Critic Edward Downs, conductor Arthur Fiedler and composer Paul Hindemith discussed the origin and nature of modern American music last night at New Lecture Hall.

Downs explained that modern music "sounds so terrible" because the originators overthrew form and harmony to say something which they could not say in the rigid classical style. Hindemith added that the main consideration in modern music should concern whether it fulfills its purpose in our life.

Tonight Richard Wilbur, junior fellow in English, Richard Eberhart, and John A. Ciardi, Briggs-Copeland Assistant Professor of English Composition, will speak on modern American poetry at 8 p.m. in Langdell Court Room.