Re: GG: quote about centipede?

["L. Lalonde" <llalonde@lightspeed.net>]

Avis Hsieh wrote:
> 
> hi everyone--
> Someone took out all the books on GG from the Princeton University
> library!
> I seem to remember either a quote from GG or something from one of the
> books on GG (Cott or Payzant) which uses this analogy of a centipede's
> ability to walk and Gould's technical ability to play: Gould doesn't want
> to teach because once he tries to verbalize and be aware of the -process-
> of his piano-playing, he can no longer do it, much as a centipede can no
> longer move if you ask it which leg it moves first.
> I'm writing a paper for an Asian-American anthropology course and thought
> it would be a perfect quote in explaining how minority Americans, by being
> made aware of their catagories and all the implications therein, are thus
> paralyzed--that living is, like piano-playing, an art, yada yada yada.
> anyways, thanks so much in advance.
> regards,
> avis.

The centipede was happy, quite
Until the Toad in fun
Said, "Pray which leg goes after which?"
And worked her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch
Considering how to run.

An interviewer asked Glenn Gould about his singing while he played the 
piano:  What function does it serve?  Gould replied:  That's very 
difficult, and it's one of those centipedal questions--your know, 
Schoenberg once said that he would not willingly be asked by any of 
his composition students exactly why such and such a process served 
him well, because the question made him feel like that centipede who 
was asked in which order it moved it's hundred legs and afterwards he 
could move no legs at all--there's something impotent making about hat 
question.  I'm rather afraid of it.

Quoted from page 89 in Payzant's MUSIC AND MIND

Good Luck

Lori Lalonde's Mother