Stirling Newberry writes:

>The means to rebel is simple - consumerism is the dominant ethos, stop
>being a consumer.
>
>But then, on a list focused on record collecting, I realise that these
>words fall on largely deaf ears.

I don't think the List is focused on any particular aspect of classical
music.  However, there are some, myself included, who do key on recordings.
Others might have a focus on live performance like Janos or a wide range of
categories within the field of classical music such as displayed by Steve
Schwartz and Deryk Barker.

As for decreasing consumer purchases, I'll pledge to stop buying Gramophone
Magazine if Stirling promises to stop reading the N.Y.  Times.  However, I
can't be agreeable to terminating or reducing my purchases of recordings;
all the time I spend and enjoyment I get from classical music revolves
around recordings.  Further, unlike Stirling, I consider myself well served
by the recording industry.

Since reading Stirling's posting a couple of days ago, I've bought seven
discs.  I want to stock up before the boycott really hits and all the
classical product is removed from the stores and deleted by the record
companies.  The Independents would die on the vine, and the majors would
simply junk us like an old tire without tread; when you have folks like
Whitney Houston and the Dixie Chicks, you don't need Bach to make money.
Boycotting TV, once the NBA playoffs are finished, is an idea I could get
interested in.

Don Satz
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