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From: jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Birdsongs of the Mesozoic and Shy Five Live
Message-ID: <5582@tekecs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Aug-85 13:44:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekecs.5582
Posted: Thu Aug  8 13:44:52 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 02:39:50 EDT
References: <4802@mit-eddie.UUCP> <5554@tekecs.UUCP> <1374@pyuxd.UUCP>
Distribution: net.music
Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR
Lines: 50

> >>I've told you about Birdsongs of The Mesozoic before, and as before they
> >>were so awesome the mind boggles.  They did their seven minute version
> >>of "The Rite of Spring"!  etc.......
> >>
> >>
> >>How can you go on living your poor pathetic lives knowing you missed
> >>this show?
> 
> > It'll be hard, but with the help of Stravinsky's forty-five minute version
> > (or thereabouts) of the Rite of Spring, I'll make it.
> > 					  Jeff Winslow
> 
> That was Jeff Winslow, of the school of "older/bigger/pompouser is better".
 
Sheesh! What'd I do now?

I guess that was Rich Rosen, of the school of "slander people with different
musical tastes". What's the matter, get up on the wrong side of a straw man
that morning?


> A new version of Le Sacre performed on completely different instruments
> couldn't POSSIBLY be interesting, could it, Jeff?  (It happens to be
> one of the neatest things I'd heard in a long time.)

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and take this as a serious question.

The best answer to your literal question is that I've heard Le Sacre performed,
live, on two pianos, and loved every minute of it.

However, since you seem to have gotten it in to your head that I've got
something against the Birdsongs of the Mesozoic version, let me answer this way:

It's probably very interesting. In fact, if I get a chance, I'd like to
hear it. Although I don't see how it can possibly be more interesting, or
satisfying, than the original, which in my opinion is one of the most
magnificent works in Western music (take that, JSB fans!). Just as the
two-piano version, while fascinating, can't match the richness of the
orchestral work.

I notice Doug didn't complain about my reply. Probably he had sense
enough to realize that I wasn't attempting any kind of serious putdown
of the 7-minute version, just as he couldn't have been seriously thinking
that everyone who missed the show couldn't go on with their "poor, pathetic"
lives because of it. (Could he? Oh, hi Doug, uh, er...) Maybe he even
*likes* the "old, big, and pompous" original (horrors!). Or am I reading
too much into what you say? Pardon me, it seems to be contagious.

                                   lover of unreal music,
					Jeff Winslow