Dave Lampson <[log in to unmask]> responds to me:

>>... Historically Informed Performances are pointless, as there will
>>never be a perfect HIP.  ...
>
>Mats must still be suffering from the effects of his millennium
>celebrations.  If perfection is the criteria by which human endeavors are
>judged to be worthwhile, then everything anyone has ever done is pointless.

Actually my millennium celebration was sitting up alone in the night
reading listposts, but like this list is run one really has to suffer!  ;-)

>That HIP has great value to some listeners is undeniable, as has been
>eloquently attested to by several listmembers.  That some don't see the
>value is also undeniable.  Perfection, however, is utterly beside the
>point.  I'm not aware of a single perfect performance of any work in
>any performance style.

No, seriously, please allow me to take a step back; Dave is perfectly right
in his respond to me, of course.  There is no perfection anywhere (except
in me, myself, possibly), and it would be wrong for me to nuke HIPs just
because of lack of perfection, that would even be absurd.  But I had some
points, and thats I think some HIP performance could be made more HIP,
and the whole story has been simplified.  Sometimes when I read about the
improvements f.e.  Wagner made to earlier composers (f.e.  Old Ludwig) on
the basis on *how their music was played at that time*, I think there could
be things one doesn't regard.

Also, I like to arouse the passions in the hot issues, like the HIP one,
and as I know it is an issue that lays deep in the musiclovers hearts,
so I couldn't resist for once being a little provoking.  Actually I am a
all-eating listener, who enjoys both HIP and modern, and I can't see why
not both should be allowed to exist.  I enjoy Gardiners Beethoven as much
as any interpreter with a modern approach, say Klemperer.

I take this opportunity to wish all good continuing in the New Year, as we
say here.

Mats Norrman
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