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RE: Debussy Rhapsodie

Author: Zack Best
Date: 2002-10-10 16:29

> I am keenly aware of a school of thought more and more in vogue
> presently, that prizes putting performer whims ahead of the
> composer's explicit instructions. Overt flamboyancy at the
> expense of the composer's explicit instructions violates a sacred
> trust between composer and performer that is strongly frowned
> upon - at least in the professional circles that I travel.

I have found this sentiment to be quite common but am none
the less totally puzzled by it. As much as I enjoy classical
music, it often seems to me to be surrounded by a snobbish
culture that I find quite off putting.

I would conjecture that there are at least a thousand people
alive today who could write music in the style of Mozart and
do it better than Mozart did if they chose to devote their
life to it. No one does because there is no incentive, either
artistic or financial, to do that. But I don't see why that
elevates Mozart to the status of any sort of ultimate authority.

Although I am a rank ameture musician, I have some small degree
of accomplishment in a different field. I love a good technical
discussion or argument, but really hate it when someone's idea
of a strong technical argument is to quote some expert as the
final authority. Quoting experts as final authorities tends
to be common in acedemic fields which are stagnant or dieing.
More vibrant and alive fields tend to debate issues on technical
merrit, rather than stature of the proponent.

> "Well, you certainly don't expect me to pour chocolate sauce over
> asparagus do you?"

I am sure this would be frowned upon in a snobby restaurant, but
you might not know it since the disapprovers probably frown
most of the time anyway. My kids might actually like it, though.

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Debussy Rhapsodie new

michal

2002-10-10 02:19