Klarinet Archive - Posting 000084.txt from 1995/02

From: Lisa Gartrell Yeo <ux403@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: More on substance
Date: Fri, 3 Feb 1995 12:52:20 -0500

In reply to Neil's missive:

If someone on this list wishes to express an unvalidated opinion
on certain clarinet-related topics, fine. Saying "I hate such-and-
such brand of reeds/clarinets/mouthpieces" without giving an
explanation may not be particularly enlightening to readers, but
will not likely give offence (except perhaps to their
manufacturers!). However, to say "I hate so-and-so's clarinet
playing" IS offensive. If you are going to criticize a
colleagues playing in general or interpretation of a particular
work, be specific and and back up your opinion. At university,
when making remarks on a person's performance in a masterclass,
we were always required to back up our comments (good and bad).
Making blanket statements about a performer's work IMHO is
less of a criticism of their output than on them
personally, and to me is a form of charcter defamation. If you
must express opinions without giving well thought out reasons,
keep them on inanimate objects (they can't sue you! :) ).
Forgive me if I sound like an academic; I guess I have been in
university too long!

Lisa Gartrell Yeo
Victoria, B