[Trombone-l] Artistry

[Jeff Albert]

On Sun, Dec 21, 2008 at 1:33 PM, Daniel Pliskin
<daniel_pliskin at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> I suppose Kaplan is guilty of poor execution, poor
> technique, while Fogerty is guilty of a lack of artistry.  Giving Kaplan the benefit of the doubt, it's
> interesting to note that without technique artistry goes unnoticed.
>
>

There's lots in Dan's post to deal with,  but I am going to stick with
the line quoted above.  "without technique, artistry goes unnoticed."
That is largely true of us mere mortals, and is encouraged in many
academic situations, where nothing else is noted until the technique
and standard practice are in place.

Interestingly, many of the recognized geniuses have (had) really lousy
technique by academic standards.  Miles Davis would be judged a
deficient trumpet player in most music schools today.  Ornette
Coleman, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie and a host of
other successful, even great, artists had aspects of their technique
that would not be accepted in many circles.  In the classical world it
is the composers that have the freedom to be non-conformist, because
the instrumentalists with personally unique technique are sent
elsewhere.

Even in classical trombone soloist circles, Christian Lindberg is
arguably the best known soloist, and many people have expressed
dislike for aspects of his sound or interpretation (which could be
seen as aspects of technique). Why is he the one that sticks out from
the group, and makes and sells the most records?

I think picking apart others' technique is the last bastion of the
merely-very-good.

I didn't hear the Kaplan performance.  It may have been a pedestrian
reading of a great piece.  I don't have a problem with calling BS when
it is present.  We all have to find the balance between being true to
our standards, and doing the things we have to do to be able to be
working musicians at all.

Jeff

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