in reflection
It was suggested last week that my comments about Tognetti were inappropriate. On reflection, while I wasn't intentionally trying to personally attack Tognetti, I can see some of my words need clarification...
I tagged Jon Rose's article for two reasons: 1. I found the article interesting because it resonated strongly with my own value system; 2. I thought others might be interested in reading it. You could say it's a passing salute to Rose's values and political stance. So rather than an attack on Tognetti, it was supposed to be a reflection of my own views. I'm painfully aware that I could have expressed this more clearly. But I also think I should clarify the purpose of my blog.
A little hummingbird is a space where I can record my thoughts, feelings, experiences and ideas about music - my personal wanderings through the maze of the music world. It is here that I can take off my 'AMC' hat and speak freely about anything I'm passionate about. I might choose to publish reviews, rant and rave about things I'm interested in or simply point to articles or videos that surface in my rummaging through cyberspace. I choose to publish these words in a format that allows others to respond because I think dialogue is important - it helps us to shape our ideas and expand or consolidate our viewpoint.
And its purpose? You can read more about my reasons for blogging here. I also recently co-wrote an article about blogging here as well as another about online documentation. But essentially it all comes down to my passion for music, writing and the dialogue surrounding music.
6 comments:
I was amazed at how little discussion there was about this at the time, beyond the predictable PR exercises.
Surely it wasn't only Mr Rose and a little hummingbird who found something a little obscene about this? Yet there seemed to be a deafening silence from most quarters.
Even if one could say a violin was worth $10 million and you could hear every dollar of it, it doesn't address the fact that so much more could be done with that kind of money within the arts (let alone beyond).
Perhaps Richard feels the ACO does enough in terms of encouraging new art practice that his conscience is clear, but it would be a shame to think that it's not even a conversation that can be had.
The ACO were my gateway into the 'classic' music world and it was through them that it started to make sense to me... even without the Guarneri del Gesù having arrived on the scene.
To my cloth ears something has been lost of that spark and joy and vitality that first drew me in and it wasn't until I saw the flash of its return at the concert with Patricia Kopatchinskaja you wrote of earlier that I realised how much of it they had lost... a gap a $10 million violin seems unable to fill all on its own.
the views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of anyone who might actually know what they're talking about
Apparently, it has not been so silent out there in classical music land. Abusive phone calls from the violinist himself (a genius according to the ABC’s Robin Williams), abusive phone calls from his lawyer to humming bird’s boss. It doesn’t take much for the insecurities of a small pond star to burst forth. The article was about the worth of violins I believe, Tognetti was only mentioned in passing.
sorry for the delayed response museum of fire!
given the reaction from many friends and others working in the music industry, it seems that this is a conversation that is restless to surface, move about and evolve... and, yes it would be a shame to think it can't be had.
When it comes to such a large amount of money: people will an have opinion. It's been really interesting chatting to many people over the last two months about this issue.
While some of my friends agreed with my point of view, others completely disagreed (one friend, for example, pointed out that the money was not arts funding anyway and it "was never going to be available for commissions or promoting new concert forms since this would have no such investment/profit potential for the benefactor concerned" It was purely a "calculated investment"...so from RT's perspective: "presumably it's a superb instrument, so what is RT supposed to do? Refuse to play it?")
We disagreed on many points, but that finding a resolution wasn't really our aim. I found the short conversation interesting and engaging.
Are you going to their latest gig? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts if you do go. I can't make it unfortunately, but have heard good reports so far...
Anonymous: yes, not so silent. But its all sorted now and the experience was certainly an interesting one! Lots of food for thought. Oh, and I should mention that alittlehummingbird doesn't have a boss - only her alter ego does. ;-)
I am curious to read the original article by Rose about Tognetti, but can't find it on the blog. Could you repost the link here please? Cheers.
Hi Matthew,
You can read Jon Rose's article about the sound of violins here
Yep, made it to last Tuesday's concert.
Genevieve Lacey was fantastic, and the ACO was in fairly good form overall. The Verdi and the Corelli were strong, but the Erkki-Sven Tüür was fantastic - warm and bright and lively, a 'journey' piece with great energy.
RT fiddled quite nicely.
The audience seemed to get into it, though there were a few who just couldn't get past the 'recorder' thing.
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