VV0 his_APPGE new_JJ piece_NN1 ,_, "_" Rhapsody_NP1 in_II Blue_JJ ._. "_" 
Once_RR Interventions_NN2 "_" began_VVD ,_, the_AT novelty_NN1 of_IO Carter_NP1 's_GE longevity_NN1 receded_VVD ,_, and_CC the_AT music_NN1 became_VVD the_AT most_RGT interesting_JJ thing_NN1 ._. 
Since_CS the_AT early_JJ nineties_MC2 ,_, Carter_NP1 has_VHZ backed_VVN away_II21 from_II22 the_AT extreme_JJ density_NN1 that_CST marked_VVD his_APPGE scores_NN2 of_IO previous_JJ decades_NNT2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 has_VHZ by_RR31 no_RR32 means_RR33 disavowed_VVN atonality_NN1 ,_, as_CSA an_AT1 Internet_NN1 hoax_NN1 proposed_VVD ._. 
(_( It_PPH1 had_VHD convinced_VVN composers_NN2 in_II China_NP1 ,_, 1_MC1 discovered_VVD on_II a_AT1 visit_NN1 to_II Beijing_NP1 last_MD year_NNT1 ._. )_) 
But_CCB he_PPHS1 has_VHZ ,_, in_II his_APPGE own_DA words_NN2 ,_, enjoyed_VVD "_" adventures_NN2 in_II rather_RG simpler_JJR combinations_NN2 ,_, "_" He_PPHS1 has_VHZ also_RR produced_VVN myriad_NN1 miniatures_NN2 ,_, as_CS21 if_CS22 shaking_VVG off_RP the_AT role_NN1 --_NN1 which_DDQ Stravinsky_NP1 ,_, among_II others_NN2 ,_, bestowed_VVN upon_II him_PPHO1 --_NN1 of_IO being_VBG the_AT Great_JJ Serious_JJ American_JJ Composer_NN1 ._. 
There_EX was_VBDZ always_RR an_AT1 impish_JJ quality_NN1 behind_II Carter_NP1 's_GE towering_JJ dissonances_NN2 and_CC helter-skelter_NN1 rhythms_NN2 ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 's_VBZ now_RT something_PN1 of_IO a_AT1 modernist_JJ comedian_NN1 ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ also_RR a_AT1 sweetness_NN1 that_CST never_RR quite_RR existed_VVD before_II --_NN1 not_XX even_CS21 when_CS22 ,_, as_CSA a_AT1 young_JJ man_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 wrote_VVD tonal_JJ music_NN1 in_II the_AT manner_NN1 of_IO Aaron_NP1 Copland_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 seems_VVZ finally_RR and_CC fully_RR himself_PPX1 ._. 
"_" Interventions_NN2 "_" --_NN1 one_MC1 of_IO thirteen_MC pieces_NN2 that_CST Carter_NP1 has_VHZ finished_VVN in_II the_AT past_JJ two_MC years_NNT2 --_NN1 contains_VVZ much_DA1 familiar-sounding_JJ material_NN1 ._. 
The_AT sustained_JJ melodies_NN2 for_IF strings_NN2 5_MC and_CC solo_NN1 instruments_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 melancholy_JJ kind_NN1 of_IO plainsong_NN1 ,_, hark_VV0 back_RP to_II the_AT Cello_NN1 Sonata_NP1 (_( 1948_MC )_) and_CC the_AT First_MD String_NN1 Quarter_NN1 (_( 1950-51_MCMC )_) ._. 
Instruments_NN2 tangle_VV0 along_RP invisible_JJ lines_NN2 of_IO scrimmage_NN1 ._. 
