| Derek,
Shanghai is a fun town. I did a 3 week residency at the conservatory there about 10 years ago and fell absolutely in love with Chinese traditional music.
Your story reminds me of one Bud told me years ago involving Solti's insistence on a particular cornet for the solo movement (un Bal) in Symphonie Fantastique. Bud, as you know, didn't much care for conductors suggesting this or that to him, and he pulled the same trick by placing his C trumpet on the ground prior to the waltz and making sure Sir Georg saw him pick it up. Solti, naturally, waxed on about this being the "exact sound that he wanted", and "only achievable on that particular cornet".
I'm sure Bud smiled and said entertaining things that only the bassoons could hear.
The music comes from the musician, amigo. . . not the piece of plumbing (s)he is holding.
Bang the drum slowly,
EC |