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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000064.txt from 2003/03

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] [Dblrd-L] Quote of the Day
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 00:42:46 -0500

"One cannot escape history," so Copland framed the words, wisdom and
writings of Abraham Lincoln in his "Lincoln Portrait." Lincoln lived
and was President in our country's most politically explosive time.
Symphonies 5 and 10 of Schostakovich are ripe with political overtones
in another countries times of tribulations.

Do we ignore the passion and compassion of great musicians and
composers who choose not to sweep explosive issues under the rug? Tell
that to a great cellist who lived a large part of the balance of his
life in exile because a monster and dictator ran his homeland, Spain,
with an iron fist, or to an artist friend who shared the same hatred
for the same dictator.

Music is made from people of extraordinary talent with extraordinary
compassion expressing the deepest and most sincere feelings men know
and feel. Bach expressed all such human feelings and gave all credit to
God.

Yes, my political thoughts belong here as much as anywhere. As long as
I can relate them to music, they are relevant. As long as the thoughts
of music are relevant, I also have good thoughts about the future and
the goodness of mankind.