Writers of complex music today are in an isolated position viz a viz the general public. Their work, on which they often spend years of intensive labor, is little heralded in modern society. The essay surveys the situation of the composer of complex music today, and discusses some historical causes of the rift between composer and audience, tracing it back to Beethoven's time. From an observation of the practices of classical music at its most popular, juxtaposed with modern music at its most recondite, compositional principles are derived which might enhance, if not the popoularity of music being written today, at least its quality.