In every artists life, there are a few reference points that embody the absolute ideal to which one aspires. Since our lives are spent in pursuing the unattainable, we are profoundly grateful for the very few moments when we are able to witness such an ideal ourselves. For us, such a reference point was always to be found in the playing of Claude Frank, one of modernitys greatest musicians, who died today at the age of 89. In his playing, one always found a clear, quiet, intense light - like Galadriels vial, it shone for us, a living proof that the impossible is possible, that magic exists. More than perhaps any other living musician, he shaped our basic sense of values, our understanding of what greatness is. Many of his concerts were for us certain points of reckoning. We measured ourselves, who we were and who we became: before and after. We would be ashamed of ourselves for not having faith before, for giving up, for settling, for not caring enough... You learned what it meant to be truly alive from those concerts. And after - everything was possible... except everything was too small compared to what he offered. Now that he is gone, will there be anybody to remind us of this light? Will we be able to keep it burning unconditionally, uncompromisingly, without regard to any reasonable expectations, that lacquered mask of complacent mediocrity? We have to manage now without him. Thats hard.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:59:00 +0000