Doing Their Level Best

In his otherwise perceptive article on the state of American orchestras (“As Symphonies Set in the East ...” Dec. 9), Mark Swed dismisses Ralph Vaughan Williams and Richard Strauss as “second-level composers.”

Like other members of the academic music elite, Swed apparently believes that 20th century music that is beautiful and/or popular must not be very good.

Fortunately, the beautiful music written by these composers will remain popular long after Swed and his ilk are buried and forgotten.

TYLER OCHOA

Costa Mesa