Klarinet Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 2000/10

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Gentlemanly behavior
Date: Mon, 2 Oct 2000 08:10:49 -0400

--- Tony Pay <Tony@-----.uk> wrote:

> Mr Leupold, for example, has just characterised Stockhausen as "a raving nutter"
> and "completely bonkers" *behind his back*. Yet if I were to say that about Mr
> Leupold to his face, with reasons, you would call me ungentlemanly.

You know, I apologize for that. It was inappropriately stated. Naturally,
I don't know Karlheinz Stockhausen personally, so characterizing him as a
loon -- whether to his face or behind his back -- was certainly not a gentle-
manly thing to do. Much like we hear in musical circles, "judge the perform-
ance, not the performer." I don't think Stockhausen is crazy. I do think
the idea of isolating three players in separate rooms for four days without
food is more than slightly odd from an artistic standpoint, bordering on ir-
rational from a human one. But then, ideas are a direct expression of our
identities, so it's impossible for this one not to reflect in some fashion
on Stockhausen himself. Nonetheless, I didn't mean to suggest that the man
is personally lacking in some sense of normality. And, also to the point,
I apologize if I offended Tony or anybody else who may have felt their ae-
sthetics put upon by my original statement.

Now, Tony, if only *you* could learn to do what I just did. You wrote:

> The second is that 'good manners', or 'gentlemanly behaviour', is far
> less important than openness and clarity.

Nay, my friend. If your message isn't being heard, it doesn't matter how
potent your point may be. You must appeal to people's hearts before you
can engage their minds. Being "right" doesn't make you any less of an ass.

-- Neil

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