Klarinet Archive - Posting 000246.txt from 1996/04

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Sean Talbot asks a great question
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 1996 19:01:02 -0400

Sean asks why people get in a snit when a player goes "outside the norm"
when playing a particular piece. Great question. Hard to answer.
Let me give you an analogy. Perhaps it will help. Maybe it will
hinder.

You are asked to arrange an art exhibition for your neighborhood and
you are given enough money to get copies of some well known works
for display. One of the works you want to get is the Michaelangelo
statue of David and you rent it from Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
It has to be 15 feet high, of which 5 feet is pedastal and 10 feet
is a statue. David is nude. He holds a sling over his shoulder.
He has a rock in his hand and is looking straight at Goliath. He
manner is firm. So real is this image made of marble that, when
Michaelangelo finished it, he slapped its face and said, "Now speak!"

But when you get it, it is just not right. For one thing, it is
nude and you don't want to offend anyone. So you have a pair of
shorts made from denim and, with a lot of work, get them sewn
right on David. A scotch plaid tie is added next because it is
very saucy. And stuck in David's hand (the one holding the sling)
is an umbrella in your favorite color: puce.

You then display this great statue with these few minor changes
and what happens? The state society of art gets pissed off at
you for desecrating this treasure of mankind.

But what did you do that was wrong? It is true that you have gone
outside the norm for the statue of David but it was only to make
the statue really right. If Michaelangelo were alive, he would look
at what you have done and agree with you. You have put your stamp
of authority on the statue.

Get my point?

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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