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

One of the rare releases of this great record label (Soundliaison)

Nice jazz duo come together only for the occassion.

Listening in DSD64 and 96/24 to see how they compare.

Both formats are studio master as they used two separate recorders for each of the formats of this recording. So no conversion.

With superb recent recordings from Igor Levit and Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others, I find Hewitt's approach to the partitas a bit precious and lacking excitement. Might be a question of getting re-acquinted, though.

EJ

Got myself a new DAP this week to replace my ancient iriver which is a bit flaky with newer Windows, so listened to a couple of my favourite albums du jour around Tesco this morning.

Music to be Joe Cool by. Northern end of Soul. Mixed with some Philli/Jimi and pub/new wave. Stirring stuff. Took me ages to choose my bananas.

And this is absolutely fantastic IMO. Fine voice, great choons. Some strings, some brass. Lovely.

I think we have here a new talent in the making....., now listened to her two albums and it's quite good what I at least can hear (I am not a pianist)....

2nd disc ripped to HDX. Stunning recording

Still not convinced this is a great sounding remaster.

But still a great album 

Chaudelande Vol 1 by Gnod. Awesome space-noise, a bit like a faster, heavier Wooden Shjips. A pity it's not available on vinyl as far as I know, but no matter - fans of the aforementioned WS, Can or Suicide will love this:

Like it, gentle and light music...

Nostalgic trip down memory lane and also Alison Moyet's fantastic voice.

George.

Better than you might think!

Bouncy, chirpy, foot tappy, showaddywaddy, pingpong. Fun.

EJ

Two Czechs musicians playing exquisitely Beethoven's works for cello and piano. Music and the disc's cover work perfectly with the snow storm ravaging outside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s51AOB9VT9k

"Banks of the Nile" by Fotheringay

Genesis - 'Wind and Wuthering' original vinyl

This was the last Genesis album I bought, although I did buy the 1994 definitive edition remasters on CD, but this was the last album with Steve Hackett. After this they became a pop band. IMHO, of course. 

Streaming CD rip AIFF:-

Calexico -Feast of Wire

 

Originally Posted by Florestan:

Johann Sebastian Bach:  Isang Enders (Cello)  - 180g Vinyl

 

Suite for Cello solo no 1 in G major, BWV 1007

Suite for Cello solo no 2 in D minor, BWV 1008

Suite for Cello solo no 3 in C major, BWV 1009

Suite for Cello solo no 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010

Suite for Cello solo no 5 in C minor, BWV 1011

Suite for Cello solo no 6 in D major, BWV 1012

 

Doug,

 

Are they worth it?

Kuma,

Yes, for me it is very much worth it.  But then I am one who, if there were 1,000 or 1,000,000 interpretations (which there would be probably if a million cellist have studied this music), I would want to eventually hear every "transcription" for its own sake because I believe every opinion is valid and it helps me grow.  Every individual's interpretation is essentially a transcription of a written score anyway, in my opinion.  There is no such thing as the ideal performance and I find it unusual to hear claims of a specific individual or performance that is the end all and be all.  

Here, Enders represents youthful exuberance to a degree but his playing is very clean and forthright.  It is modern and reflects just one more valid view.  Perhaps he does not get as involved emotionally and as he ages and grows up this human element might mature and slow down his view and add more profoundness.  Yet, Enders himself has said the suites should speak, sing and dance, hunt and contemplate.  

A quote Enders uses of Nikolaus Harnoncourt states his views more succinctly:

"We naturally need to acquaint ourselves with performance practice, but let us not retreat into false purism, into false objectivity, into misinterpreted fidelity to the original.  So I beg of you: do not be afraid of vibrato, liveliness or subjectivity, but do be very afraid of coldness, purism, 'objectivity' and barren historicism."

Contrast this to Viola de Hoog who was posted just below here by HH.  Even just with the opening Prelude of the G major suite we hear what could be as two extreme opposites.  It will depend on your mood which is the one to listen to on any day but Hoog chooses a polar opposite tempo - one that is questioning and contemplative rather than direct and energized.  Overall, Hoog's interpretation reminds me more of a Viola da gamba than a violoncello.  Much softer, full of very different colours and very individual.

So, from me, no easy answer regarding interpretation.  Enders will not be the only interpretation I will listen to but it is rather good in its own right.   Harder still would be for me to comment on the vinyl quality as you are an expert on that side and I may have lower standards.  Again, I am personally very happy with this set although I wouldn't regard it as perfect.  I have many more expensive LP's which are not as good quality as this set though.  Recording sounds closely miked and I believe it is recorded in a smaller, wood walled room which is quite different to the open, stone walls of a church where many of these get recorded so not as reverberant sounding.  Also, surprising value as I believe this set cost me less than half of what my Starker and Maisky sets cost and I believe this one equals or exceeds those in quality.  Again, only difference is interpretation and recorded variances in how a cello sounds in different venues.

If you love this music and listen regularly, then I would say this is a no brainer to get.  If you have one or two sets and that is already too many then probably not.  Me, I'm loving this wonderful resurgence in vinyl that I doubt will last in today's attention deficit world.  Us old fogeys won't be around forever to keep it going.

I am putting this and the Rachmaninov on my wish list !  Thanks for the heads up.  

