Alan Baer and friends in North Korea

[ubq]

Hi,

Even the Hungarian State Brodcast here in Budapest mentioned in they headlines yesterday that the NYPO is in Korea, and we would see Mr. Baer and the great trombone section as well! I wish all the news would be like this....

Regards

[ZNC Dandy]

is it just me, or does it look like Mr. Alessi is playing a Shires trombone? at least thats what the valve wrap looks like.

[NDSPTuba]

Is it my imagination or is Mr. Baer a big man.

[jonesbrass]

Is it just me, or does Lorin Maazel look like Emperor Palpatine (before he was disfigured)?

[Dylan King]

I have great respect for Alan Baer and the musicians of the NYP, but just how wise is the orchestra's decision to perform in North Korea?

May 26, 1972

"The most important thing in our war preparations is to teach all our people to hate U.S. imperialism. Otherwise, we will not be able to defeat the U.S. imperialists who boast of their technological superiority.

Therefore, we are intensifying ideological education, to imbue the people with hatred for U.S. imperialism. I think this is quite a natural and correct thing for us to do. We do not have to stop the anti-U.S. education we have been giving to our people or conceal the fact that we are educating them in anti-U.S. ideas just because you come to our country, do we?"

- Kim Il Sung

Would it have been a good thing "for peace" if a U.S. orchestra had played in Berlin for Adolf Hitler in 1938? Or for Stalin, Saddam Hussein, or Mau in China when he was slaughtering millions of his own citizens?

The North Korean regime is EVIL. Ask anyone of South Korean decent what they think of the communist government of Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong II. The United States is going to pay severely for our foolish love of multiculturalism that is being taught in the universities. This foolishness has led us to make decisions that go against the ethics of God, and of a free society. There are some things that we just should not do, including performing beautiful music in front of mass-murderers in the name of "art" and "world peace."

This kind of thing is ever increasing in our great nation, and we are going to be brought very low because of it unless we repent as a nation and return to the values this country was founded on.



Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness will correct you,
And your backslidings will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing
That you have forsaken the LORD your God,
And the fear of Me is not in you,â€

[pulseczar]

I have great respect for Alan Baer and the musicians of the NYP, but just how wise is the orchestra's decision to perform in North Korea?

May 26, 1972

"The most important thing in our war preparations is to teach all our people to hate U.S. imperialism. Otherwise, we will not be able to defeat the U.S. imperialists who boast of their technological superiority.

Therefore, we are intensifying ideological education, to imbue the people with hatred for U.S. imperialism. I think this is quite a natural and correct thing for us to do. We do not have to stop the anti-U.S. education we have been giving to our people or conceal the fact that we are educating them in anti-U.S. ideas just because you come to our country, do we?"

- Kim Il Sung

Would it have been a good thing "for peace" if a U.S. orchestra had played in Berlin for Adolf Hitler in 1938? Or for Stalin, Saddam Hussein, or Mau in China when he was slaughtering millions of his own citizens?

The North Korean regime is EVIL. Ask anyone of South Korean decent what they think of the communist government of Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong II. The United States is going to pay severely for our foolish love of multiculturalism that is being taught in the universities. This foolishness has led us to make decisions that go against the ethics of God, and of a free society. There are some things that we just should not do, including performing beautiful music in front of mass-murderers in the name of "art" and "world peace."

This kind of thing is ever increasing in our great nation, and we are going to be brought very low because of it unless we repent as a nation and return to the values this country was founded on.

I agree on the fact that it's pretty ballsy for the orchestra to travel to N. Korea to perform, but I think it's a great opportunity to learn about a different culture in a new perspective.

http://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRe ... 5720080227

I personally believe that the media's blowing this out of proportion. Music isn't politics. It's just art. Hopefully, Mr. Kim has changed his viewpoint after 35 years; but if it floats your boat, as Michael Corleone says, "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

Alan if you're checking Tubenet, I give you and your colleagues an enormous amount of respect and props for what you've accomplished.



