Oct. 27, 1957

Dear Bob,

I hope you don't mind my answering your letter letter so soon, but I have a few extra hours today and thought I might as well write to you.

In reference to the subject which comprised a great part of your last letter, I am enclosing a piece from "The New Yorker".  /Underlined in the article is the following:  "It has strong melodic lines and a compelling sense of propulsion, and these virtues are, after all, the basic virtues of
genuine music."/  I assume you have read it and are objecting that it merely supports your side of the argument.  But wait!  You may have noticed the phrase "strong sense of melodic lines."
Not "line",  Can you recall any r.& r song which has melodic lines?  (we will assume for the sake
of argument that every r.& r. song has a melodic line).

And pray tell what sense of propulsion does one feel when listening to a r.& r. song?  Certainly one is moving but in a very restrained circle.  "Propulsion" connotes a change of place and in the case of music, a metamorphosis, even a catharsis.

I will conclude my dissertation on the subject by asking you a question:  What emotions other than abhorrence and disgust, does r.& r. evoke?

Have you done anything about P. lately?  By that I mean have you written her or asked her up for a weekend?  One of us has to keep in touch with her so that we'll have at least three for
cards next summer.

Unfortunately, despite much diligent searching, I am unable to add to this letter a suitable
versified epilogue, but I will try to get a good one for my next letter.

Tom