Classical Insites 1997

Started by UB, March 03, 2012, 07:42:30 AM

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UB

For some reason I got to thinking about the first classical music board I ever joined - Classical Insites - in August 1997 (at least that is what I remember. There I was introduced to a lot of wonderful classical music and wonderful people. I got to wondering what Frank A and B, Guy, Ellie, and others I met there are doing today. I think only Owlice and Springrite are active here at GMG and were there at that time or soon after. To this day I can remember the food fight that hit the board soon after I found it when Frank A...I can not remember his last name...started a thread that went something like "We must support new music." I think Mel went to his grave saying in as many different ways as he could "no we do not."

Is there other CItizens on this board that joined CI in 1997 or sometime after and what do you remember about it.?
I am not in the entertainment business. Harrison Birtwistle 2010

springrite

Good to have you here, or I'd feel like so lonely.

I believe M Forever was also at CI. There are a few here as well who have changed names, but I have lost track.
Do what I must do, and let what must happen happen.

Archaic Torso of Apollo

UB - thanks for inspiring this trip down memory lane. I joined CI under my real name back in 1998. Since being at GMG I've used a series of pseudonyms.

Other former CIers that I know of who are still here: Edward, Luke, and I believe Larry Rinkel and A. La Porta have been on here from time to time, under pseudonyms (tho' this is guesswork on my part). Anyone else - please chime in!

Yeah, it was a fun and informative board. In particular, I am grateful to you for being my Modern Music Mentor during those first few months, when I was taking active steps to expand my contemporary listening. I still listen to composers and pieces you recommended back then!
formerly VELIMIR (before that, Spitvalve)

"Who knows not strict counterpoint, lives and dies an ignoramus" - CPE Bach

Luke

Yes, I was there too - happy memories! My first forum, and it did indeed have some great members, especially (to my memory, because of my tastes) on the 'AC' side of things - you, UB, of course, and Al, and Larry, and others who I mostly read from afar with admiration. Joined in about August/September 1998 IIRC. Actually it didn't last too long after that, so I only had quite a brief period experiencing how good a place like that could be, and then yearsi n the wilderness joining failed board after failed borad, until GMG came along.

springrite

Quote from: Luke on March 04, 2012, 01:32:48 AM
Yes, I was there too - happy memories! My first forum, and it did indeed have some great members, especially (to my memory, because of my tastes) on the 'AC' side of things - you, UB, of course, and Al, and Larry, and others who I mostly read from afar with admiration. Joined in about August/September 1998 IIRC. Actually it didn't last too long after that, so I only had quite a brief period experiencing how good a place like that could be, and then yearsi n the wilderness joining failed board after failed borad, until GMG came along.

Always loved that badge of honor that is AC. I got to know Mel (Word Maestro, Iago, etc.) because one time he stalked all my posts and attacked me at every turn, without me replying. When the attacked stopped, I asked Ralphie what happened and heard about his hospitalization. The rest is history and we became close friends after that. I met several CIers (more than GMG'ers) including a cellist, a gamba player, two pianists who married last year (yes, last year, after meeting each other online about 15 years ago).

Barry Zukerman was also at CI and here, though he apparently left here. Wasn't Heck at CI as well? Yes, the CSO_is_always_superior guy.
Do what I must do, and let what must happen happen.

Luke

He was indeed! And Karl Henzy...liked that guy, am I right that he was at CI, or was he around later?

springrite

Quote from: Luke on March 04, 2012, 02:25:43 AM
He was indeed! And Karl Henzy...liked that guy, am I right that he was at CI, or was he around later?

I was at CI rather late, so I don't know many of the regulars. It seems there were more "social" than "musical" interests there, so the big poster like Ralph probably won't like it here and, indeed never came. But I do remember Karl, maybe a bit later rather than at CI. I liked him a lot, also many Canadians who were very very briefly here but were regulars at CI.
Do what I must do, and let what must happen happen.

