‘Let’s Roll?’

Re: “Let’s Roll?” Editorial, September 12, 2005. If the Park Service has the final say, then how can it possibly be a purely “private matter”? This crescent business and the International Freedom Center at the World Trade Center site obviously represent a clash between those who see September 11 as a tragedy, involving a misunderstanding between two morally equal groups, and those who see it as a horrible crime committed by beasts that can only be compared with Nazis or Saddam Hussein in their disregard for civilized values and human life. Let the American people vote on these projects, perhaps through the House of Representatives. If a majority wants the IFC and the crescent, then give it to them.

DAVID M. O’NEILL
Manhattan

Katrina’s Racial Divide?

Re: “Katrina Shows Racial Divide in America” Jamal Watson, New York, September 7, 2005. We now know there were hundreds of empty school buses to carry black citizens (and white) to safety before Katrina struck. Neither the mayor of New Orleans nor Governor Blanco gave the order to use them. Poor people of every color, 85% of them white, live all over America. Education is the key to prosperity and equality. Who could have imagined even 20 years ago that the great-granddaughter of a slave would be today’s secretary of state? Jesse Jackson and his ilk are hypocritical, interested only in their own aggrandizement. Let them devote their energies to rescuing the victims of genocide in Africa whom the crooked United Nations, led by another demagogue, does nothing to help. President Bush is a humane and caring leader who deserves the support of all Americans.

JEROME L. STARR
Manhattan

‘Conservatories’

Re: “The Problem With Conservatories,” Fred Kirshnit, Arts & Letters, September 12, 2005. I have no idea if Mr. Kirshnit actually went to a conservatory, but I would be willing to bet he didn’t, since much of what he says makes little sense to those of us who did. I agree that conservatories hurt music in some ways, but I don’t understand what planet he’s on when he says stuff like: “If Joshua Bell had gone to Juilliard instead of Indiana University, he would never have developed his signature portamento.”

Are you seriously lamenting the fact that there aren’t more artists like Mr. Bell on the scene? How many male model/violin virtuosos can the world take? Other odd statements include: ” … true expressivity in the classical repertoire is extremely difficult to achieve and requires a great deal of time learning the subtleties of individual technique. As a result, it should come as no surprise when highly skilled conservatory graduates drift toward jazz and pop.” I’ve heard of people doing pop for money, but I’ve never heard of people doing pop for “true expressivity.” More …

“Of course, no one ever went to Juilliard to become an oboist in the Albany Symphony – or, for that matter, the 15th second violin player of the New York Philharmonic. Virtually all hope to be soloists when they enter the conservatory, and as a result many are disaffected in their orchestral jobs later in life.” And …

“The press releases announcing the celebration of the Juilliard School’s 100th season … all tout the matriculation of Mr. Perlman. In truth, a great number of fine musicians have graduated from Juilliard and its two sister schools, the Manhattan School of Music and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, but I don’t know how much they have to celebrate.”

And I think that settles it. If you don’t know whether Curtis has anything to celebrate (ever heard of Leonard Bernstein?), you probably shouldn’t be writing an article about conservatories. I think the 15th second violinist in the Phil would agree with me, too. Anyway, it’s obvious: Conservatories emphasize mainstream playing so their students can get jobs. Hello! Who wants to hear some 18-year-old play a wacked-out Brahms concerto? And if you tell that student to play it all wackily, you share in the blame for that student starving to death on the street after they graduate. So keep esoteric soul-searching and leave us conservatory brats alone.

BRIAN FOUNTAIN
Orchestra Fellow
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago, Ill.