"I have sometimes been told that my music is 'difficult' for the listener"

Roger Sessions, an American author understood for his intricacy and depth, once said, "I have actually often been told that my music is 'tough' for the listener". This declaration opens up a diverse discussion on the nature of music, perception, and the role of the composer and audience. Sessions' remark reflects a common critique faced by lots of 20th-century composers who belonged to the avant-garde motion, which frequently departed from conventional melodic and harmonic structures in favor of new, speculative types.

The concept of music being "hard" suggests numerous layers of significance. At its core, it recommends a variance from quickly absorbable, immediate satisfaction in listening, asking rather for persistence, concentration, and duplicated exposure. Such music typically challenges conventional expectations, needing the listener to engage actively instead of passively consume. This can be a boundary-pushing experience, where comprehension and gratitude establish with time as one ends up being more familiar with the language of the composition.

Sessions' use of the word "often" suggests that not all who encounter his compositions share this belief, suggesting different levels of receptivity among listeners. This variability can be credited to distinctions in musical education, exposure to contemporary music, and personal tastes. It raises the concern of what constitutes accessibility in art and whether art's role is to comfort and amuse or to provoke and challenge.

Additionally, the quote indirectly highlights a tension between artist and audience. Should authors tailor their work to public choices, or should they pursue their own creative vision, no matter whether it is immediately graspable? Sessions appears to advocate for the latter-- a pursuit of honesty and credibility in art, trusting that while not every listener will right away appreciate the intricacy, there is intrinsic value in the endeavor.

In summary, Sessions' reflection on his music as being "hard" highlights both the difficulties and the transformative possibilities fundamental in engaging deeply with art. It talks to the ongoing discussion between development and custom, and between the creator's intent and the audience's experience.