Listening Fatigue
Sat, May 11 2013, 6:02AM
#2
RE: Listening Fatigue
If we are free from listening fatigue, we are not that kind of minority even if Wagner is one of our good reasons.
Parla
Sat, May 11 2013, 9:11AM
#3
RE: Listening Fatigue
Whatever the questions of the order of the movements of Mahler's 6th (though surely scherzo then andante is best ) it should be accommodated on one CD. That is surely what Mahler would have wanted.
Sat, May 11 2013, 11:36AM
#4
RE: Listening Fatigue
...and as Naupilus very correctly said, a good "execution" (aka performance) can resolve (see overcome) the rather academic (and causing so much fatigue on repeated exchanges) question of the order of movements of Mahler's Sixth (that's a work that may cause some listening fatigue, anyway).
Parla
Sat, May 11 2013, 12:45PM
#5
RE: Listening Fatigue
Whatever the questions of the order of the movements of Mahler's 6th (though surely scherzo then andante is best ) it should be accommodated on one CD. That is surely what Mahler would have wanted.
I wonder if anybody has ever sat in the studio listening to the master tapes, turned to the conductor and said, 'Maestro, if you play the slow movement as an andante we can fit this on one disc. Brodsky's right.'
Right now I am getting listening fatigue - my son has discovered the joy of GummyBear songs in French... the next two weeks will be very long.
Sat, May 11 2013, 5:05PM
#6
RE: Listening Fatigue
Naupilus: Gummy Bear in Greek is even worse!
Sat, May 11 2013, 5:43PM
#7
RE: Listening Fatigue
Naupilus: Gummy Bear in Greek is even worse!
Coming next on the Gramophone website: Gummy Bears sings Verdi and Wagner duets with famous opera singers. Bonus track: Gummy Bear and Anne Sophie von Otter sing Abba. Now that really would be crossover!
PS - am I the only one who think Gramphone's John Denver news is an extremely bizarre editorial choice?
Sat, May 11 2013, 6:04PM
#8
RE: Listening Fatigue
No, you are not the "only one", naupilus, but who is going to initiate a thread for such an "extremely bizarre editorial choice"? This is not the right one, unless "the outcome" may contribute to some quite bizarre listening fatigue.
Anyway, I'm not surprised...
Parla
Sat, May 11 2013, 6:08PM
#9
RE: Listening Fatigue
PS - am I the only one who think Gramphone's John Denver news is an extremely bizarre editorial choice?
Certainly not. My goodness, we old SCR members find it most surprising.
Sun, May 12 2013, 11:16AM
#10
RE: Listening Fatigue
By the way, don't miss the marvelous and original Concerti Grossi by Alessandro Scarlatti. I have two safe and great recordings: a) one with Fabio Biondi on Virgin and b) one with Accademia Bizantina under Ottavio Dantone, on Arts (in SACD).
I tracked down the Bantone on Spotify, but not the Biondi. It was a long job! The "Profano e Sacro" I dropped on straight away, and enjoyed a couple of hours listening to them both.
Spotify is an amazing resource. Listening to the whole album in superb sound quality before purchase, or indeed, instead of purchasing, makes you wonder about the future of reproduced music - and how it is financed. If digital streaming via the internet can provide (almost) any music at the press of a few buttons, in such good sound quality, how will this affect buying habits?
I'm not a "collector" like others here - if I buy an album it is with the expectation of hearing it as often as possible. This is why I try for "definitive" or highly recommended versions, to avoid having several that are rarely played. The downside is that 360kbs, good as it is (and it's better than FM, generally), it's not 16bit lossless. Still, to have most of the world's music available for instant streaming is pretty impressive.
Talking of technology and music, as Mrs. Vic is out for the morning, Sonos is filling the house with JEG's Bach Cantatas vol. 10, informing the typing of this, and soon the ironing of a few shirts, and then the loving and precise production of a Sunday Roast Lunch. I got a slightly sarcastic comment about me and a houseful of technology as she slipped out. Fair enough. But with a bottomless coffee pot, the prospect of roast lamb, and sublime Bach everywhere, this is the life!
Vic.
