Klarinet Archive - Posting 000411.txt from 1994/10

From: Joseph Limacher <limacher@-----.EDU>
Subj: Dogma
Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 14:34:38 -0400

On Sat, 29 Oct 1994, Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.edu wrote:

(snip)
>
> Furthermore, she challenged my argument that, in denying that such differences
> exist I was duty bound to state my reasons as objectively as she was asked to
> state hers. And to that, I vehemently disagreed. Sounds like hit and run,
but
> on this one, I have precedent.
>
> It is a principle of law that asserts that he (or she) who takes the position
> that a phenomenon exits must prove it. While he (or she) who denys that
> existence is not required to prove it. In effect, assertions of existence
must
> be demonstrated, while denials of existence do not have to be demonstrated.
> That is what got Galileo in deep doody! He asserted that the sun did not go
> around the earth but the other way around. Nothing wrong with that, though it
> was heretical. What he got in trouble for was proving it. On the other hand,
> those who did not believe that the earth went around the sun did not have to
do
> anything. It was considered self-evident.
>
> I mention this because it may have seemed arbitrary for me to say, "Prove it"
> while not being willing to "Disprove it." Thus, though it sounds smug, it is
> anyone's right to insist that deviation from obvious phenomena be proven if
> stated, while one who clings to dogma does not have to do anything.
>
> Sounds unjust but I am hanging in there.

Dan,

I'm amused. You imply that the position with more adherents has the
privilege of incumbency. In that case I'm not at all sure at which pole
dogma resides.

By the way, I believe that there has been regional variation in equipment
and style that led to audible differences. However, I also believe that the
accessibility to performances by clarinetists of all persuasions has
blurred distinctions that might have existed, because players now have an
extended palette from which to choose.

I applaud your willingness to create a tape to test this question. For
me, simply posting a note to the newsgroup is an effort.

Joseph