Xref: utzoo rec.music.classical:19713 sci.math:15165 sci.chem:3144 sci.bio:4427 soc.history:3343
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!ogicse!unmvax!ariel.unm.edu!triton.unm.edu!ee5391aa
From: ee5391aa@triton.unm.edu (Duke McMullan n5gax)
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical,sci.math,sci.chem,sci.bio,soc.history
Subject: Re: Scientists and Mathematicians Who Wrote Music
Message-ID: <1991Feb16.014035.27873@ariel.unm.edu>
Date: 16 Feb 91 01:40:35 GMT
References: <1991Feb14.203016.7687@ms.uky.edu>
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque NM
Lines: 39

Not a composer, but someone's bound to mention that Einstein was a violinist.

A tale I've heard (possibly tall) concerns Heifez, a violist whose name
escapes me (all violist's names escape me ;^) and Piatagorski (sp?) all paying 
A.E. a visit.  Aware that he was an amateur violinist, the three asked Ein-
stein to join them in playing a string quartet.  Much flattered, Einstein 
agreed.

They sat down, unpacked, stretched, tuned up, opened music, tuned up a little
more, and got down to notes.  Needless to say, Einstein was not in the league
of the other three, and more than a little nervous to boot.  The fourth time
he got lost, Piatagorski looked up and asked, "What's the matter, Dr. Ein-
stein?  Can't you count?"


Years ago, during my Bright College Days, it occurred to me that I knew a lot
of science types who were accomplished musicians and graphic artists, but not
a single musician or artist who had any detailed understanding of either math-
ematics or science.  One day in DifEQ class, I asked the professor why this
was so.  (I should have known better than to give this particular prof such an
opening.)

He replied, "That's easy.  Everyone knows scientists are smarter than artists."


						d

PS -- Hey!  That's one hell of a crosspost.  I hope this doesn't get out of
hand; you'll have me feeling guilty.  ;^)


						d


--
  Sociology,  that descriptive pseudo-science that disguises its uncertanties
  in statistical mists as it battens on the narrow gap of information between
  	psychology and anthropology.        -- Trevanian, from _Shibumi_ 
  Duke McMullan n5gax nss13429r phon505-255-4642 ee5391aa@triton.cirt.unm.edu