The Selfish Meme
There's little time for blogging today; I must leave early tonight so we (and tout le monde, I'm afraid) can attend the Choral Union's free performance of Beethoven's 9th. (No, that's not the one that goes da da da DAAAAAA; it's the one that goes da da da da, da da da da, da da da da daaa DA DA -- got it?)
I do have one more thing to say about that New Music Box article on the neo-romantics, regarding this bit:
It's usually after a composer becomes established that anecdotes are of any interest and begin to appear. I'm afraid I have to say, after many decades in this business, that composers tend not to be the most wonderful people—they're not the type who win "humanitarian" awards, but no one cares about that if their music turns out to be great.So, is there really a correlation between having a self-centered personality and having a successful composing career? Could there be a causal link? Are nice guys doomed? Anyone out there want to share some anecdotal evidence?
The bit I just quoted has made me spend a lot of my time worrying that I'm not self-absorbed enough.
Umie the Umlaut says, "ask your doctor about the Fredösphere!"
3 Comments:
This makes me feel slightly worried... I want to be a composer!!! well ok studying at university in composition doesn't make you a composer, but i hope this isn't a direct corrolation, or at least there are exceptions to the rule...
Although by definition, all bloggers are too self-absorbed, in your case, dunno. Maybe if you keep working at it...
Speaking of composers, I've seen John Adams speak twice in the last week. He comes across as a genuine and witty and intelligent and genial, and yet he is successful, in fact, he was clearly the star of the this month's opera. Of course, he also showed a litle bit of a snide side by mimicking in a nasal voice some critical comments he received this month.
Robert Gable
http://rgable.typepad.com/aworks
I have met famous musicians in all generas: pop, rock, jazz, and traditional. Surprisingly, the vast majority of them are genuinely nice, unaffected, well-adjusted, and "normal" people. But each and every one of them, if I got to know them well enough, had a dark side. Some of the "greatest" of them - meaning the most inarguably talented of the genius class - were, in fact, 24/7 jerks.
But, I personally am inclined to cut major artists a lot of slack in that department, because I know it's not easy being relentlessly driven to do something that has no objective worth, and it takes a seriously perseverant attitude to continue to create in the face of the inevitable resistance one encounters.
For the record, I'm a fun-loving guy who probably laughs more than any other human being I've ever met, but I too can show some a$$ from time to time. Especially if I encounter concieted frauds.
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