Absent Friends & Missing Persons

[Serial_Apologist]

Thank goodness for music!

You could even thank music for goodness, to an extent.

[teamsaint]

You could even thank music for goodness, to an extent.

[vinteuil]

You could even thank music for goodness, to an extent.

... tho' sadly there are too many counter-examples which demonstrate that a love of music does not correlate with, still less cause, goodness.

Germany in the period 1933 - 1945....

[ahinton]

... tho' sadly there are too many counter-examples which demonstrate that a love of music does not correlate with, still less cause, goodness.

Germany in the period 1933 - 1945....

But do you think that, in this particular example, there was a genuine or conveniently feigned "love of music"?

[richardfinegold]

But do you think that, in this particular example, there was a genuine or conveniently feigned "love of music"?

Reinhard Heydrich was reportedly an excellent Violinist. The depiction of a Nazi in Schindlers List stopping in the middle of a massacre to play a work by Bach is apparently based on many actual historical incidents. There were many Nazis who felt that 'German Culture' was in danger of contamination by 'non German (Aryan) elements'. Love of music unfortunately does not equal love of humanity

[ahinton]

Reinhard Heydrich was reportedly an excellent Violinist. The depiction of a Nazi in Schindlers List stopping in the middle of a massacre to play a work by Bach is apparently based on many actual historical incidents. There were many Nazis who felt that 'German Culture' was in danger of contamination by 'non German (Aryan) elements'. Love of music unfortunately does not equal love of humanity

No, indeed it doesn't but was not Heydrich something of an exception in this? I don't think tht there's much relaible evidence that Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and other Nazi head honchos really cared deeply about any music, even German music. OK, Wagner's conduct and his music were themseoves often very much at odds, but the hero-worship of Wagner by the Nazis was based, I suspect, on a slender understanding of what his music was about.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

No, indeed it doesn't but was not Heydrich something of an exception in this? I don't think tht there's much relaible evidence that Hitler, Goering, Goebbels and other Nazi head honchos really cared deeply about any music, even German music. OK, Wagner's conduct and his music were themseoves often very much at odds, but the hero-worship of Wagner by the Nazis was based, I suspect, on a slender understanding of what his music was about.

Indeed - but many decent "Music-lovers" base their love on such (lack of) understanding. And they (as, indeed, Stalin) "really cared deeply" about how they could use Music - which, for Hitler's crippled morality, was the closest they could get to Love and how they understood Love "worked".

It wasn't just Wagner - the Nazis also appropriated Bruckner (Haas, Orel, and Nowak all worked for the International Bruckner Society under the Nazi regime) and all the other Bs.

Music is neutral - it doesn't "express" spiritual states; it evokes and encourages them. It's a sickeningly salutary thought that the poisonous psyche of many Nazis received sustenance and succour from the Ode to Joy.

[ahinton]

Indeed - but many decent "Music-lovers" base their love on such (lack of) understanding. And they (as, indeed, Stalin) "really cared deeply" about how they could use Music - which, for Hitler's crippled morality, was the closest they could get to Love and how they understood Love "worked".

It wasn't just Wagner - the Nazis also appropriated Bruckner (Haas, Orel, and Nowak all worked for the International Bruckner Society under the Nazi regime) and all the other Bs.

Music is neutral - it doesn't "express" spiritual states; it evokes and encourages them. It's a sickeningly salutary thought that the poisonous psyche of many Nazis received sustenance and succour from the Ode to Joy.

I could not agree more with what you express here; very many thanks! The irony with Bruckner was, of course, that he was not German but, like so much else with that lot, it was convenient to overlook such matters...

[Petrushka]

At the risk of derailing this thread further, one of the supreme ironies in all musical history must be when Hitler, as a down and out in Vienna, attended a performance at the Vienna State Opera conducted by Gustav Mahler. I'm not at home at present so can't double check the date but I think, from memory, it was in May 1908.

It suits our purpose to deny Hitler any sense of culture. This book is an eye-opener: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hitler-Powe.../dp/1585673455

[EdgeleyRob]

It's no exaggeration--I've seen many Patients with Heart Failure whose life expectancy would have been 1 year in the early 1980s go on for more than 20 years...the advances in Oncology and Transplant Medicine get more headlines and have been significant but it's Heart Failure where the biggest improvements in longevity have been made.
So keep practicing that Alkan

That's very reassuring Richard,thanks again

[EdgeleyRob]

You keep doing everything right Rob .... Retirement is IMVVHO a thing of wonder and will give County time to get back where they belong .....

Thanks Anton,sorry I missed this post earlier.

[EdgeleyRob]

Thank goodness for music!

Yes indeed BBM,It's been my saviour many times.

[BBMmk2]

3rd helping of chemotherapy done this morning. Also today had an infusion done to strengthen my bones. Not all that long session really but still quite tiring. came home hand caught up with Rattles's Mahler symphony no.7 Prom!! :)

[Serial_Apologist]

3rd helping of chemotherapy done this morning. Also today had an infusion done to strengthen my bones. Not all that long session really but still quite tiring. came home hand caught up with Rattles's Mahler symphony no.7 Prom!! :)

You're bearing up amazingly well, given the circs, BBM.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

You're bearing up amazingly well, given the circs, BBM.

Many hours of happy listening as the drugs do their stuff, Bbm.