Re: [Harp-L] plag(i)arism

Rupert Oysler <orupert@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:09:22 -0400

The original post in this thread makes several points:

1.note-for-note solos were played in songs other than their original 
placement

2.no credit was given for the originators of the solos

3.therefore the solos were being passed off as original improvisations 
of this player

4.this was probably done to cover up a deficiency in improvising
It is possible that 1. and 2. are facts, but the leaps to 3. and 4. are 
pretty quick jumps to moral high ground. Many blues performances and 
performers don't lend themselves to a lot of attributing, especially not 
detailed footnotes, so if no credit was given right then to the original 
soloers, it doesn't necessarily mean that this current player was hiding 
that, or would not possibly describe it all in detail given the proper 
situation or interview. It also doesn't necessarily mean he/she was 
trying to pass anything off as their own, it is quite possible that they 
could see their process as a form of tribute, or as their approach to 
creativity by recycling material they did not think could be improved 
upon, and that they assume everyone knows their background, influences 
and approach. It doesn't necessarily mean they are covering up anything, 
it is possible that they do not aspire to improvise, or consider it a 
deficiency not to improvise. I mean, I don't know any real details about 
this situation, but if you find it offensive, it might be interesting to 
ask whether that is because of the action, the playing, or some 
"imaginary" attitudes attributed to the player.
Rupert Oysler
www.harprepair.com
Glenn Weiser wrote:

I heard a well known harmonica player last weekend and found that this 
person was taking solos note-for-note from Sonny Boy II and Little 
Walter and inserting them into other songs without attribution, 
therefore passing them off as original improvisations. I consider this 
musical plagarism, probably commited to cover up a deficiency in 
improvising. Does anyone agrees that this would constitute plagarism? 
It is almost certainly a copyright violation. I don't want to name 
this person at this point.
-Glenn Weiser

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