Ed in his original kitchen, shortly after he moved into his first
Berlin apartment on the banks of the Litzensee Lake.
I include this rather imperfect snapshot for a good reason,
especially as an example to those people around here trying to make
the most of their lives and be all they can be, even in what most
would consider less-than-wonderful circumstances.
Ed was a perfectionist. Already, when he came to Berlin he was a man
with a mature view of life and the attitude that one always does
everything meticulously the best one can.
Ed had this miserable-seeming little kitchenette and had to budget
his funds extremely carefully. Yet he was a gourmet cook and made
everything he cooked exquisitely, with the greatest of care. Even in
this sorry space. Even a fried egg was done just so.
It was certainly this attitude and life view that allowed him to
master the Vengerova piano technique. It is also probably the reason
for his being happy without the concert career: his life views
evidently made him realize that, once one can play music exquisitely,
it is the being able to experience that oneself that is the treasure,
and not really doing it for others. And Ed definitely was able to
experience his music with the ease that allows one to play and
experience a work as one wants it, without any of the vulgarities,
flaws, and failings of a less than perfect technique. And that is
truly a hard-earned treasure.
I admired Ed a lot and learned much of these attitudes from him just
by being around him. He may not have realized this. But I did.
© 2006 Mark B. Anstendig. All rights reserved.
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