Klarinet Archive - Posting 000139.txt from 1998/12

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Wagner's Ring again
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 05:18:58 -0500

Thanks for your response, Dan. As you say, it's a tough problem.

There's not much to add. Except when you say,

> Those who deny the truth will continue to do so, and those who think
> that the message in Wagner's music is so unspeakable that they will
> not listen to it will also continue to think this way.

...those of us who wish to continue to listen may be able to do two
things, without denying any truths.

First we may say, a message that is not received by us is not a message.
(And surely under any interpretation it would be too much to say that
racism is *the* message of the Ring?) We may wish instead to give
weight to the unequivocal message of what Wagner wrote in the extracts
quoted by Cooke.

The other thing that we may say is that if at least one such message is
in the music, in the depiction of Mime; and that if Mahler, a Jew, was
capable of responding as he did, in writing; then it shows that the
matter had far less charge in those days than it (rightly) does now,
given recent history.

This position, whilst in no way condoning Wagner's racism, does frame it
a little differently.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE
tel/fax 01865 553339

"...his playing soars so freely, one is aware of witchcraft without
noticing a single magical gesture."
(C.D.F.Schubart on the harpsichord playing of C.P.E.Bach)

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