Religious analogies work quite well here. Are you perhaps leading us
subtly towards the contemplation of the Holy Trinity and the
realisation that 3-IN-ONE oil is what is really called for?
Fun apart, you say wise words. A broad church is a stable one and it
needs to be inclusive. I really enjoyed Philip's reminder about the
fragmentation of organisations.
Perhaps it's labouring the religious point, but I think the Old
Testament stuff . . . the strict earlier style needs to be heard and
promoted too, as well as whatever has developed later. . . . but I've
said Far Too Much on this list already today! Thanks for a nice post,
Richard.
Francis
On 26 May 2009, at 13:22, Richard York wrote:
Please may I suggest that whatever form the Great Reformed NPS
takes, it should be inclusive rather than exclusive?
The traditional ways of playing are necessarily vital. They have
informed the instrument and the music, and they only survived
because they are very good music; but there are people who play in
various different ways, some of which are very attractive to many.
It's mainly an amateur tradition. Music is kept alive only by its
players, and they have to like what they're playing, otherwise they
won't play it. Amateur - literally, in the best sense of the word:
because we love it.
If the society admits only a One True Way, I feel the tendency of
the others will be to be aggrieved and simply write the Society off
as stick-in-the-mud. These may include very good creative musicians.
As Philip Gruar wisely said, it would be like the various forms of
some churches fragmenting into ever tinier mutually exclusive
groups, which is ultimately not good for the health of the whole
faith, nor attractive to the rest of the onlooking world.
If on t'other hand all creeds are admitted, the One True Way is
accessible and promotable to a greater number of people, played by
welcoming people who make it attractive, rather than grumpy and
exclusive: it then stands much more chance of surviving. Presumably
we do want people to want to join, in order to have future carriers
of the instrument and its tradition.
It may take some people a long time to come to the One True Way, and
they may need to work through other stuff first to get there,
(perhaps, shock horror, even a few choytes and slides), but at least
they still may feel it's their society, including the players of the
proper traditional music, rather than that miserable old lot who
didn't want them, so bother their music too.
Hopefully it's less inflammable, Francis, but it won't cure squeaks!
Best wishes,
Richard
Francis Wood wrote:
Can anybody suggest a suitable oil to pour on these troubled waters?
Ideally, it should be capable of spreading evenly and fairly as
well as making the tone of everything seem much brighter. Should
lubricate roughened areas. Capable of curing squeaks as well as
growls, howls and other distressing noises. Must be totally non-
imflammable.
Non-oxidising would be nice too.
Francis
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