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READER COMMENTARY: Errors were made in review of concert
Letters to the Editor | 4/28/09
Posted online at 6:25 AM EST on 4/28/09
To the Editor:
Some clarifications and corrections must be made to the review of the April 18 Graduate Musicology Concert (April 21 issue). The concert was described as "bringing music from classical and contemporary composers to life," which gives the impression that the works performed were only from two historical periods. The reviewer was clearly confused by the difference between musical genres and eras.
There are only two ways in which an organ's pipes can be activated: via the pedals and via the manuals. Accordingly, it goes without saying that Alexander Lane "pressed the pedals of the organ with his feet" and that he "used his fingers." Moreover, while it is permissible to refer to organ stops as "drawknobs," they should never be called merely "knobs."
The Martinu work performed finished with an allegretto movement, not an Andante. This could have been checked in the printed program if the reviewer lacked the musical proficiency to recognize the difference. Similarly, the correct spelling of the cellist's name is Laura Shechter-also easily found in the program.
The vocal-piano duets also commonly referred to as "songs" included the "Ruckert Lieder" by Gustav Mahler. The composer "Nahler" does not exist, unless he is part of the little-known group of Nozart, Nendelssohn and Nonteverdi.
The write-up of the Brahms trio also contained inaccuracies. The statement, "It was apparent that the performers were first and foremost scholars of music and only play instruments as a way to enhance their studies in musicology," was a fairly outrageous and outlandish statement to print, irrespective of what the reviewer thought of the playing.
Musicologists are musicians first and foremost and not dilettantes who write about a subject that catches their fancy and "play instruments" for their own amusement. All the performers in the concert reviewed have played and/or sung professionally and continue to do so when not teaching undergraduates, playing for music majors' recitals (and waiving their usual fees), contributing to the University's ensembles, giving lectures and publishing papers.
Furthermore, the reviewer should check the biographical details of musicians before publishing. The French horn player in question, Alicia Kaszeta (GRAD) was a professional orchestral musician before a performance-related injury forced her to stop playing for some time. She did not stop playing in order to pursue a scholarly career, as the article inferred.
Musicians are always happy to help with fact-checking before or after a concert. In the future, accurate research should be carried out before going to press so that biographical inaccuracies, among other things, do not appear on the Internet. Reviewers should always be aware that every factual error has the potential to compromise someone's professional reputation.
Amanda Mason Gadrow (GRAD), Gilad Harel (GRAD), Alicia Kaszeta (GRAD), Alexander Gordon Lane (GRAD), Georgia Luikens (GRAD) and Laura Shechter (GRAD).
The writers performed in the Graduate Musicology Concert.
Some clarifications and corrections must be made to the review of the April 18 Graduate Musicology Concert (April 21 issue). The concert was described as "bringing music from classical and contemporary composers to life," which gives the impression that the works performed were only from two historical periods. The reviewer was clearly confused by the difference between musical genres and eras.
There are only two ways in which an organ's pipes can be activated: via the pedals and via the manuals. Accordingly, it goes without saying that Alexander Lane "pressed the pedals of the organ with his feet" and that he "used his fingers." Moreover, while it is permissible to refer to organ stops as "drawknobs," they should never be called merely "knobs."
The Martinu work performed finished with an allegretto movement, not an Andante. This could have been checked in the printed program if the reviewer lacked the musical proficiency to recognize the difference. Similarly, the correct spelling of the cellist's name is Laura Shechter-also easily found in the program.
The vocal-piano duets also commonly referred to as "songs" included the "Ruckert Lieder" by Gustav Mahler. The composer "Nahler" does not exist, unless he is part of the little-known group of Nozart, Nendelssohn and Nonteverdi.
The write-up of the Brahms trio also contained inaccuracies. The statement, "It was apparent that the performers were first and foremost scholars of music and only play instruments as a way to enhance their studies in musicology," was a fairly outrageous and outlandish statement to print, irrespective of what the reviewer thought of the playing.
Musicologists are musicians first and foremost and not dilettantes who write about a subject that catches their fancy and "play instruments" for their own amusement. All the performers in the concert reviewed have played and/or sung professionally and continue to do so when not teaching undergraduates, playing for music majors' recitals (and waiving their usual fees), contributing to the University's ensembles, giving lectures and publishing papers.
Furthermore, the reviewer should check the biographical details of musicians before publishing. The French horn player in question, Alicia Kaszeta (GRAD) was a professional orchestral musician before a performance-related injury forced her to stop playing for some time. She did not stop playing in order to pursue a scholarly career, as the article inferred.
Musicians are always happy to help with fact-checking before or after a concert. In the future, accurate research should be carried out before going to press so that biographical inaccuracies, among other things, do not appear on the Internet. Reviewers should always be aware that every factual error has the potential to compromise someone's professional reputation.
Amanda Mason Gadrow (GRAD), Gilad Harel (GRAD), Alicia Kaszeta (GRAD), Alexander Gordon Lane (GRAD), Georgia Luikens (GRAD) and Laura Shechter (GRAD).
The writers performed in the Graduate Musicology Concert.
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