I think the hard thing for me would be picking between Riemann and Poincare. In a certain precisely specifiable sense, they both "knew less" than I do. I would gladly give a great deal for their particular sort of ignorance.
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Replying to @MathPrinceps @xah_lee
Would you want their knowledge, or their talent? Xah Lee's genie is only offering their *knowledge*.
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Replying to @johncarlosbaez @MathPrinceps
the concept of suddenly knowing everything another knows, is magical. Akin to Genie granting a wish. As a fantasy, i think most would pick. Unless, for certain philosophical etc reasons, one do not wish this at all thinking it does no good or ? The reason would be interesting.
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remember, it needs not be another scientist. It could be one's grandma, or historical philosopher, or say a random guy in year 1... (hum, this gets interesting)
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Replying to @xah_lee @MathPrinceps
Oh, okay! I would most like to know how to play the piano like Scriabin or Ravel or Chopin or Liszt. I'm assuming that at least one of these guys could play the pieces they wrote and could *improvise* pretty well in the style they wrote. I'll pick that one.
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Replying to @johncarlosbaez @MathPrinceps
i think i understand your reservation. i also thought about not wanting it (getting someone's brain), cuz it occurred to me perhaps i might end up not better off. in past years been thinking about which superhero power is better and philosophy of consequences…1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
the prospect of not stealing a top mathematician's brain is too much to turn down. :D i want it, and worry about consequences later.
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Replying to @xah_lee @MathPrinceps
Since I'm a halfway decent mathematician, but a really crummy pianist with ideas on music that I can't realize due to lack of technical skill, I think it would be better for me to get an implant of music theory and virtuosic keyboard technique.
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Replying to @johncarlosbaez @xah_lee
I think if you want an ideal combination of music theory and virtuosic keyboard technique, then perhaps you should choose Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov. His keyboard mastery was Liszt-level, and his grasp of harmony and counterpoint second to none.
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Replying to @MathPrinceps @xah_lee
Okay,
@MathPrinceps, sounds good! I find some other composers a bit more interesting, but what I really *need* is keyboard skills and music theory knowledge. I'd settle for being able to play Gaspard de la Nuit like Yuja Wang does.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfwcW07yhSo …1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes
Since all this is pure fantasy, I'd urge you to aim higher; for Yuja Wang's performance is far from the best I know (which is this one, from Ashkenazy in 1963 -- it's even better than Michelangeli.) http://bit.ly/2I4o1U6 / http://bit.ly/2U1XwpV /http://bit.ly/2Wyv9wh
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Among Wang's contemporaries, the greatest "Gaspard" interpreter is clearly Benjamin Grosvenor: http://bit.ly/2GJXSse / http://bit.ly/31ebbt2 / http://bit.ly/2KfXAvI This is a recording for the ages.
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See also: http://bit.ly/2T3663L If you don't already know Ashish Xiangyi Kumar, then you're in for quite a treat.
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