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Jordi Savall Refuses Spanish Music Award.

5K views 19 replies 7 participants last post by  Ukko 
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#1 ·
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#5 ·
I have been writing a paper about federal funding for the arts all semester. The rough draft of the final paper is due Monday, and the final draft of the final paper is due in a couple of weeks. This... might be a fun secondary source.
 
#6 ·
Jordi Savall is a fine musician. I enjoy his work both recorded and live.

Jordi Savall is a Catalan. He is sponsored by by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona . He accepted the Gold Medal awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya in October 2014. He supported the recent Catalan referendum - http://www.cataloniavotes.eu/from-pa...-jordi-savall/ . The site quoted is a Catalan web site.

I feel, therefore, that his views on the policies of the central Spanish government have no more validity than that of any other separatist whether Scot, Quebecois or whatever. If a Scots musician were to accept awards and sponsorship from the Scottish parliament and support Scottish independence, one would hardly expect them to respond favourably to awards from the British government.

The only thing one can say about the Spanish government was that it was rather naive to allow Mr Savall the chance for a propaganda coup.
 
#8 ·
I feel, therefore, that his views on the policies of the central Spanish government have no more validity than that of any other separatist whether Scot, Quebecois or whatever. If a Scots musician were to accept awards and sponsorship from the Scottish parliament and support Scottish independence, one would hardly expect them to respond favourably to awards from the British government.
You seem to be presupposing a one-way street here. Rather than him criticising the Spanish government simply because he's a separatist, perhaps the ongoing lack of support from the Spanish government for 40 years has been a contributing factor to his separatist views.
 
#7 ·
Well, maybe a second thing could be said: VAT was raised to 21%, thus decreasing public attendance to any cultural show.
Did you know that some professionals sold carrots or porno magazines with a free ticket for the show joint, because those products have a lower VAT?
And I asume that you can prove that Savall, who became known and works mostly in France, is "sponsored" by Catalunya, and in what sense, just like composer Josep Soler and photographer Colita who also refused that reward, or the best Spanish students ignoring the Ministry:

 
#9 ·
And I asume that you can prove that Savall, who became known and works mostly in France, is "sponsored" by Catalunya, and in what sense, just like composer Josep Soler and photographer Colita who also refused that reward, or the best Spanish students ignoring the Ministry:
Savall's Centre for Ancient Music has a support page - http://www.fundaciocima.org/en/support/. When we went to see Savall in York, during the early music festival, the program reiterated that he was sponsored by Catalunya.
 
#11 · (Edited)
I admire Jordi Savall tremendously - I have never listened to anything he's done and not loved it - and we so enjoyed his concert in York. I know that Taggart just wanted to set the record straight about his position, and was not suggesting any criticism of him.

It is similar to the late Seamus Heaney, when he was included in an anthology of 'British' verse, having been born in the British province of Northern Ireland; he riposted,
"Be advised my passport's green.
No glass of ours was ever raised
to toast the Queen."
He nonetheless respected his childhood Unionist neighbours and his British colleagues. It was a matter of principle.

Jordi Savall is similarly entitled to his own allegiances and it would have been inconsistent to accept the Spanish Government's Award.
One thing is clear - he certainly is a man of integrity. :tiphat:
 
#12 ·
He is, but would have accepted that prize, as French, Israelian and others, if the current Spanish Government hsd not neglected culture, almost ignoring it and condemning to death... you know, here, if you like music or theater you are a snob and you must pay double for it.

At the same time, an % of Spain is crying because La Pantoja must go to jail for having stolen milions...
 
#16 · (Edited)
I just reread the link provided by the OP with the translation of Savall's statement. I didn't see any mention of the Catalonian Independence Issue there. He is complaining more about what he perceives as a lack of support of the Spanish Government for Arts awareness and funding. I don't think that based on this statement it is fair to criticize Savall of a double standard, or pleading for peace in other parts of the world but increasing separatist tensions in his homeland.
 
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