[Thor Joachim Haga]

Yes, we seem to appreciate different things there. Per what we were discussing in the Williams book thread, I think a text automatically gets more “life” when there are subjective interpretations involved (whether I agree with them or not). The superficial-technical-contextual descriptions may be more timeless, or have added value when one needs sheer information, but it’s often also boring as hell as a reading experience. Like a manual.

For example, if I read a text where the author describes why THAT particular instrument creates THAT particular association or meaning in a work, that’s life and energy right there. Keeps it interesting. Or the shift in timbres or rhythms as they pertain to other parts of the work. Etc. This is fairly common in liner notes about non-programmatic works.