Keep Swed Employed

Last Saturday, reader Brent L. Trafton suggested that music critic Mark Swed should be fired. I doubt that any really informed person would agree.

As a composer-conductor and university professor with more than 70 years’ experience, I can attest that Swed is held in high esteem by my colleagues. He is considered to be one of the best critics now writing on music in our country, a view shared in New York and abroad. He is particularly admired because of his ability to place the music he hears into context with its history and the historical present.

We are very lucky to have him, thanks to The Times.

DAVID RAKSIN

Van Nuys