From: Don Firth - PM
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:24 PM

Interesting observation, David. Do you have any idea as to why the judge would feel that way?

After all, in the two music schools I have attended, it was expected that student recitalists have their material memorized.

Don Firth

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Subject: RE: Is it Ok to sing from a song book?
From: Jim Carroll - PM
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 05:28 PM

"I think it's good to encourage the folk tradition of performing by memory, but accept the use of songbooks."
Why?
Classical music is not folk song.
Some years ago Yehudi Menuin, arguably the world's best classical violinist, presented a television on Scots fiddle-playing.
The climax of the programme was when he joined in one of the great traditional players - half way through the set Menuin laid down his fiddle and confessed he wasn't up to the creative virtuosity of the Scot.
A book is for repetition not creativity - simple as that.
Jim Carroll...I went on to say "ANOTHER genre" (I like the differences), Jim; and Don - it was a while ago, but I think that classical-music judge argued all the time spent committing to memory could have been better used working on the mood/feeling of the piece..?