My eyes were focused on the score and the fretboard for the duration; I couldn't see any of the reaction when I was playing. What I find interesting is the amazing variation in the reaction...from a sickly "is this supposed to be funny?" to "Oh gawd, make it stop," to "is he doing what I think he's doing?" to absolute gut-busting mirth.
Thanks for posting this. I trust you don't mind if I link to it.
I personally don't understand why the performance was gut-bustingly funny. Perhaps one needs to be more familiar with the original (which I'm sure I've heard but wouldn't recognize on a bet) and have classical music training. Watching the people for whom it was, however, was a high point of the con.
I understand and appreciate your view, which seems to be shared by some in the photo. I will say that the fact that the guest of honor had asked to hear it was central to my decision to do it. It straddles the line between hilarious and annoying. I just hope that for some listeners, my performance was not so much reminiscent of a kid playing Yankee Doodle with farting noises from his armpits as it is reminiscent of the sound of four kids playing a Bach fugue with farting noises from their armpits.
I think reaction is largely a matter of personal taste. I tend to think that Serious Music performed in a very stupid manner is intrinsically funny (and also the opposite, silly music performed With Great Seriousness), but others will find it doesn't do it for them. I suspect that the fact that no less than Mary Crowell asked for it would tend to encourage people who didn't necessarily like it to at least tolerate it.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-10-24 02:43 am (UTC)Thanks for posting this. I trust you don't mind if I link to it.
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