far as their work points to certain specific trends, the de-
scription of which is the goal of our explanations. Thus, if
for instance a composer of the artistic magnitude of Stra-
winsky is discussed only with respect to one compositional
aspect, the rhythmical, this does not imply that his creative
significance is considered to be limited to this one sphere.
Neither is any aesthetic evaluation intended if many widely
acclaimed composers of today are mentioned only in pass-
ing or are not mentioned at all. This book does not pur-
port to give a picture of the modern musical scene, but
merely to demonstrate one of its specific trends, a trend
which, moreover, only now begins to assume some clearly
perceptible silhouette. Only what seemed to the author to
be pertinent to this specific evolution--and he is well
aware that even so his endeavour must remain very in-
complete--was included in the analysis.

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