Klarinet Archive - Posting 000156.txt from 1998/12

From: "Scott Morrow" <scottdmorrow@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Wagner's Ring again
Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 14:05:39 -0500

I feel that a piece of art is a product of its era as well as of the
artist who creates it. I don't believe we can impose 1998 values on
1930's themes (or 1830's, 1730's, 1630's, etc.). I am not saying we
justify the views: just that we recognize that artists are human. We
don't have to "rationalize" listening to Wagner's music; listening to
the music is not an endorsement of his views. Antisemitism and racism
should never be considered acceptable, no matter what the popular
sentiment of the era may be. I believe artists who try to glorify them
should be pitied: it is an example of misusing a great gift.

-Scott

>Subject: Re: [kl] Re: Wagner's Ring again
>
>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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