What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.IX)

Doug,

An interesting perspective. Agree with your comments on what Schiff wrote in his essay, which seems a declaration of war on Steinway as the Great Equalizer, supposedly making everyone sound the same. As you say, complete BS. Furthermore, to my knowledge, Schiff hasn't played a Steinway for a very long time now, he was always one of Bosendorfer's poster boys. 

Not to deny him his greatness - I hold his Well Tempered Clavier on ECM in extremely high regard. And talking about the WTC, I'm sure you are aware that Hewitt recorded them first on a Steinway and then later on her Fazioli - makes for good comparative listening.

Cheers,

EJ

On CD:-

Hi Aleg,

I definitely don't disregard her and have a lot of her records. I do believe she got better at an older age. Her recent work with Schubert and her earlier work with Chopin Noctures are for me the reference.

Now at lower volume - much better to digest, a very direct sound.

To unwind before the ladies come home. One of the best gigs, at this time, I have ever had the pleasure of listening to...and at her most powerful.

Jason.

Yes, although I became a Wishbone Ash fan when Pilgrimage came out, Argus comfortably beats it. MDS

On CD:-

Never really been a fan of Queen or bought any of their albums, nor heard them on anyone else's system. So I bought this CD on a whim. But having played it a few times on my system I'm now appreciating that these guys had a lot more talent than I ever gave them credit for. Very enjoyable, even the theme tune to Flash Gordon. Better late than never, I suppose.

MDS

Queen made great pop music. Great music that is in a different league to what passes for pop music today. Hard to forget them as the sound-track to my younger days, though I never bought any of their records.

ATB from George

Yes, George. My main memory of Queen is through music on TV (ToTP) and radio, and the theme to that old TV programme Gladiators (who remembers that?). It's only very recently that I've given Queen the chance to do their stuff, played on a decent and giving them a proper listen. Brigading Queen with most 'pop music' doesn't really do them justice, I think.

MDS 

Recorded in 1967. CD ripped. 

What at a singer/songwriter, a troubled extraordinaire, beautiful.

Jason. 

Listening to the "B-sides and remixes" disc. 80s electronica at its best

Dear MDS,

Certainly not against "modern" pop music, though there was an awful lot of very memorable pop music in the 1960s and 1970s.

Where did it go wrong?

I was a classicist from the age of seven in early 1969! JS Bach became my favourite at that time. I hope that does rule out the pleasure of my pop music memories, like Homeward Bound, and others from that time.

ATB from George

I certainly notice that many newly produced films and TV series seem to select backing songs from the era you describe, rather than contemporary pop-stuff. My grown up children regularly groan when I ask the question "do you know who is playing that song?" when it's plainly obvious I'm the only one who does! Don't know if that's just me or a reflection on today's material.

MDS  

Some modern stuff is not bad - Passenger, All the Little Lights being an example IMHO.

And this 'modern stuff' before bed. The eclectic arrangements keep the music surprising along the album.

Ripped CD.

Jason.

Dear Dave,

Perhaps the problem is the radio stations, Virgin [sorry Absolute], Radio One [designed for six year olds], Free Radio [designed not to challenge what so ever from the musical content] ....

.... choosing not to offend the ears with anything so catchy as Simon and Garfunkle, or outré as Queen!

We live in a desperately conservative world in terms of the mass media ...

ATB from George

You are probably right George. My 14 year old daughter loves her music, and she has introduced me to some promising material via her iPhone in my car. Some translates well on a top quality system, but sadly some artists talents only show through via the car stereo as a better system exposes terrible mastering... Shame on the loudness wars.

Dear Dave,

I am lucky in that I have the chosen by others pop music at work, and listen to my music at home.

Classical music is increasingly well recorded and remastered. No loudness war for JS Bach and his confederates.

ATB from George

Try the Vinyl excellent fixed mike recording