Dear panflute friends,

My answer to the impudent words of Mr. Zamfir about me and other good people from our panflute world has come a little bit late, because I wanted to read the book before giving a response.

I was last week in Romania, to see my mother and now I have the book.

I read the "Binecuvintare si blestem". It was for me very sad to read a book like this, full of such aberrations.

But, that is the true face of the man Zamfir.

For me it is no surprise that Mr. Zamfir thinks like this. This is his true mentality and he has always been like this. He thinks he is the wisest person (perhaps better than God !!!) on this world and he knows all about panflute, music, religion, etc. !!! He thinks that he is the owner of the panflute, and of the truth !

The others (normal people with respect and admiration for the panflutist Zamfir, but who don't like him) are nothing. If someone is trying to do something for the panflute, he becomes an enemy for the great Zamfir.

There is nothing to do, because a great artist does not always have a good mentality and character. I think Mr. Zamfir is a mental ill man now, full of old frustrations and hate for anything. He doesn’t live on the Earth any longer, but on his own planet.

Therefore I forgive him for his groundless accusations.

A few observations and conclusions about Mr. Zamfir book:

-    the text in the book (regarding myself) is very different from the text on his site. Here is the little fragment about me:

"Astazi Domide împreuna cu Jorry Murk au monopolul mondial al naiului modern, care împreuna cu cele 37 de scoli din Olanda unde troneazâ Costel Puscoiu, un alt impostor care nici nu stie sâ sufle în instrument si altii din Germania, cum este cazul lui, pîngaresc imaginea sacrâ a acestui instrument."

Perhaps, after publishing his book, Mr. Zamfir found not enough boorishness in his text and modified this on his site.

• The language of the book is "street language" with some influence of the Romanian school books (history, geography) from the years c. 1955.

• Mr. Zamfir is also unfairly critical of all types of musics (especialy from the 20th century) with the exception of the Romanian folklore. Lamentable !

• You can also find the names of other "criminals", or "impostors", or "cursed people" (not only panflutists) in his book: Marcel Cellier, Ammel, Arnod Schonberg, Pierre Boulez, Elvis Presley, Beatles, Michael Jackson, Horia Crisan, Joeri Murk, Domide, Nicolae Pirvu, Smith Randal, Jean-Claude Mara, Roar Engelberg, Kevin Budd, etc.. I think it is an honour to be in such company !

• People say that Mr. Zamfir is a very religious man. After readig his book I came to this conclusion: a truly religious man can not write and think like this !

• I think Mr. Zamfir would like to organize the panflute world like the mafia, so that he can be "the godfather". If you want to do something you must first ask permission first and kiss his hand. Otherwise you are a "criminal", or an "impostor", or "cursed". A true feudal mentality.

I know (for long time) that I am not a virtuoso, it’s not my aim (purpose). I am a composer and panflute teacher, and I can play well enough my panflute. I try to do as good as can, my duty (job): to create new books for the panflute, to teach and stimulate people.

I work (and I know I’m not the only one) to create and to enlarge the base and the repertoire of the panflute, to bring joy to other people.

I don’t like to waste my time in such polemics and controversy, but I find it necessary to give my oppinion about this. I prefer to build something, not to try to destroy the work of other people.

I want to thank: David Phighils, Kevin Budd, Marilyn Heed, Erik Bech, Brad White and others for the kind words about me and my work.

I shall continue to write and work for our beautiful instrument: the panflute.

Sincerely yours,

Costel Puscoiu