Author: oboe1960
Date: 2007-01-13 23:44
I agree 100% with what you say, lucyw--- and would like to add my own 2 cents.
Listening to Marcel Tabteau reminded me of watching old footage of Sonja Henie figure skating in the 1920's. She was the world's best skater in her time--- and today, 10-year olds routinely surpass her best efforts on the ice! To use a more recent example, think of Peggy Fleming--- her best efforts are duplicated all over the world by kids in middle school. And the standards have changed as well- in the 20's the "compulsories" were much more important than today, where the free-skate segments dominate, and athleticism dominates over stringent rules and figures.
I guess what I'm saying is that as the bar is raised, we realize that humans are capable of more and more and more--- and that talent continues to evolve and push itself as far as it must to be the best. Each generation manages to move the bar higher, and somehow the challenge is always met and exceeded! And in the process, a "new" sound, and a higher level of technique, becomes the norm instead of the exceptional.
It certainly doesn't subtract from the accomplishments of the past and should not give us a sesnse of superiority--- no more than feeling superior to our ancestors because they only had the telegraph and we have computers!
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