The_AT piano_NN1 's_GE intermittent_JJ hammering_NN1 on_II a_AT1 single_JJ note_NN1 recalls_VVZ the_AT climax_NN1 of_IO the_AT Piano_NN1 Concerto_NN1 ,_, the_AT heaviest_JJT of_IO Carter_NP1 's_GE middle-period_JJ works_NN ,_, What_DDQ 's_VBZ striking_VVG is_VBZ the_AT precision_NN1 with_IW which_DDQ these_DD2 skirmishes_NN2 are_VBR laid_VVN out_RP ._. 
We_PPIS2 do_VD0 n't_XX merely_RR have_VHI an_AT1 impression_NN1 of_IO multiplicity_NN1 ;_; we_PPIS2 see_VV0 ,_, as_CS21 if_CS22 under_II a_AT1 moving_JJ spotlight_NN1 ,_, each_DD1 face_NN1 in_II the_AT throng_NN1 ._. 
The_AT score_NN1 could_VM be_VBI given_VVN to_II any_DD composition_NN1 class_NN1 as_II a_AT1 lesson_NN1 in_II making_VVG one_PN1 's_GE ideas_NN2 clear_VV0 ._. 
At_II the_AT same_DA time_NNT1 ,_, it_PPH1 's_VBZ rich_JJ in_II emotion_NN1 ._. 
The_AT orchestra_NN1 and_CC the_AT piano_NN1 come_VVN from_II different_JJ worlds_NN2 --_NN1 from_II beginning_NN1 to_II end_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 disagree_VV0 on_II whether_CSW to_TO emphasize_VVI the_AT note_NN1 A_ZZ1 or_CC the_AT note_NN1 B-flat_NN1 --_NN1 but_CCB they_PPHS2 find_VV0 ways_NN2 to_TO get_VVI along_RP ,_, with_IW the_AT mediation_NN1 of_IO two_MC bustling_JJ instrumental_JJ trios_NN2 ._. 
A_AT1 peanut_NN1 gallery_NN1 of_IO percussion_NN1 (_( bongo_NN1 drums_NN2 ,_, maracas_NN2 ,_, slapstick_NN1 ,_, and_RR31 so_RR32 on_RR33 )_) provides_VVZ rude_JJ commentary_NN1 ._. 
Several_DA2 times_NNT2 ,_, I_PPIS1 wanted_VVD to_TO laugh_VVI ,_, especially_RR when_CS the_AT piano_NN1 part_NN1 and_CC the_AT orchestral_JJ accompaniment_NN1 seemed_VVD to_TO mimic_VVI the_AT personalities_NN2 of_IO the_AT star_NN1 performers_NN2 for_IF which_DDQ they_PPHS2 were_VBDR written_VVN :_: the_AT one_PN1 brusque_JJ ,_, animated_JJ ,_, and_CC prone_JJ to_II soliloquizing_VVG ;_; the_AT other_JJ expansive_JJ ,_, effusive_JJ ,_, and_CC occasionally_RR a_RR21 bit_RR22 Wagnerian_JJ ._. 
At_II subsequent_JJ concerts_NN2 ,_, two_MC brief_JJ Carter_NN1 pieces_NN2 had_VHD their_APPGE world_NN1 premieres_NN2 :_: "_" Poems_NN2 of_IO Louis_NP1 Zukofsky_NP1 ,_, "_" for_IF soprano_NN1 and_CC clarinet_NN1 ,_, and_CC "_" Duettino_NP1 ,_, "_" for_IF violin_NN1 and_CC cello_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 had_VHD the_AT same_DA transparency_NN1 that_CST distinguished_JJ "_" Interventions_NN2 "_" and_CC other_JJ recent_JJ productions_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 "_" Mosaic_JJ "_" and_CC "_" Sound_NN1 Fields_NN2 "_" (_( which_DDQ has_VHZ a_AT1 surprise_NN1 B-flat-major_NP1 ending_NN1 )_) ._. 
