Don on Tan Dun:

>The elevation of Tan Dun would be a severe blow to classical music as we
>presently perceive it. Overall, this eclectic trend will dilute what's left
>of the purity and intensity of classical music.

I am imagining very bad video feed of Don standing in front of some rocks
with a long grey beard....

He's most likely a flash in the pan, but in any case Don, say it ain't so.
If you wanted to fault Tan Dun's *execution,* that's one thing, but to view
eclecticism as something that "dilutes what's left of the purity...." is
dancing on the edge of a slippery slope indeed.  What do we get rid of
first, tympani? Wood blocks? Trumpets?

>As an aside, I had mentioned recently that being in Pittsburg might
>be something to cry about, but music is not.

Since you bring it up for the fourth time: Though *I* have not shed a tear
while listening to music, I wouldn't doubt the sincerity of those who do.
On the rational/stoic side of things, it would be equally unfair to suspect
the sincerity on the music reviewer who buys gobs and gobs of CD's, only to
relentlessly force his little aluminum creatures to chip away endlessly in
darkness--Nibelheim on the border--in hopes of excavating that elusive,
lost "composer's sound world.":)

John Smyth