Re: [Harp-L] Subject: Re: Midori again

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> the foundation for children  begun by Midori (yes, the same brilliant
violinist
> accused here  of 'faking' what she's playing, lol)...demonstrating where
her
> primary  passion lies:


Every politician and "success"/greed driven businessman has a charity to
justify the other part of his/her life, and put a likeable face on what
otherwise is simply a drive to succeed and be wealthy. Midori may have a
philanthropic side, to be sure, but is it because she "loves" the children
she supports, "loves" the music she performs, or merely because she needs a
tax write-off? Very likely she's a good businessperson, or she's
encouraged/supported/sponsored by one/some.

Skepticism is definitely a part of my nature. Too often, I've seen the
business realities of what is promoted as "love". Many who would make a good
appearance of support for some underpriveleged poor would never dream of
visiting the same neighborhood, let alone live next to "one".

My initial feeling, and my post, was that Midori, though she may not be
"faking" (your wording) what she's playing, may be adding a kind of
"physical enthusiasm" to the mix simply because of the perceived audience
response. It may just be something that her "handlers"/parents encouraged
her to do, for the effect, and the advantage of moving an audience, viewing
on a purely superficial level, to say,,"Oh,,see how passionate she is!"

Passion can be genuine, whether inwardly or outwardly expressed. There is no
driving necessity, in my own mind, to elevate physical theatrics to the
place of a guide by which one may judge another's love of music. That may
merely be the mark of a good businessman/woman/person. Neither can one's
inner passion necessarily be fairly judged by the lack of outward theatrics.

Admittedly, some of my greatest heroes were those musicians who seemingly
gave little place to theatrics in their performances, though, I also have
enjoyed performances where the artist was visibly moved.

Keepin' it real.

BL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>; <jason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 3:44 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Subject: Re: Midori again


> and for those who may heed someone else's 'take' on things and not  find
out
> for themselves.....here's a small video of Midori & friends  (also found
at
> slow speed at  _www.midoriandfriends.org_
(http://www.midoriandfriends.org) )
> the foundation for children  begun by Midori (yes, the same brilliant
violinist
> accused here  of 'faking' what she's playing, lol)...demonstrating where
her
> primary  passion lies:
>
> _http://www.midoriandfriends.org/about/video.htm_
> (http://www.midoriandfriends.org/about/video.htm)
>
> Talk about giving back and encouraging children into the music field!
Wow.
> Wish we had more harmonica players putting their money where their  mouths
are
> the way she does, instead of spending so much time here carping  and
> criticizing.
>
> I do know of a couple who do extend themselves: Robert Bonfiglio  and
Claire
> Hoffman who bring music to Native  American youth in Arizona, and Jason
Ricci,
> who gets involved with giving  free concerts to raise money for Habitat
for
> Humanity and then spending time  with the kids the day after, talking
about his
> own time with Habitat, all on his  own dime, as well as those at SPAH who
> make sure to organize the children's day  always well covered by the local
news.
>
> Out of the many, many superb reviews I've read of Midori as she's  grown
into
> a 36 year old adult with an incredibly full concert schedule.....this  one
> (when she was 34) stood out in direct counterpoint to the claim (by a
cello
> teacher and a harp player) of faked emotive playing, and I  include it for
the
> archives.
>
> I'm glad audiences around the world who thoroughly enjoy her passionate
and
> emotional playing and who give her standing ovations haven't been deprived
of
> the joy they derive from her performances as they might have  been had
these
> same very subjective opinionated people from  harp-l been in charge of
> deciding her musical fate, and who actually  had the temerity to mention
her in the
> same context of young girls  being forced by their parents into playing
without
> having the  least knowledge of this particular young woman's life.  Get a
> grip.  Innuendo and gossip aren't seemly when discussing an artist of her
> stature.  Her biography showing the real story of how she began playing
violin as a
> tiny girl makes for a fascinating read:
_http://www.gotomidori.com/english/_
> (http://www.gotomidori.com/english/)
>
> "
> The Australian,  3 July, 2006
>
> By MARK  COUGHLAN
> Midori['s] performance  with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra of the
> much-played Bruch  Violin Concerto was fresh and captivating. With
remarkable
> intensity,  Midori shaped every line and crafted every nuance as if her
life
> depended  on it, not one phrase delivered mechanically or predictably. Her
> playing  was entrancing.
>
> Rarely does one hear an artist with such an  unwavering musical focus
coupled
> with such extraordinary control of tone  and line.
>
> The slow movement, in particular, was breathtakingly  beautiful. Some
> daringly drawn-out passages held the audience spellbound;  her sound pure
and
> penetrating, her bowing immaculate.
> Elizabeth
>
>
>
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