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

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 9, 2008, at 10:15 PM, Bob Laughlin wrote:
> 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.

It's good business

> 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.

You're a tough act    lol
> Skepticism is definitely a part of my nature.

That's what I like about you.

> 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".

I can dig where you're coming from.
> 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.

See Bob, I see this part a little differently. This girl is young and  
healthy. She can really move around because unlike Itzak Perleman,  
she has  working legs. A lot of the older violin players are just  
that...old. I see her as enthusiastic and vivacious and have been a  
fan of hers for years. Inasmuch as I consider the harmonica as  
closest to the violin (just study OBS), maybe I'm jaded. In any case,  
there may be those who don't think a violin player fits on a harp  
list. Well, Bill Monroe doesn't play harp either.

Another thing to consider. There are those who have a sort of a bland  
personality. They are what I like to call 'One below par'. Meaning:  
their general demeanor or deportment is normally at the same level as  
an AVERAGE person on one depressant. Then they go on stage and let it  
all hang out. There are also those who are 'One ABOVE par'. These are  
people who are already hyped up with what they are doing and high on  
life. So much so, that when THEY get up on stage, it's like a normal  
average person on a stimulant. Without actually TAKING stimulants.  
lol. It's just their natural (for them) energy level. Then there are  
the extremes. Playing like you're almost comotose (2 below par).  
Playing as if your hair is on fire and you have to make it to the  
horse trough. (2 above par)

Midori is Japanese. They are usually very quiet and non obtrusive. I  
believe, when she plays, that's her outlet for feelings she can't  
otherwise express in her culture....without a good reason.

> 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!"

I don't think so. See sentence above.
> 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.

In the case of Kiss or Motley Crue, I would agree, but I think you're  
reading too much into this girl. I think it's merely a case of her  
being so enthusiastic that all her hard work is paying off and she  
has been allowed to better herself, and is proud of herself, and  
thusly is expressing her joy.
> 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.

I can dig THAT.
smo-joe
> Keepin' it real.
>
> BL
> -