Hi Farkel. To tell you the truth, I don't disagree with you, although I wouldn't use the word "sucks". Even Winston himself is the first to admit that he is somewhat limited in technic and not having the ability to read music or the benefit of formal training doesn't help him much. But I think he has a statement to make and he communicates well with his listeners, both in person and on record. By the way, he performed here some time back and I had the privilege of tuning and preparing the Steinway for his concert and he put on a helluva show. And he's a very nice laid-back sort of a guy. I got him to autograph a couple of albums for me and we had a nice visit about all things musical. And just because you don't like him doesn't make you an old fart. We all like different things and there's nothing wrong with that.
In a previous thread, you had some comments about Liberace which I thought hit the mark. Here's another very talented guy who chose to bypass the rigorous, difficult path of the concert pianist and in terms of technical developement, he chose to go so far and no farther. And he himself spoke frankly and humorously of his limitations. But here's what's so hard to figure out : How did he become so famous? He wasn't that good and while he was a good showman, any of us could wear effeminate clothes and a thick toupee and play a plexiglass rhinestone studded piano and do a little tap dancing and by all rights make millions. But it doesn't work that way. Why him? Why not you? Or me? I've never figured out the formula for success, and I guess there isn't one. Talent and ability is certainly not always a prerequisite. A lotta luck, I suppose.
And I totally agree with you about what constitutes real music. I have a bunch of Glenn Gould records, although he doesn't rank up there as one my favorites. But Serkin (both of them) Rubinstein and a lot of the others from the older school-----oh yeah! But Gould is hard to crack. Look in any pianist bio book, and there might be a page or two each for Horowitz or Cliburn or anyone else, but there will be 10 for Gould. He was hard to figure out. Even though I don't care much for him, I probably play his records more than anyone else's. If I want to get a different take on a piece, I'll play the Gould version---------he was different.
Well, I better shut it down. Nice talking to you, Farkel.
David
