John and Steve, John raises the very problem to which my programming attempts to be a solution. While a 15-minute movement may have many "moods" inside it, I tend to prefer to create the moods by having short pieces -- 2 to 4 minutes, sometimes 5 or 6 -- which are each clearly defined by mood, style, texture, and poetry. I reject the notion that audiences should just "get it" and not be bored. Our listeners listen to pop and folk and jazz -- just like John! -- and classical music does not exist in a vacuum. People have been conditioned by radio and even CDs to listen to back-to-back songs that create rapidly varying moods. Why shouldn't we do what captures people's imagination? Nobody is bored at a Chicago a cappella concert! Jonathan Miller

John, one of my favorite ever concerts was when I bought nosebleed seats at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh for a concert that consisted entirely of Shostakovich's 11th. A 65 minute long piece! At first I was worried I would doze, but I swear that by wearing jeans and a t-shirt to the show and having almost no one in the seats near me, I felt much more comfortable to fuss and fidget here and there, and generally feel at home. I was riveted for the whole show! I've always thought that the whole ritual of sitting straight and still for a couple of hours induces sleep, no matter how great the concert. Of course, so does a couple of glasses of wine!