The Mellotron Group

By rote? Yes, although we certainly don't know their individual skill levels.  I was singing in harmony at their age....  Mechanical? Value judgement perhaps, but I'll give that to you. But to say their "soulless" playing invokes pity from you is pretentious and elitist in my opinion.  "utterly hopeless" at that age?  Mike, why do they even try then ?  The school should have you consult those children and get them on a path to something a little more hopeful, since there is just no chance in hell of them ever reaching any level of artistry.

Mike, I don't hear the stale, cold calculated notes that you, I hear music, and it made me smile too.

fritz

 

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Apr 23, 2011 11:18 am
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] OT-Future ax slingers


  
    
                  
        Fritz -
      
      Pity me if you really want to, but I thought it looked mechanical      and sounded almost completely played 'by rote'. It's    neither bitter nor cynical - it's what I gathered from the film. I    heard no feel, no attempt to interpret, no real understanding of    what they were playing...nothing. It was like listening to HAL 9000    playing Bach. Perhaps the pitching and timing is stunning, but there    is no heart in any of it.
    
    Then again, the kids playing were of such an age that such a thing    would barely be possible since that sort of musical consciousness    isn't going to be available (or accessible) to any of them. 
    
    I heard it the same way I hear so many child prodigies playing    music; perhaps brilliant from a strictly technical point of view,    but utterly hopeless in terms of any artistry. I am really surprised    that you cannot hear it. The fixed smiles on the faces of the kids    almost lets you see it.
    
    Mike
    
    
    On 23/04/2011 15:17, fdoddy@aol.com wrote:    
                       
            
                  
 Mike,
                      
                      You actually thought the five children playing was                      soulless?  It's mind numbing how cynical and                      bitter you are.  If there is pity to had, it's on                      you, I'm afraid.
                      
                      
                      fritz