Archaic Torso of Apollo

Quote from: Luke on March 04, 2012, 02:25:43 AM
He was indeed! And Karl Henzy...liked that guy, am I right that he was at CI, or was he around later?

Karl Henzy, as far as I know, was never at CI. He joined SiteTronics, the hard-to-use forum that succeeded CI, which eventually crashed and was replaced by "Classical Hub," I think it was called. The best thing about ST was the contingent of "atonal crappers," which included some highly erudite posters like Al Moritz (who posts here about once a year), Jose Carrero (AKA "La Mano Gaucha"), and Joseph Henry (who I haven't seen on any site in ages).
formerly VELIMIR (before that, Spitvalve)

"Who knows not strict counterpoint, lives and dies an ignoramus" - CPE Bach

UB

Ah yes...the AC group who Mel never could understand and yet we all became friends as the years passed. I had lunch with Mel in Vegas one time and he convinced my that Wagner was worth taking the time to get to know. I still exchange notes with Al Moritz from time to time. It was fun to share our thoughts about late 20th century music among what was never a large group of posters. I wonder what happened to Steve Molino or is he posting here under a new name?
I am not in the entertainment business. Harrison Birtwistle 2010

Holden

Hello Utah Bill

I was also a CItizen and I either joined in 97 or 98 - I can't remember to tell the truth but probably the latter. There were some amazing threads and the AC thread was one of them. The one I remember most fondly, because I enjoy playing with words, was Romeo and Joliet.

Cheers

Holden
(Probably Holden4th or Holden Fourth in those days.
Cheers

Holden

UB

I have been googling CI and came across this article which commented on the flame wars that shot up on the Opera threads. Those opera people were the real hard core advocates and they sometimes made the AC/Tonal battles seem tame.

Did anyone keep in touch with Ellie Edwards? I was thinking about her and her family today. They let us use their home on Cape Cod when we back that way in 1998. We had never met in person, yet they sent us the key and didn't charge us a dime.

We met Larry Rinkel in San Francisco and spent a very pleasant afternoon with him eating Dim Sum and showing him some of the city. We also met him in New York and later Owlice informed everyone of his passing.



I am not in the entertainment business. Harrison Birtwistle 2010

DavidW

Quote from: UB on March 04, 2012, 01:35:08 PM
We met Larry Rinkel in San Francisco and spent a very pleasant afternoon with him eating Dim Sum and showing him some of the city. We also met him in New York and later Owlice informed everyone of his passing.

???  Larry's still here and he was last active on this forum yesterday.

DavidW

Quote from: UB on March 04, 2012, 04:15:04 AM
I wonder what happened to Steve Molino or is he posting here under a new name?

He doesn't post here anymore, but we email each other every few months.  He is still working and music wise listens mostly to modern classical and jazz.  In fact he has led me into some great Xenakis and Carter recordings that I would not have heard otherwise. :)

Archaic Torso of Apollo

Quote from: DavidW on March 04, 2012, 02:24:04 PM
  He is still working and music wise listens mostly to modern classical and jazz. 

Sounds like he hasn't changed much.

Quote from: DavidW on March 04, 2012, 02:20:16 PM
???  Larry's still here and he was last active on this forum yesterday.

That's a relief. Maybe UB is thinking of Roger Beare, who died several years ago.
formerly VELIMIR (before that, Spitvalve)

"Who knows not strict counterpoint, lives and dies an ignoramus" - CPE Bach

UB

Quote from: DavidW on March 04, 2012, 02:20:16 PM
???  Larry's still here and he was last active on this forum yesterday.
Opps sorry about that Larry. It was Roger Beare that Owlice mentioned...
I am not in the entertainment business. Harrison Birtwistle 2010

flyingdutchman

I was there, but keep my identity hidden these days.

Scarpia


I was also at CI.  In the end days, I created a robot which downloaded just about every post on the site to my hard drive.  I have it somewhere, burned on a CD-ROM (including all of "Ionia," if anyone remembers that).  I must still have it somewhere.  As I recall Ralph Stein was one of the very first members.   I also seem to recall "Fred and Ted" being active.