First of all, all of this Chopin-Liszt stuff is a harkening back to a year or two ago when I got in a hell of a flame war with Alex and others about C & L's music. Unlike our sister forum, we came out of it, shook hands, and now laugh and make jokes about the whole thing (because it is rather funny when you think about it). I can't even imagine the possibility that either party would want it any other way - Alex is a mature musician whose opinions I respect, along with many others on this forum.

I don't feel the need to articulate this every time that I make a jab at Chopin, just like he doesn't whenever he purposely spells Liszt's name wrong (another amusing thread from about five months ago). In fact, we at least try to make sure that it's somewhat obvious with the emoticons or the tone of our posts.



Two things:

1. As a huge Liszt lover and member of the American Liszt Society, I could say the reciprocal about you.

2. I just posted my repertoire list in another thread. Look at it and you'll see that I've played more Chopin than any other composer listed (contradiction of contradictions!!!!!!!). Is it possible that I've played, studied, and analyzed enough of his music to see that I don't care for it?

I don't appreciate you telling me that I have bad taste in music just because I don't like one composer. Call this bragging if you will, but I play upwards to 20 concerts a year of all types (concerto, solo, chamber, accompanying, competitions). You have no right to judge my taste in music on one comparitively miniscule fact.



You know what, if you're just going to flame me, then flame me. It sounds like you're ready to go. Too bad I'm not interested...

I'd like to leave you with this parting gift to underscore my point: STOP TAKING IT TOO SERIOUSLY. If you going to be argumentative about my jokes, don't even bother reading my posts.

Adieu, all. I'll check in some time again around middle October or November.

No Comment.

Wow,

I can't find the thread that Brendan refers to but I guess (against my better judgement) I must stick up for my comrade here. As Brendan notes, we've had a long running commentary of Lixt vs. Chopin. As the members of this forum has grown considerably, it's probably not clear to everyone that most of this is in jest (except for the part that Chopin is clearly a superior composer to Lizt). As much as this forum provides a valuable service in advice and commentary, it also has created a family that goads one another like most families. That's why I like to visit here. Here is where I learned that Jodi is a great artist, that Matt understands recording/producing better than anyone I know; that Andrew has the largest recording collection that I know and is the most informative source I know on recordings; that Joy is a former hippie (my words, sorry if that is offensive - it's not meant to be) whose son has a lot of talent; that Ryan besides being an extremely accomplished pianist (if Andrew says so, it must be true) can detail measures and how to solve them technically better than anyone I know; that great commentary is provided by Vid, Diarmuid, MacDuff, WG, Kenny, Patti - all of whom I’ve disagreed with at times but agree with more often than not – whose commentary is always taken seriously. Plus we welcome our newer family – Bruce D, Zelda, Amy , Bernard, Pique (who I still think was unmercifully attacked for exercising free speech), Matt G, jgoo and others that I apologize that I’ve forgotten at this late hour. And yes, we’ve already had our own skirmishes.

And finally, I must note that my wife and I count Cork and Kelly as friends that goes beyond just this forum.

So, I’m rambling after my wake tonight and a most traumatic few days. Like Brendan, I will be taking off for a while but will be back in mid-October. I guess I started with a point to make but I think I’ve lost it. Maybe it’s to utilize this forum to learn but also to have fun, to kid around, to have an extended family that I hope we all have the opportunity to get together on a broad basis much as the we had at the Dallas Piano Forum parties.

Brendan: I'm not taking anything too seriously here. And by the way, if you look under the thread "I miss you, Alex", you will see that I do like Lizst and I even gave some examples of a couple of his great pieces. I'm not trying to start anything or to offend anybody. All of this should have been clarified before hand, though, to avoid things such as this. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I end on this note:
I have been humiliated on this forum before and I'm sure that it will happen again. But, as I said before as well, the people on this forum never hold a grudge (or so I can tell so far) and they're always ready to forgive and forget. All of this I am now putting behind me. Now its your turn. (or maybe you have already done that).

jgoo

Nobody is trying to humiliate you, but honestly, did you think the pictures were serious!!!

Alex,

I haven't been able to bring myself to post since "that" thread. I feel ashamed at ever having contributed to it. My apologies to you Pique if I offended you in any way. I was shocked at some of the comments myself, and should really have said so. I just didn't feel it was the right time for an argument, and boy that's what would have happened.