Drift is another word for current, when navigating. And the drift is calculated with reference to the "tempus" and the course. As a course is a pair (or more) of strings, and is also a direction, then we can look to the directions of the HIP advocates as to the use of the courses. Approach is what one does when in harbor and coming into the pier. So are our peers entertained by our approach? Or are they so abstracted from our approach by the drinks at the bar that they don't notice the set and drift of the current than sends us into the pilings.
So is HIP current, or is it dull. I'll never know whether the shine is off the lute, unless I pull out a rag and polish it. But, having had my dinner and a bit of a read, I need no edification. And beauty being in the eye of the beholder I'll leave that to others. Come to think of it, "edifyingly beautiful" is a bit of a canard - unless one thinks that beauty can be taught. It can be taught, as long as it has a general form. At least the ability to see it can be taught, but not the details. Descartes proposed a tautology, Cogito ergo Sum (or would you call that an axiom?). For me it is easier, Bibo ergo Sum (although I sometimes wonder if it should be Sum ergo Bibo). Enough. My lute (even if not a real one) entertains me. Nothing is dull, but some music bores me. But dullness is the province of dullards. Any time I find myself bored by something I watch my cats ears perk up at the sound of a cricket or a katydid - and I join her in listening. But let no one get taut about the above tautology, nor be proud of being edifiyed at what they have been taught. Learning is a continuing process, if it ever stops one is stultified (wow, how's that for a silly word). Teachers shouldn't try to teach, they should provide the atmosphere for the continuing learning process. Best, Jon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roman Turovsky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Stewart McCoy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Lute Net" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 9:40 PM Subject: Re: Lute on Open Air Festival 2 >> The mistake is to equate HIP with being boring. Both HIP and non-HIP >> are equally capable of being boring or not boring. For example, if I >> were to imitate exactly your gleeful murdering of "tempus est >> iocundum" complete with American accent and accompaniment >> of Bolivian charango, it could be very dull. On the other hand, it >> could be highly entertaining. > The question is whether it could also be edifyingly beautiful (which is > not > necessarily entertaining, often disturbing, and typically not dull). > If Bill could pull off something of the sort on his charango, then he > might > actually justify his entire approach, but as an abstract idea it just > don't > work, if you acquire my drift.... > RT > > > > >
