Klarinet Archive - Posting 000019.txt from 2002/10

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] The meaning of words changes over time
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2002 12:22:19 -0400

There are a number of words in English whose use over time has changed
dramatically. What they used to mean and what they now mean are often
polar opposites. An example of one such word is "gay." The use of the
word "bad" is another, since it now can be used to mean "good," even
"great." It is the use of another such word that I want to speak of here.

Anne Lenoir has, on several occasions, referred to both Tony Pay and
myself as "purists." Anne and I have had enough private conversations
on a variety of matters that I don't take this personally at all. But I
do object to its use.

A "purist" is perceived in a pejorative fashion, even when unintended.
I read it as "living in an ivory tower" or, alternatively, "not really
thinking practically or in a contemporary fashion."

When Tony and I speak of using particular instruments (and I add that
the views that each of us espouse, are by no means identical and are
often direct opposites), we both do so from the viewpoint of practical,
working, thinking, considerate, educated, contemporary musicians. It
may be a viewpoint that is disagreed with by some players, and that's
good because such differing viewpoints encourage investigation and
study, which, hopefully, leads to a positive resolution. But neither
Tony nor I are "purists," living in some antiquated age and being unable
to deal with contemporary performance issues, such as playing the
Beethoven violin concerto on a flute or a clarinet.

In the same vein of thinking, I perceive Anne (whom I admire very much)
as being an "emotionist" (if there is such a word), driven primarily
only by what she likes and/or dislikes and not by what she knows. That
is probably an incorrect perception of her in any case because she knows
a lot.

We think that what we do is right, though that does not make it so.
Furthermore, we think that what we do is as a result of knowledge as
much if not more then it is a result of emotion/passion. I have played
with and worked with Tony and have had a great deal of pleasure in doing
so, and he is not an unemotional player. But he is also not a "purist"
in any pejorative use of that word.

In effect, in some cases, he and I walk to the pace of different
drummers, but neither of us are purists. What we do, we think to be
right and to the benefit of the clarinet-playing community.
--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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