Crumb's "Makrokosmos"

[Newton Hunt]

Thanks Tom and a nice story to go with it.
	Newton

McNeilTom@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I agree whole-heartedly with Newton, who as usual says it best!
> 
> The most serious confrontation of my 30 years in this career came with the
> chair of our piano faculty over a similar issue.  In this case, we did have a
> designated piano (ancient Knabe concert grand) for 'alternative performance
> practices'.  The chair of the piano faculty wanted to use instead the primary
> S&S 'D'  "just this once" since she was to be the pianist, and it was a
> significant ensemble performance, etc.  I said, "No," and we had previously
> arranged that these calls were mine to make.  I said that if she insisted on
> overriding my call, I would reluctantly resign my responsibility for enforcing
> the Piano Use Policy from that point forward.  (This was a responsibility she
> was loathe to resume.)
> 
> In the end, the winning consideration was that her example, in either using
> the 'designated piano' or the Steinway, would have far-reaching consequences.
> We had about 55 piano majors at that time, and it was assumed that nearly all
> of them would be in attendance for this particular performance.  To her, the
> prospect of, say 10%, of them wanting to use the Steinway for alternative
> performance practices was most unwelcome.
> 
> A few days after our initial very heated confrontation over this issue, we met
> by chance in the mailroom.  She gave me a warm hug of apology and our
> relationship was wonderfully collegial from that day until the end of my
> career there.  She had been very impressed by the sincerity and tenacity of my
> concern for the pianos under my care (and her use).
> 
> The well-being of the pianos in your care should be your concern, and may be
> your responsibility.  Be professional and assertive on this, but try not to
> loose your cool as I almost did!
> 
>        -   Tom McNeil   -
> Vermont Piano Restorations
> 
> In a message dated 99-03-05 18:47:58 EST, Newton wrote:
> 
> <<  Tell the department chair about the potential damage to the instrument
>  and ask him to require the artist to be responsible for any such.  I
>  did that once, the artist wanted to put tacks in the hammers.  I hit
>  the roof and the chair agreed with me and suggest they rent their own
>  piano for such abuse.
> 
>  I HATE this kind of shit.
> 
>         Newton  >>