Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2003 8:05 pm
Hi Helven ~
I appreciate your time and thoughtfulness in your posting in response to mine. I didn't mean to suggest that Leonard's art [as in writing and anything else creative that he does] should be mutually exclusive with money, or he becomes a "bad person" somehow. The best possible thing is to be able to make your money to live doing something you love. I don't think that it invalidates the beauty and intention of his art to receive payment for it. However, he's doing the creating first. There are many things he's written ~ he writes because he must write ~ that he's never received payment for, nor never tried. It's the implication that money is his motive for doing so that I object to. He will write many songs that will never be recorded by him. The ones whom I might consider to be in the category of "money is my goal" are the "formula writers" ~ the ones who know what the radio play will likely be, and then start cranking them out. We all need to live, and living requires financial exchange in most arenas. I wouldn't expect Leonard to be "indifferent" in the sense of recording an album, and then saying, "Oh no, Sony! You take it! Sell it! Pay me nothing! I work for the love of my art, not for money!" This example is to an extreme just to make my point, not to be sarcastic toward you. I don't feel that any of the fruits of his efforts are denigrated because he is able to realize a monetary gain at some point and in some measure from them. I feel that that's only realistic that he do so. However, to suggest that his motives are strictly monetary does, indeed [from my perspective], denigrate the true poet, of which Leonard is one. It's the difference between art and commercialism. The one serves to accuse him of mindless greed. It was this essence that I found offensive.
Leonard is actually rather unique in his high regard for his followers/appreciators/fans/whatever. He takes what he does very seriously, feels they deserve his very best, and does all he can to give it to them. You can also hear it in his voice in his concerts, and see it in his performances, and the extension of his performances. You can see it in his responding to us here. At one time in his life, you could get a personal response from him, by mail or by phone. He has always had a keen awareness and respect for the symbiotic relationship between an artist and the "fans." He has arranged for his own level of involvement [as much as is possible], even through other people as "emissaries." As I'm recalling, Lorca, his daughter, came to the Hydra gathering. Esther, his sister, was at the Montreal gathering, and the recent concert of Leonard's songs in New York City. They love him as family, as well as an artist, and at least Esther loves his "fans," and they no doubt wanted to come, on their own, regardless. He has given his respect in the ways he has found possible. There are also, no doubt, many anecdotes of other ways he shows his sincere respect for those who know and love him and his music/writing. He has created an atmosphere around himself that conveys the importance to him of his fans, and not just through him, we see it manifested in his family members, and people who have been in his group[s].
I really appreciate your poem, by Pushkin as it turns out [which I wouldn't have known on my own], and the one eeey has posted following it, as well. "The Poet" says a lot, and takes more than several readings to glean all that's there. Thanks.
~ Lizzytysh
I appreciate your time and thoughtfulness in your posting in response to mine. I didn't mean to suggest that Leonard's art [as in writing and anything else creative that he does] should be mutually exclusive with money, or he becomes a "bad person" somehow. The best possible thing is to be able to make your money to live doing something you love. I don't think that it invalidates the beauty and intention of his art to receive payment for it. However, he's doing the creating first. There are many things he's written ~ he writes because he must write ~ that he's never received payment for, nor never tried. It's the implication that money is his motive for doing so that I object to. He will write many songs that will never be recorded by him. The ones whom I might consider to be in the category of "money is my goal" are the "formula writers" ~ the ones who know what the radio play will likely be, and then start cranking them out. We all need to live, and living requires financial exchange in most arenas. I wouldn't expect Leonard to be "indifferent" in the sense of recording an album, and then saying, "Oh no, Sony! You take it! Sell it! Pay me nothing! I work for the love of my art, not for money!" This example is to an extreme just to make my point, not to be sarcastic toward you. I don't feel that any of the fruits of his efforts are denigrated because he is able to realize a monetary gain at some point and in some measure from them. I feel that that's only realistic that he do so. However, to suggest that his motives are strictly monetary does, indeed [from my perspective], denigrate the true poet, of which Leonard is one. It's the difference between art and commercialism. The one serves to accuse him of mindless greed. It was this essence that I found offensive.
Leonard is actually rather unique in his high regard for his followers/appreciators/fans/whatever. He takes what he does very seriously, feels they deserve his very best, and does all he can to give it to them. You can also hear it in his voice in his concerts, and see it in his performances, and the extension of his performances. You can see it in his responding to us here. At one time in his life, you could get a personal response from him, by mail or by phone. He has always had a keen awareness and respect for the symbiotic relationship between an artist and the "fans." He has arranged for his own level of involvement [as much as is possible], even through other people as "emissaries." As I'm recalling, Lorca, his daughter, came to the Hydra gathering. Esther, his sister, was at the Montreal gathering, and the recent concert of Leonard's songs in New York City. They love him as family, as well as an artist, and at least Esther loves his "fans," and they no doubt wanted to come, on their own, regardless. He has given his respect in the ways he has found possible. There are also, no doubt, many anecdotes of other ways he shows his sincere respect for those who know and love him and his music/writing. He has created an atmosphere around himself that conveys the importance to him of his fans, and not just through him, we see it manifested in his family members, and people who have been in his group[s].
I really appreciate your poem, by Pushkin as it turns out [which I wouldn't have known on my own], and the one eeey has posted following it, as well. "The Poet" says a lot, and takes more than several readings to glean all that's there. Thanks.
~ Lizzytysh
. I know his poetry a little and I love it, of course. Actually Puchkin's poems (and Hans Christian Andersen' fairy tales as well) formed my world when I was a little girl. It wouldn't be a big exaggeration to say that I learnt to speak reciting his lyrics 
. So his poetry has always been like a kind of "natural phenomenon" for me. But, unfortunately, I can't call myself an expert…