"_" Duettino_NN1 "_" is_VBZ dedicated_VVN to_II Milton_NP1 Babbitt_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS is_VBZ ninety-two_MC and_CC who_PNQS also_RR remains_VVZ active_JJ ,_, I_PPIS1 wondered_VVD if_CS Carter_NP1 might_VM have_VHI taken_VVN inspiration_NN1 from_II Babbitt_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS has_VHZ long_RR imposed_VVN clarity_NN1 and_CC wit_NN1 on_II his_PPGE ostensibly_RR esoteric_JJ designs_NN2 ._. 
Babbitt_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN moving_VVG through_II his_APPGE nineties_MC2 with_IW little_DA1 fanfare_NN1 ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 deserves_VVZ more_DAR attention_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT fall_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 attended_VVD an_AT1 all-Babbitt_JJ program_NN1 by_II the_AT Zukofsky_JJ Quartet_NN1 ,_, at_II Miller_NP1 Theatre_NN1 ,_, and_CC was_VBDZ particularly_RR struck_VVN by_II his_APPGE Fifth_MD Quartet_NN1 (_( 1982_MC )_) ,_, which_DDQ echoes_NN2 die_VV0 brooding_JJ beauty_NN1 of_IO Berg_NP1 's_GE "_" Lyric_JJ Suite_NN1 ,_, "_" Babbitt_NP1 talks_VVZ a_AT1 mile_NNU1 a_AT1 minute_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB this_DD1 music_NN1 is_VBZ rivetingly_RR still_JJ ,_, as_CS21 if_CS22 the_AT raging_JJ streams_NN2 of_IO modernism_NN1 had_VHD emptied_VVN into_II a_AT1 dark_NN1 ,_, deep_JJ lake_NN1 ._. 
One_MC1 day_NNT1 before_II Carter_NP1 was_VBDZ born_VVN ,_, Olivier_NP1 Messiaen_NP1 entered_VVD the_AT world_NN1 ,_, in_II Avignon_NP1 ,_, He_PPHS1 died_VVD in_II 1992_MC ,_, but_CCB he_PPHS1 is_VBZ very_RG much_DA1 with_IW us_PPIO2 ._. 
On_II the_AT centenary_NN1 day_NNT1 ,_, his_APPGE music_NN1 rang_VVD out_RP in_II churches_NN2 and_CC halls_NN2 around_II the_AT world_NN1 ,_, including_II the_AT Southbank_NN1 Centre_NN1 ,_, in_II London_NP1 ,_, where_RRQ Pierre_NP1 Boulez_NP1 ,_, Messiaen_NP1 's_GE most_RGT illustrious_JJ student_NN1 ,_, led_VVD a_AT1 concert_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE teachers_NN2 works_NN ;_; Chartres_NP1 Cathedral_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ resounded_VVD with_IW the_AT apocalyptic_JJ sonorities_NN2 of_IO "_" Et_FW Exspecto_NP1 Resurrectionem_NP1 Mortuorum_NP1 "_" ;_; and_CC the_AT Basilique_NP1 Notre-Dame_NP1 ,_, in_II Montreal_NP1 ,_, where_RRQ the_AT entire_JJ corpus_NN1 of_IO the_AT composer_NN1 's_GE organ_NN1 music_NN1 was_VBDZ heard_VVN ._. 
Not_XX everyone_PN1 can_VM put_VVI up_RP with_IW Messiaen_NP1 's_GE Catholic_JJ ecstasies_NN2 ,_, but_CCB his_APPGE canonical_JJ status_NN1 seems_VVZ assured_JJ ,_, and_CC his_APPGE devotees_NN2 are_VBR numerous_JJ and_CC zealous_JJ ._. 
Paul_NP1 Festa_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS has_VHZ made_VVN a_AT1 remarkable_JJ film_NN1 ,_, "_" Apparition_NN1 of_IO the_AT Eternal_JJ Church_NN1 ,_, "_" about_II the_AT experience_NN1 of_IO listening_VVG to_II Messiaen_NP1 ,_, suggests_VVZ that_CST the_AT composer_NN1 has_VHZ become_VVN the_AT focus_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 new_JJ kind_NN1 of_IO nondenominational_JJ religious_JJ feeling_NN1 ,_, distinct_JJ from_II Catholicism_NN1 ._. 
