Weekend Concert 14: That Russian Comrade Who Died of Comradeship
2006/10/28 13:54:19
After a week of writing about Master Kong the Second, I certainly deserve a day's rest and a change of topic. Someone left a message on this ID's music podcast, essentially asking why this ID won't give the time of day to a certain Russian comrade who died of comradeship. Why won't this ID bother with this fellow nicknamed "Old Chai," who is widely loved and adored among ordinary music enthusiasts? Given that Comrade Old Chai enjoys "Super Girl"-level fame, this ID will organize a concert of his music today to appease the Chai-fans.
Honestly, this ID has no fondness for his music. It's not because he was a so-called comrade who ultimately died of comradeship. Nor is it that this ID regards all who love this Russian comrade's music as comrades unworthy of respect. There are simply too many comrades in the music world — a staggering number. If this ID disliked someone's music just for being a comrade, then at least the following comrades' music would have to be banned: Beethoven, Schubert, Mahler. Beethoven was not merely a simple comrade — his incestuous improprieties toward his nephew would probably thrill the likes of Li Yinhe. And this Tchaikovsky's name — it's just too amusing. "Ke-fu" and "ji" — truly living up to the Chinese saying that "there may be the wrong top scorer, but never the wrong name."
But music is music. Musicians speak only through music — a musician's tombstone is built of music. Even if Beethoven had just finished molesting his nephew and then turned around to write his symphonies and masses, Beethoven's music is still Beethoven — containing only a great soul and great music, not the moans and bed-creaking of uncle-nephew incest. By comparison, this Russian comrade's behavior was a trifling matter — was it worth dying over? Was it worth the inner torment? Music written by such a weakling can only be the chirping of insects in the grass — how could it compare to Beethoven, who committed incest with grandeur and towering dominance? So Beethoven is Beethoven, and the Russian comrade can only be the Russian comrade — the two are incomparable.
Enough about these trifling matters of homosexuality and incest. Today's program features three works by this Russian comrade, briefly introduced as follows:
1812 Overture
A work that's been tossed around countless times — some insist on adding cannon fire for the full thrill.
Except for the French, offended by the mockery of "La Marseillaise" in it,
anyone who is moved by this work should have their musical IQ seriously questioned.
Compared to his compatriot Old Shostakovich's "Leningrad Symphony,"
Comrade Old Chai's trinket here is truly just a trinket.
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major
Yet another work tossed around countless times —
presumably Comrade Old Chai truly loved being tossed around by others.
Compared to that Overture, this Concerto at least lives up to the word "music."
This is indeed one of his best works.
But compared to his junior, young Rachmaninoff, it's always lacking something.
Comrade Old Chai is better suited to writing potpourri pieces like "Swan Lake,"
using cloyingly sweet melodies to seduce clueless old women and brainless young men.
Symphony No. 4 in F minor
Not his finest Symphony.
His finest and most famous is No. 6, the "Pathétique."
As the saying goes, when a man is about to die, his words turn kind.
After all, it's Comrade Old Chai.
There, he finally dropped all pretense
and wrote what his heart could bear.
But that stuff would rather dampen everyone's cheerful weekend mood.
To spare you all the gloom, let's swap in this old No. 4 instead.
The No. 4, his second-best Symphony,
still has too much "1812"-type stuff in it.
Comrade Old Chai, in order to conceal his own heart, to flee from his own heart,
always loved writing things that were all surface and no substance.
But what can you do — who told him to be a comrade ashamed of being a comrade and ultimately dying of comradeship?
A man who spent his whole life fleeing from himself — his music, too, can hardly be music.
Please turn off all other background music and start listening to how this winter wren wails:
Replies
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/28 19:30:40
[Anonymous] MM
2006-10-28 18:16:34
Enjoyed it. But it seems like the last piece is missing?
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Sorry, there was a slight upload issue earlier. It's fixed now.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/28 19:39:31
[Anonymous] Mountain Man
2006-10-28 18:58:42
What are you trying to promote? That artists can mess around?
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Just recounting historical anecdotes — not saying artists can mess around. You tell me, who can't mess around nowadays?
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/29 12:27:21
Announcement
Hitting the pause button on a literary sparring match:
Everyone here knows that this ID sparked a literary sparring match by responding to Uncle Kong Qingdong's regulated verse. Recently, this uncle gave this ID an evaluation for the third time, quoted as follows:
"Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán '"The Analects" Detailed Explanation: For All Those Who Misinterpret Confucius' breaks entirely new ground, surpassing the ancients, with no need for the ancients."
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Kong Qingdong replied on 2006/10/28 00:42:19:
Although it smacks a bit of self-promotion, the commentary is indeed well done — real effort was put in.
Since things have come to this, one doesn't punch a smiling face. This ID will of course hit the pause button — but only the pause button, not the stop button. Things in this world shouldn't be too absolute; nothing necessarily has to be terminated. That must be made clear.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/29 20:25:07
Author: flowingriv Reply date: 2006-10-29 13:40:36
OP, this is really not okay. Talk about the music, just talk about the music — does music made by a comrade have a comrade vibe? Whether a comrade's music is good or not, none of that matters. Is dying of comradeship really a reason for you to despise his music? How absurd!
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Did you not read this line clearly?
But music is music. Musicians speak only through music — a musician's tombstone is built of music.
Why doesn't this ID despise Beethoven despite his incest? Because his music is great. If that Russian man could write music at Beethoven's level, this ID wouldn't despise him either.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/29 20:26:14
[Anonymous] Big Beard
2006-10-29 20:13:22
I couldn't agree more — Old Chai's stuff really does feel sickeningly sweet
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Finding common ground on music is quite rare, especially with Old Chai — he really has too many FANS.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/29 20:26:58
Author: flowingriv Reply date: 2006-10-29 13:40:36
OP, this is really not okay. Talk about the music, just talk about the music — does music made by a comrade have a comrade vibe? Whether a comrade's music is good or not, none of that matters. Is dying of comradeship really a reason for you to despise his music? How absurd!
=================
Did you not read this line clearly?
But music is music. Musicians speak only through music — a musician's tombstone is built of music.
Why doesn't this ID despise Beethoven despite his incest? Because of his music. If that Russian man could write music at Beethoven's level, this ID wouldn't despise him either.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2006/10/28 14:42:48
Just discussing the matter at hand — Chai-fans, please don't throw a fit.