clinton wrote:playing somethig note for note doesn't mean you don't still put a personal stamp on it. I'm sure the most classicaly accomplished musicans don't consider themselves as going through the motions, I think they'd be quite insulted at the notion (maybe you can ask yer buddies malcolm) . It takes a passion and understanding to inteerpret the composor's work and that's where the art comes into it.
I think you overestimate the amount of "interpretation" involved in the presentation of a piece that is played in certain situations. This is especially true in classical work, but also extends into other areas, and not just commercial work.
If players were allowed to put their personal stamp on a classical piece, in the setting of a 60 piece orchestra, by the time all those individuals got done with it, would it still sound like the composed piece was intended?
Granted this is an extreme end of the spectrum, but it demonstrates how, and why
some individuals find performing something on a strictly technical level to be enjoyable, and
some find listening it to be entertaining.
The "art" is in executing the piece as it was written, not in putting your "personal stamp" on it. As Matt mentioned, this is obviously not for every musician, but belittling this exercise as "boring" in a broad statement does players who enjoy this work a disservice.
I just watched two string players with the "Classic Albums" gang play arrangements for pieces on the "Beatles" show. These were charts prepared for them, and I'm sure we could have had David and Sonja Adams play the same charts and it would sound nearly identical. The exercise is in reproducing it as it was written.
This goes back to before recordings allowed others to hear something that was composed. The way an artist's work was heard by many was for it to be written down and performed. This differs from folk music in that things were merely passed down by ear and adapted with the times by the musicians who shared the work. We have heard many "different" folk tunes that are nearly identical to one another with different words or stories because they were fluid, as stories passed down over generations. This is unlike classical music, which sounds the same no matter when and were it is performed, unless it is purposely adapted by an arranger or conductor.
And again, as I said, not everyone who is a great musician wants or needs to put their "stamp" on great music. The enjoyment comes in the exercise of performing it. If that's not for you, that's fine, but don't say they are lesser musicians for falling into that category. Not everyone wants to be a "writer".