Dear List members,
I can not retract my statements nor the emotions behind them. If I displayed
bad manners, it would be for voicing an opinion when she couldn't defend
herself. This would mean critical commentary, editorial comments, and analysis
are flames of one sort or another if posted by email, unless one was
an inhabitant of the planet Vulcan.
From PC magazine: Definition of: flame
"To communicate emotionally via e-mail. Just as people might differ about what
is polite behavior and what is not, whether an e-mail message is flaming is also
in the eye of the beholder. Vulgar cursing would definitely be flaming,
however."
Although my post did not contain profanity, vulgar or otherwise (nor did any
other email), I do feel passionately about said artist's keyboard
performance as another list member graciously put, 'piano based technique,"
which I expressed.
For those who wish to know more about the lady, her bio is at
http://www.harpsichord.org/bios/elaineBio
Notably, she is the Founder-director of Harpsichord Unlimited, a non-profit
organization dedicated to promoting the harpsichord, its history and its music.
Adelphi University recently appointed Elaine Comparone Professor of
Harpsichord.
So the tent just got bigger, especially if her students follow in her
footsteps and mimic her harpsichord technique.
On the other hand, maybe the tent isn't getting bigger
"From Adelphi U. website:
________________________________
From: Hendrik Broekman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Mon, November 1, 2010 10:06:25 AM
Subject: Elaine Comparone
I think it's about time for the snarkery and near-flaming to stop. Elaine
Comparone has been playing the harpsichord (only) since she broke on the scene.
That was moons ago. She runs a concert series and gets audiences. In NYC -
perhaps for some of you that explains everything! Even if, as it seems, none on
the list are pleased by the way she plays and presents herself, the fact is she
does get audiences and draws people to the harpsichord who might be bored silly
by the Apollonean approach favored by those who are dishing out so much
opprobrium. Is there really only one true way? Big tent, folks, big tent.
Best,
Hendrik Broekman
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Note: opinions expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the individual con-
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MUP 128: Harpsichord Studies
0 - 0.5 credits
This course involves weekly individual private lessons designed to develop and
expand keyboard technique and knowledge of solo piano repertoire."
(That speaks reams about both the commitment to the music department and how
much Adelphi values music. Private lessons is all they offer for their
Harpsichord department, and zero to half credit.)
From her bio:
"As founding member of "Bach with Pluck!", Trio Bell'Arte and The Queen's
Chamber Band, she has taken her harpsichords to performances in every state of
the continental US. She won an unprecedented grant from the Martha Baird
Rockefeller Fund for Music to purchase a van in which to transport her
harpsichords."
and
"Elaine Comparone Plays Red-Blooded Harpsichord" headlined The New York Times
review of her recital debut and Pulitzer Prize-winner Donal Henahan called her a
"harpsichordist with few equals..." (The New York Times).
I will refrain on making comments on the above quotes, it would be far too easy
to poke fun at, besides being considered a cheap shot.
As far as I know these are her harpsichords (the Hubbard and a Dowd), and what
she does to them is between her and her technicians.
She might have a great understanding and love the harpsichords repetoire which
is an admirable trait, but one wonders why she did not take the time to read the
works of Howard Schott, Richard Troeger, or Mark Kroll, or the many works
written on elemenatry Harpsichord technique that are too well known to the list
members. Maybe she has, but her performances lead me to believe otherwise.
Liberace, Virgil Thompson, and Victor Borge, drew large audiences, too. And,
yes I have said critical things about each of them. More bad manners on my part
as they are all dead. For that matter there are passionate followers of Glenn
Gould (of whom I make comments against his eccentric choice of Tempo, ect.). I
found other aspects about these artists to appreciate, possibly if Ms Comparone
wrote something on the subject, I could find some facet to admire, too.
As to artists of the Apollonean approach, I prefer it to those of the opposite
side of the coin, dionysian, which I take to mean ecstatic, orgiastic, or
irrational nature; frenzied or undisciplined. I do not put Elaine Comparone in
either camp.
Best Regards,
Steve
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Note: opinions expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the individual con-
tributors and not necessarily those of the list owners nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa. For a brief summary of list commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask] saying HELP .
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