Klarinet Archive - Posting 000877.txt from 1999/09

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] re Gregory Smith's reply to Dan Leeson
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:15:45 -0400

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> By the way, your inflammatory use in discourse of the words or
> phrases "prejudiced", "biased", "closed minded", and even "having no
> knowledge base about the subject" doesn't really trouble me.....it's your
> disclaimer that it is just business, not personal. In my opinion this is
> intellectually dishonest - you're trying to have it both ways. It doesn't
> seem to me to be a very constructive way of carrying on discussion. Perhaps
> others disagree.
> Also,
> coming from a scholar, I'm suprised that speculations and conclusions about
> my own knowledge and practice of improvisation would themselves be
> unscholarly.
>
> Gregory Smith
>

It's a shame, Mr. Leeson, that you made assumptions without first
checking them with Mr. Smith before attacking him in an open forum
before his peers. As I'm sure you know, Gregory Smith sits second chair
in the Chicago Symphony, and is therefore due some respect. Mr. Smith
(and others who sit as principal or second in a major symphony
orchestra) did not reach that level of quality playing without excellent
training, dedication to learning and a continued search for depth,
beauty and meaning in what he/she plays. There is no need to be berate
and insult anyone to make your own viewpoint clear, let alone a musician
of his calibre. Differences of opinion are healthy, but can be aired
with mutual respect. Perhaps the phrase "Did you really intend to
say...?" might be helpful next time.

Gregory Smith's reply (especially the two paragraphs quoted above) were
admirably restrained.

Audrey Travis

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