The Detritus Review: Joseph II

Showing posts with label Joseph II. Show all posts

2/9/08

Hail to the Chief

This lovely bit of prose comes from the former President of the Music Critics Association of North America, 1993-1997.

There’s a tinkly passage for string harmonics and piano diddles, then a jagged dance, and later big oozy slides up and down the strings' fingerboards.

Wow. Former President. Hmm. That’s like when Joseph II said that Mozart used too many notes.

That quip came to mind Friday evening during the world premiere of Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s new piano trio.

No kidding.
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The task of the music critic is difficult, far beyond mere description and assessment. Yet, when those fail, the rest fails. As the public’s first line of reception and dissemination, critics have a double responsibility, to both the public and to the musical community at large. The deleterious effects of mischaracterization and prejudice (or laziness) contribute to a “classical” stereotype that is wholly incongruent with the reasons we continue to believe in and love the music we love. To seek correction is only natural.

We understand that the role of today’s critic is rapidly changing. Through humor and snark, we seek to provide a dialog, at once humbling, amusing and inviting, out of which may emerge positive critical perspectives and alliances that can benefit the health of our beloved musical climate.

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2/9/08

Hail to the Chief

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