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I wish I could tolerate him. The content is great, but I find his constant tone of “oh how enlightened and civilized we are because we listen to the right music” thing beyond irritating.

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Funny, it comes off as tongue in cheek and charming to me. To each their own I suppose!

That makes me think of the "light music" which was popular in the 20th century, especially in the US. It was very much music for and by the upper classes, but supposed to be tongue in cheek and charming, not to take itself too seriously. The patrons of orchestral music increasingly weren't too keen on the "serious" classical music of the time which had the conservatories' stamp of approval (because, well, have you heard it?)

Leroy Anderson was part of that tradition. I'd say so were comedians like Victor Borge and Anna Russell.

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