A. Huynh

[eupher61]

not to be an apologist for Kim, but here's a little bit of perspective--very little, but...

at that time (1972) the Cold War was at full tilt. Nixon hadn't gone to China yet (I don't think so, at the time of that quote, I don't have time to check it further right now) or, at least, Nixon had just recently gone to China. (Wouldn't that make a cool opera?) Kim Il Sung was a puppet for his father, Kim Jong Il.

Since then, the US has begun, and subsequently stopped, construction on nuclear power plants in N Korea, as part of a multi national corporation, KEDO.

There have been a couple of brief exchanges between North Korea and South Korea. But, there've been questionably hostile events coming out of the North as well.

Things have changed, but in reality little has, aside from a few more visits to the North by international visitors.

[Mojo workin']

Would it have been a good thing "for peace" if a U.S. orchestra had played in Berlin for Adolf Hitler in 1938? Or for Stalin, Saddam Hussein, or Mau in China when he was slaughtering millions of his own citizens?

The North Korean regime is EVIL. Ask anyone of South Korean decent what they think of the communist government of Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong II. The United States is going to pay severely for our foolish love of multiculturalism that is being taught in the universities. This foolishness has led us to make decisions that go against the ethics of God, and of a free society. There are some things that we just should not do, including performing beautiful music in front of mass-murderers in the name of "art" and "world peace."

This kind of thing is ever increasing in our great nation, and we are going to be brought very low because of it unless we repent as a nation and return to the values this country was founded on.

Careful, fella. When you say things like that (you know, pro-American) you're going to immediately get responses like:

And I think it is important to not forget about our separation of church and state, as well as to not punish many for the mistakes of few...

Welcome to our present state of political correctness - And how dare you violate the separation between church and tuba by quoting from that evil text The Bible! Communist Manifesto, Howard Stern's Private Parts, The Koran- OK. Bible-no.

[TubaRay]

This foolishness has led us to make decisions that go against the ethics of God, and of a free society. There are some things that we just should not do, including performing beautiful music in front of mass-murderers in the name of "art" and "world peace."

And I think it is important to not forget about our separation of church and state, as well as to not punish many for the mistakes of few...

I have heard the first part of your quote so often in my life that I am growing tired of hearing it. Although it was contained in a supreme court ruling, it cannot be found in our constitution. I have no idea where you are getting the part about not punishing many for the mistakes of few.

You are certainly free to believe however you choose to believe, but I believe Dylan has made a good point or so. He is probably a bit further out in his beliefs than I am, but I am not quite ready to call him crazy, either. It is my opinion that we are too quite to dismiss some very serious things. We have more than one situation in today's world which could be compared to Nazi Germany. How often do we need to learn the same lesson. Is there anyone on TubeNet who believes the world did the right thing while Hitler was gaining power and then beginning his quest for world ruler? I am of mostly German heritage and I believe the German people, as well as the rest of Europe and the world at large, sat back and let an awful lot of s___ happen before they did anything about it.

Music certainly is not politics, but there is an awfully fine line between what we are doing and actually abetting a very evil regime.

[Robert Simmons]

When I first heard about this, I was rather indignant. I honestly believe the North Koreans are imprisoned by a cruel and insane dictator. I recall, though, the powerful impact music has had in improving relations with regimes we disagree with. Think about the impact of Van Cliburn's triumph and the NY Phil tour of the USSR with Bernstein. I've heard anecdotes about the Marine Band's tour in Russia around 20 years ago that did much to bridge cultural differences. Perhaps this tour can go a long way toward reducing hatred. I admire them and wish them all success.

[Tom Holtz]

Air travel, as most of us know, blows.

International air travel, as many of us have learned, can really mess with your body, mess with your head, and even the plush seats up front don't help one damned bit.

Last Tuesday night, the NY Phil played in North Korea. They wrapped up their Asia tour in South Korea on Thursday night. Thursday night.

Friday morning, Phil Smith made it to Washington, D.C. to rehearse with the Marine Band. Oh yes, he sounded freakin' awesome. It was like having a big sign hung in front of my face:



He's playing "Victorious" and "Fandango" on tomorrow's concert. See the website for details.

[MikeMason]

Speaking of big.I think Mr. Baer's name is misspelled.He's huge.Looks like he could eat the rest of the bone section and still have room for pie...