tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484976034015526780.post7590659763341041104..comments2023-11-02T06:39:14.732-04:00Comments on Ugly Duckling Reflections: Lissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02866901938275679063noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484976034015526780.post-9763975408888532972007-12-06T03:11:00.000-05:002007-12-06T03:11:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484976034015526780.post-58307601069963069062007-12-01T22:25:00.000-05:002007-12-01T22:25:00.000-05:00It seems so strange to me that there exists an ent...It seems so strange to me that there exists an entire arena of music (classical music) in which the performer's goal is to play centuries-old compositions as "well" as possible. By what standard? Glenn Gould and Awadagin Pratt will play a Bach piece, both very differently, and then people will set to squabbling over whether their interpretations are too unorthodox. But in what sense -- that it departs from the written music? (How can we assume that the sheet music as published today best represents how Bach or Beethoven should sound?) -- that it departs from how the piece is most commonly performed? (Isn't the point to distinguish oneself?)<BR/><BR/>I have so much respect for classical musicians, like yourself, who strive towards such an ineffable goal. It would discourage me to no end to practice for years and years and still feel that I could be doing a piece more justice. At least in the folk/popular realm, good performers are praised for their idiosyncrasies and they can go from there. People say about Dylan: "his voice is terrible -- but what an amazing singer-songwriter!" No one would say: "listen to that Bach concerto -- squeaks, wrong notes, terrible timing... but what vitality!" It really must be like a religion, in which you can only asymptotically approach perfection but never reach it.<BR/><BR/>Even though this kind of dedication is astounding, the one thing that I do wish was more valued in classical music education was composition and improvisation. Only a couple of my Music School friends have ever tried to write anything, and those who have seem reticent to share, as if they as Performers are destined to be empty vessels.<BR/><BR/>Hope you're doing well!<BR/><BR/>Keep posting. It's fascinating.<BR/><BR/>Evan D. W.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com