Sun, May 12 2013, 2:45PM
#11
RE: Listening Fatigue
Chacun a' son gout, Vic. If you suit yourself with Spotify, it's fine with you, but I won't trade the physical product with the existing material (booklets, cover, etc) plus the fact that a SACD (both recordings I mentioned they are SACDs), played on a hi-end SACD player produce another story of sound and listening experience. On the other hand, I detest working with a computer all day, including during my only (almost only) private time. Besides, my equipment occupies already enough space along with a huge collection, while the listening process takes place in absolute privacy, in a specifically prepared room. Maybe, I sound old-fashioned, but the sound I have is one of the closest to the reproduction of the "original".
Finally, I don't thing any Spotify can have all new releases from various sources all over the world. To give you some "homework", try to find Chausson's Piano Quartet with the Elemis Quartet, on Subways label. If you trace it, then, you are in a good hot track with your beloved Spotify.
As for the rest of your post, yes, "this is the life", but not out there. I had the "privilege" to work for years, in difficult places, with genuine misfortunate people. I can assure you, if they read your last part of your post, they won't feel that comfortable. For a great deal of people out there, life is not that good.
Parla
Sun, May 12 2013, 6:23PM
#12
RE: Listening Fatigue
you suit yourself with Spotify
Parla, a somewhat perplexing reply from you here.
First, what has sitting with computers all day got to do with this discussion? Spotify streams through my DS player and at 360kbps rivals FM through my Linn tuner. I think I said that it is nowhere near 16bit lossless resolution, or even a good CD player. But I'm guessing that it is still better than most people get from their systems. Not everyone has access to the equipment you and I enjoy, and not everyone can afford to buy lots of CDs. For them, Spotify provides an excellent service, I suggest.
As for availability, I did not find the Elemis Quartet recording you mentioned, but there are pages and pages of Chausson, and eight or so of the Piano Quartet itself. As a research tool, as a substitute for someone who wants to hear the whole work but not purchase it, to enjoy a piece once, I suggest Spotify, at £9.99 per month is excellent value. I did not suggest either of us should dump our hi-fi systems for it!
I value from my system what you value from yours - and I agree about having to hand the physical object of the CD for the benefit you describe. But as has been mentioned on this forum many times, not all music lovers are audio/hi-fi enthusiasts. Music can be enjoyed through any medium and to suggest that if people don't listen to the sound you and I enjoy their experience is somehow devalued, could be taken as, well, somewhat elitist, if I dare resurrect and dust off that word from the archive here.
Spotify has a place in music appreciation; it is not a rival or an alternative to superb reproduction, but it is a step on the road democratising access to all music genres.
As for your last paragraph, I'm not even going to go there!
This is not meant as criticism Parla. Please do not take it as such!
Vic.
Sun, May 12 2013, 7:51PM
#13
RE: Listening Fatigue
I had the "privilege" to work for years, in difficult places, with genuine misfortunate people.
Were they "misfortunate" before you worked with them?
Mon, May 13 2013, 4:44AM
#14
RE: Listening Fatigue
O.K., Vic! Clarifications accepted. The way you put the Spotify thing is clearly understood. Of course, the issue of availability may create certain problems, but this might be only for CD collectors.
Of course, still, I believe that Classical Music cannot be enjoyed (and appreciated), in the same way, through any medium. However, I can accept that each one of us has to make his/her decisions, based on how he/she has to lead his/her life.
I guess I simply have to pass over this "road democratising access to all music genres". A discussion on this might open (once more) the ominous Pandora's box.
Finally, I highly appreciate it, if you are "not even going to go there" regarding my "last paragraph" of my previous post. I just meant it as a reaction and not for opening any debate.
Parla
P.S.: Jane, I was "misfortunate" before I worked with and for them. Unfortunately, it will take some time (some more generations lost), till they become what they deserve to be.
Mon, May 13 2013, 6:21AM
#15
RE: Listening Fatigue
Not quite the subject of this thread, perhaps we need one on "out-growing" works or composers? Though I loved him at the start of my classical listening career, Rachmaninov now tests my tolerance.... The middle romantic period in general does not interest me as it used to.
Also, "Mahler wrote it that way" is hardly a good argument. Mahler wrote the middle movements of the 7th before he finished the 6th, and still you never hear someone claim we should insert those into the 6th, before the finale - just because Mahler wrote the music in that order.
I believe the 2nd and 3rd movts of the Resurrection were originally the other way around too.
If you replace the "only reason" with a good reason, I would give you "two thumbs up", fw.
Parla
Thanks for the support. Though I fear we may be a minority here.
frostwalrus