Comments for Slipped Disc

Comment on Lang Lang teaches with green apples by butchkoch

butchkoch — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:45:48 +0000

Used to enforce the curved hand technique.

Comment on Lang Lang teaches with green apples by Peter

Peter — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:32:14 +0000

Isn’t the apple supposed to be a symbol of knowledge?

Bing Crosby had the answer…

You may be just a lemon
But he’ll think you’re a peach
Just bring an apple for the teacher
When he starts to teach

Comment on Why Purcell is back in the headlights by Past Teacher

Past Teacher — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:24:34 +0000

Lets just remind ourselves about David Thomas’s credentials:

From Rheingold: Purcell School appoints new headmaster

6 August 2012

David Thomas, the former head of Reigate Grammar School, has been appointed headmaster at the Purcell School, a specialist music school in Hertfordshire.

The school’s governors say they are confident he has ‘the necessary experience, vision and total commitment that will be required to move the school forward’. Thomas read music at Oxford and is on the Academic Policy Committee of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference. He is a former Chair of HMC South East Division, a former A-level examiner, and an ISI Inspector.

This doesn’t smack of a desired career in conducting.

Let us also remember that Quentin’s main training and professional work was as an oboist. He has worked as a fixer and music director on commercial sessions including his orchestra The London Pops Orchestra.

It is always appropriate at specialist schools to use a professional conductor, as part timers just don’t make the grade, and oh boy, do the students know it.

Comment on Lang Lang teaches with green apples by Robert Fitzpatrick

Robert Fitzpatrick — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:18:29 +0000

Nicholas Slonimsky used to perform the “black key” etude with an orange. I once heard him do it live! Green apples would be perfect for a few Henry Cowell tone clusters. We could call is the “Granny Smith” technique.

Comment on ‘I defaced Richard Wagner’s statue’ by william osborne

william osborne — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:45 +0000

Gottfried’s appearance in Istanbul to speak about his grandfather’s racism is interesting. There are about 3 million Turks living in Germany as “guest workers.” They face a a good deal of discrimination and all to often xenophobic violence and murder. There is currently a trial underway in Munich of the last surviving member of a neo-Nazi group that murdered 8 Turks, a Greek, and a German police woman. They also robbed 15 banks and set off two bombs. The Turkish community protested at the trial’s opening because it took the German police 13 years to discover this group and bring their activities to an end. I wonder if the situation with the Turks in Germany is why Idil Beret asked Gottfried to speak at her performance. In any case, I always enjoy your reports about Western classical music in Turkey.

Comment on ‘I defaced Richard Wagner’s statue’ by Pamela Brown

Pamela Brown — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:02:35 +0000

Gottfried Wagner is a breath of fresh air. It takes courage to be in the middle of the Wagner family and yet stick to his own principles, especially in public. I imagine some of the other Wagners are just cringing at his honesty.

I have come to love Wagner’s music in spite of myself. For many years I refused to have anything to do with it because of Wagner’s anti-Semitism and the connection of his music to Hitler and the Third Reich. But his music to me transcends even the horrific connection, and some productions, such as the recent Francois Girard Parsifal at the Met, can help Wagner’s music to be understood in a timeless and universal manner.

Comment on What Boston can expect of Andris Nelsons by Kris

Kris — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:56:35 +0000

He seems to have a great rapport w any orchestra. I be seen him playing w
The concertgebouw – spectacular, in fact look forward
To his next visit there coming Sunday when he ll conduct the Flying Dutchman w them.

Comment on Video: The worst mistakes ever made by the greatest pianists by Robert Hairgrove

Robert Hairgrove — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:45:31 +0000

Very good point!

Comment on ‘I defaced Richard Wagner’s statue’ by Robin Blonstein

Robin Blonstein — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:02:53 +0000

Thank goodness someone is speaking up about Wagner. And, the man to do it is not only a scholar but none other than a blood-relative; lending the criticism undeniable credibility. His childhood instincts were right-on defacing that sculpture. I would thank him personally for pursuing the truth about his great grandfather for the sake of History, women, and the Jewish people.

Comment on Lang Lang teaches with green apples by Omer shomrony

Omer shomrony — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:00:56 +0000

Maybe they will try to play the piano reduction of “Wilhelm Tell” with the apples poised on their heads.