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Technique - don't knock it!

Posted by Chris from Lafayette (A) on August 20, 2014 at 23:38:39

We hear critics from time to time complain in very disparaging terms that certain musicians' playing consists "only" of technique. "A mere technician" is a phrase sufficient to consign the player to the also-ran category of music. I was surfing the internet just now and came upon this wonderful quote:

Though not the highest thing in music, technique is a very important thing, and, when carried to such a pitch of excellence, has a kind of self-sufficient beauty that may be compared to the lustre of pearls and diamonds. Perhaps it does not mean anything; but it is beautiful, cheering, enlivening. It raises the spirits somewhat like champagne, but better than champagne, and it has all the arrogance and costly unreason that are so fascinating in fine jewellery, in common with which it seems to convey a kind of magnificent protest against matter-of-fact and gloom.

This is from an article about Moszkowski from the English writer and critic Arthur Johnstone in a book published in 1905, just after his death. I like Moszkowski and I like this quote - very effective in conveying a kind of "ars gratia artis" message (and spirit!) that I, for one, am wholeheartedly behind! (I think he might have substituted the term "high-end audio equipment" for "fine jewelry", but, other than that, it's my kind of quote!)

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