That Blaze of D Major
Thu, Mar 29 2012, 7:49AM
The title above caught my attention. Reading this article by Phillip Hobbs reminded me of his being mentioned here as a great recording engineer with some stunning recordings to his credit.
His comments on the art and craft of sound recording are very interesting and can be found here:
http://blogs.linn.co.uk/music/philip-hobbs/
[Not sure why it's not coming up as a hyperlink, but should be easy enough to find from this.]
In particular, his comments about AAM's Foundling Hospital version of Messiah, recorded at St. Jude-on-the-Hill, led me to listen last night to my version on LP. He's right, the sound is amazing - although I wouldn't say the interpretation is the best of the six I have. That honour goes to Mackarras' Basil Lam edition, by a whisker, I think. His own Dunedin Consort version is also a joy though.
Hobbs' focus on the importance of sound reproduction, the acoustics of various recording venues, and so on, in the enjoyment of music so chimes with my own feelings about how I listen. I have been on an almost life-long search for the best sound I could get from audio equipment, pulling me closer and closer over the years to the music. I can hardly listen to some of the great recording I have now without a "Those strings!"-moment (or whatever) Hobbs thrills to.
Stunning sound reproduction isn't the most important aspect of listening to music but what it adds can be truly awesome sometimes.
Vic.
Fri, Mar 30 2012, 5:52PM
#2
RE: That Blaze of D Major
For me the importance of the quality of the reproduction depends upon the music; obviously the best possible is desirable but I have no problems in listening to a great many CD transfers of 78 piano recordings provided excessive noise reduction has not been applied. Equally I would still take the Schnabel/Sargent Beethoven concerti in preference to any others and Toscanini's NYPSO Beethoven 7th as the greatest Beethoven symphony record ever made despite their limited sound. When it comes to say 20th century music then recorded sound becomes more important for me. Whether this is because of more complex orchestration and the fact that orchestral colour becomes more dominant or, dare I say it, the music is inferior I'm not sure.
Don't forget though Parla that whilst Culshaw produced the Solti Ring it was fellow Wagner enthusiast, recording engineer Gordon Parry (actually a chemistry graduate) who captured the sound in the superb acoustics of the Sofiensaal which had become Decca's Vienna recording venue a couple of years previously. In an early edition of ICRC Tully Potter went to meet Parry who interestingly possessed no record collection. He did however have a Steinway selected by Clifford Curzon and a vast library of Wagner scores. He commented how the sniffy VPO initially turned their noses up at going to the Sofiensaal because it had been a dance hall but when recording the Ring Wagner's instructions were followed to the letter: if 18 anvils were specified for Rheingold then 18 anvils was what they got!
As for the most stunning reproduction I suspect that's why Vic & I still have our turntables (but I don't want to start that one off again).
Fri, Mar 30 2012, 6:07PM
#3
RE: That Blaze of D Major
The quality of a recording is very important indeed. You wouldn't listen to a Beethoven piano sonata if it was played on a poor piano. Some older recording are just plain unlistenable, yet some people claim they can tell the difference between the same recording on a CD or on a record. This is clearly nonsense. Recording quality should play a far more important part in peoples choice of CDs. The cover photograph or artwork is also important, though less so. We are purchasing a package and we should demand the highest quality in all aspects. There is no excuse.
I'll go even further to claim that stunning sound reproduction (or a stunningly vivid recording) is one of the two most important factors in the listening experience. The other is the actual performance.
As the CD or SACD is a product of playback music, the best possible recording or the "stunning sound reproduction" is the most essential part of the technical aspect of the end product. The Solti' s Ring would not have been the recording (or one of the very top recordings) of the century without the stunning visionary production of the late but unique John Culshaw.
Parla