I pointed out Hurwitz's error in saying Pines of the Appian Way was 'missing its tam-tam' in his written review. He replied that he 'didn't say that it wasn't there', (He said it was 'missing', not me) 'It was a strain' (it's marked pppp) and that 'If you didn't know the work you wouldn't be able to tell me where it should be playing.'
Well, quite. I wouldn't know where it should come in if I didn't know the work. I would have replied but at that point I realised it was utterly futile.
Nick, I share your feelings about commentators who offer a 'glib dismissal' of the 'work and skill' of professional musicians.
The late Edward Greenfield (with whose judgements I was not always in sympathy) was surely correct in saying that the duty of the reviewer is to appreciate - to try to understand what the artist is trying to do and the extent to which they have succeeded in doing it.
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