J.S.Bach

May 30, 2010
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J.S. BACH
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Books on Bach?
Forget it. Too technical and jargon ridden. Too cold and scholarly to be of any interest to the layman.
Two possible exceptions:
EVENINGS IN THE PALACE OF REASON: BACH MEETS FREDERICK THE GREAT IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT by James R. Gaines (New York, 2005), and
THE CELLO SUITES: J.S. BACH, PABLO CASALS AND THE SEARCH FOR A BAROQUE MASTERPIECE by Eric Siblin (Toronto, 2009).
Both books are unusual in that they read like thrillers. Entertaining as well informative and scholarly.
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Vahe Berberian tells me the subtitle of the second book is misleading because the Cello Suites were never lost. On the contrary, they were widely distributed and studied by cellists and musical scholars. What Casals did was to introduce them to the concert repertoire.
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Speaking of Casals and music: One of the most brilliant, insightful, and readable books I have read on many aspects of music composition, interpretation, and appreciation is CONVERSATIONS WITH CASALS by J.M. Corredor (London, 1956).
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To be noted: In the bibliography of Siblin's book I run into the following item: BAROQUE PIETY: RELIGION, SOCIETY, AND MUSIC IN LEIPZIG, 1650-1750 (Burlington, VT, 2007) by Tanya Kevorkian. Which reminds me of our family doctor's observation that no matter where you go, you will invariably run into an Armenian.
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Also to be noted: Three of the greatest Bach interpreters of our times, if not of all times -- Landowska, Casals, and Gould -- were not German, but Polish, Spanish, and Canadian respectively.
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Grieg on Casals: “This man does not perform, he resurrects.”
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May 31, 2010
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ON FAITH
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Faith proves nothing except the absurdity of belief systems – all ten thousand of them.
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A MAN OF FAITH SPEAKS
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In a recent interview published in a learned French periodical, a Muslim scholar proves to his complete satisfaction that Islam is a better religion than Christianity, and the only reason Christians outnumber Muslims is that Christianity is six centuries older. In the next six centuries, he goes on, Islam will surpass all other organized religions in popularity. That is one of the central problems with all men of faith: they think they know better and they are closer to God even when they behave like swine. And you may have noticed by now that it is not the good and the honest who assert moral superiority but charlatans and riffraff. "If I am no good," they seem to be saying, "the least I can do is pretend to be better even if it means speaking like an idiot."
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CHINESE PROVERBS
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“A maker of idols is never an idolater.”
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“Behind an able man there are always other able men.”
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DANISH PROVERB
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“Unanimity is the best fortress.”
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ON CENSORSHIP
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Where there is censorship there will be fear: fear of knowledge; fear of objective judgment; fear of honesty; fear of excellence and originality.
Where there is fear there will be cowardice.
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A CONFESSION
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When writing against barbarians one should wield a civil pen.
May I confess that I have not always been successful in that endeavor perhaps because some barbarians tend to confuse civility with weakness.
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June 1, 2010
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MEN AND ROBOTS
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One of the worst blunders one can commit is to believe what one is told at a time when one is not old or mature enough to think for oneself, on the grounds that the men at the top are fundamentally decent men who know better and should be trusted.
Whereas the truth is, “politics offers a larger field of observation than any clinic for mental illness” (Antonina Vallentin).
Or, in the words of Paul Valery: “...the work leads back, not to a man, but to a mask, and from a mask to the machine.”
By “machine” Valery here means impersonal factors that are dictated by a belief system that has degenerated to routine and ritual.
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READING VOLTAIRE
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On the origin of religion: “From the meeting of the earliest scoundrel with the very first fool.”
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“Since the whole affair had become one of religion, the vanquished were of course exterminated.”
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ON ARMENIAN POLITICS
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If and when the multiplication table becomes a political issue, we will disagree on it too!
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To speak of patriotism and to speak the truth are not always synonymous. On the contrary. One could even say that the greatest enemy of patriotism is not treason but objectivity.
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We place too much emphasis on mental or intellectual IQs and completely ignore moral IQs. And yet, if you think about it, most of our problems are created by individuals with higher than normal IQs but non-existent or negative moral IQs -- or moral morons.
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If you mention bloodsuckers in the presence of bloodsuckers, you can be sure of one thing: they will accuse you of anti-Armenianism.
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June 2, 2010
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SIMONE WEIL
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“It is impossible to forgive whoever has done us harm if that harm has lowered us. We have to think that it has not lowered us but revealed our true level.”
Which is why those I criticize will never forgive me – and I don't expect them to.
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OSCAR WILDE
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“Women represent the triumph of matter over mind.”
The same could be said of men.
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The ease with which we make mistakes; and even more astonishing: the ease with which we are successful in convincing ourselves we are doing the right.
Homo sapiens?
Seldom.
Homo ignoramus?
Always!
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A.N. WHITEHEAD
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“Our reasoning grasps at straws for premises and floats on gossamers for deductions.”
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COMMENTS
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To know better is not the same as to know, or for that matter, to be closer to the truth.
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Our tragedy: those who pretend to know lead those who pretend to understand.
Or, the unthinking leads the thoughtless.
This is no secret. It was known and stated thousands of years ago:
“When the blind lead the blind...”
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Whenever I see the photo of an Armenian writer in the company of a boss or bishop, I can’t help thinking, “There goes the neighborhood.”
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If you think A and I think C, the truth may not be in the neighborhood of B but somewhere beyond Z.
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You say you are free but all I see when I look at you is the invisible ring in your nose and the harness on your back.
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