Messiaen_NN1 might_VM have_VHI been_VBN horrified_VVN by_II the_AT notion_NN1 ,_, but_CCB his_APPGE binding_VVG together_RL of_IO sensual_JJ and_CC spiritual_JJ impulses_NN2 is_VBZ a_AT1 force_NN1 that_CST acts_VVZ upon_II diverse_JJ audiences_NN2 with_IW unpredictable_JJ intensity_NN1 ._. 
In_II New_NP1 York_NP1 ,_, there_EX were_VBDR only_RR three_MC major_JJ concerts_NN2 during_II anniversary_NN1 week_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB they_PPHS2 managed_VVD to_TO convey_VVI the_AT different_JJ sides_NN2 of_IO Messiaen_NN1 's_GE opulently_RR varied_JJ personality_NN1 ._. 
A_ZZ1 Voices_NN2 of_IO Ascension_NP1 concert_NN1 at_II Ascension_NP1 Church_NN1 concentrated_VVN on_II the_AT mystical_JJ Messiaen_NN1 ;_; the_AT "_" Quartet_NN1 for_IF the_AT End_NN1 of_IO Time_NNT1 "_" again_RT cast_VV0 its_APPGE spell_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT veteran_JJ Messiaenist_NN1 Jon_NP1 Gillock_NP1 chose_VVD offbeat_JJ excerpts_NN2 from_II the_AT organ_NN1 music_NN1 ._. 
Three_MC nights_NNT2 later_RRR ,_, at_II Miller_NP1 Theatre_NN1 ,_, the_AT AXIOM_NN1 Ensemble_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Juilliard_NN1 group_NN1 under_II the_AT direction_NN1 of_IO Jeffrey_NP1 Milarsky_NP1 ,_, presented_VVD Messiaen_NP1 the_AT modernist_JJ ,_, sharply_RR illuminating_VVG the_AT complexities_NN2 of_IO "_" Seven_MC Haiku_NP1 ,_, "_" "_" Colors_NN2 of_IO the_AT Celestial_JJ City_NN1 ,_, "_" and_CC "_" Et_FW Exspecto_NP1 ._. "_" 
Finally_RR ,_, at_II Carnegie_NP1 ,_, Reinbert_NP1 de_NP1 Leeuw_NP1 led_VVD the_AT Yale_NP1 Philharmonia_NP1 in_II the_AT stupendous_JJ and_CC stupefying_VVG "_" Turangalila_NP1 Symphony_NN1 ,_, "_" which_DDQ reveals_VVZ Messiaen_NN1 as_II the_AT eternal_JJ showman_NN1 ._. 
Whether_CSW it_PPH1 's_VBZ the_AT jazzy_JJ climax_NN1 of_IO "_" Turangalila_NP1 ,_, "_" the_AT monumental_JJ descending_JJ bass_JJ line_NN1 at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO "_" La_NP1 Nativite_NP1 du_FW Seigneur_FW ,_, "_" or_CC the_AT awesome_JJ shimmering_JJ of_IO woodwind_NN1 ,_, brass_NN1 ,_, gongs_NN2 ,_, and_CC cowbells_NN2 that_CST closes_VVZ "_" Et_NP1 Exspecto_NP1 ,_, "_" the_AT music_NN1 has_VHZ the_AT happy_JJ effect_NN1 of_IO flattening_VVG its_APPGE listeners_NN2 against_II the_AT wall_NN1 ._. 
In_II either_RR sacred_JJ or_CC secular_JJ tones_NN2 ,_, we_PPIS2 say_VV0 ,_, "_" Oh_UH ,_, my_APPGE God_NP1 ._. "_" 