Somehow, there is just not enough time to keep up with the excitement the music of my top ten or fifteen composers brings to me.  Even the top three could keep me going for three lifetimes...

Brilliant 6-CD box set from Zep's 1977 US tour. Live at The Capitol Centre, Landover, MD 25th & 30th May 1977 - soundboard quality.

Live at The Capitol Centre, Landover, MD 25th May 1977
Disc1:
01. The Song Remains The Same [6:09]
02. The Rover/Sick Again [7:06]
03. Nobody's Fault But Mine [7:13]
04. In My Time Of Dying [11:48]
05. Since I've Been Loving You [10:19]
06. No Quarter [35.47]

Disc 2:
01. Ten Years Gone [11:54]
02. The Battle Of Evermore [6:36]
03. Going To California [5:56]
04. Black Country Woman [1:47]
05. Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [5:49]
06. White Summer [4:07]
07. Black Mountain Side [1:38]
08. Kashmir [10:27]

Disc 3:
01. Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick [18.15]
02. Guitar Solo [9:21]
03. Achilles Last Stand [10:29]
04. Stairway To Heaven [11:08]
05. Whole Lotta Love [01:13]
06. Rock And Roll [04:10]

Live at The Capitol Centre, Landover, MD 30th May 1977
Disc 4:
01. The Song Remains The Same [6:12]
02. The Rover / Sick Again [7:19]
03. Nobody's Fault But Mine [7:19]
04. In My Time Of Dying [12:05]
05. Since I've Been Loving You [10:07]
06. No Quarter [26:42]

Disc 5:
01. Ten Years Gone [10:59]
02. The Battle Of Evermore [6:40]
03. Going To Calidornia [5:44]
04. Black Country Woma [1:43]
05. Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp [6:25]
06. White Summer [5:06]
07. Black Mountain Side [1:49]
08. Kashmir [10:42]

Disc 6:
01. Out On The Tiles / Moby Dick [22:07]
02. Guitar Solo [10:31]
03. Achilles Last Stand [10:32]
04. Stairway To Heaven [11:54]
05. Whole Lotta Love [1:13]
06. Rock And Roll [4:38]

I know the feeling, just too less time to listen to everything in my collection. Sometimes though - that gives me some exciting discoveries....

Originally Posted by kuma:

 

Originally Posted by Florestan:

Johann Sebastian Bach:  Isang Enders (Cello)  - 180g Vinyl

 

Suite for Cello solo no 1 in G major, BWV 1007

Suite for Cello solo no 2 in D minor, BWV 1008

Suite for Cello solo no 3 in C major, BWV 1009

Suite for Cello solo no 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010

Suite for Cello solo no 5 in C minor, BWV 1011

Suite for Cello solo no 6 in D major, BWV 1012

 

Doug,

 

Are they worth it?

 

 

Kuma,

Yes, for me it is very much worth it.  But then I am one who, if there were 1,000 or 1,000,000 interpretations (which there would be probably if a million cellist have studied this music), I would want to eventually hear every "transcription" for its own sake because I believe every opinion is valid and it helps me grow.  Every individual's interpretation is essentially a transcription of a written score anyway, in my opinion.  There is no such thing as the ideal performance and I find it unusual to hear claims of a specific individual or performance that is the end all and be all.  

 

Here, Enders represents youthful exuberance to a degree but his playing is very clean and forthright.  It is modern and reflects just one more valid view.  Perhaps he does not get as involved emotionally and as he ages and grows up this human element might mature and slow down his view and add more profoundness.  Yet, Enders himself has said the suites should speak, sing and dance, hunt and contemplate.  

 

A quote Enders uses of Nikolaus Harnoncourt states his views more succinctly:

 

"We naturally need to acquaint ourselves with performance practice, but let us not retreat into false purism, into false objectivity, into misinterpreted fidelity to the original.  So I beg of you: do not be afraid of vibrato, liveliness or subjectivity, but do be very afraid of coldness, purism, 'objectivity' and barren historicism."

 

Contrast this to Viola de Hoog who was posted just below here by HH.  Even just with the opening Prelude of the G major suite we hear what could be as two extreme opposites.  It will depend on your mood which is the one to listen to on any day but Hoog chooses a polar opposite tempo - one that is questioning and contemplative rather than direct and energized.  Overall, Hoog's interpretation reminds me more of a Viola da gamba than a violoncello.  Much softer, full of very different colours and very individual.

 

So, from me, no easy answer regarding interpretation.  Enders will not be the only interpretation I will listen to but it is rather good in its own right.   Harder still would be for me to comment on the vinyl quality as you are an expert on that side and I may have lower standards.  Again, I am personally very happy with this set although I wouldn't regard it as perfect.  I have many more expensive LP's which are not as good quality as this set though.  Recording sounds closely miked and I believe it is recorded in a smaller, wood walled room which is quite different to the open, stone walls of a church where many of these get recorded so not as reverberant sounding.  Also, surprising value as I believe this set cost me less than half of what my Starker and Maisky sets cost and I believe this one equals or exceeds those in quality.  Again, only difference is interpretation and recorded variances in how a cello sounds in different venues.

 

If you love this music and listen regularly, then I would say this is a no brainer to get.  If you have one or two sets and that is already too many then probably not.  Me, I'm loving this wonderful resurgence in vinyl that I doubt will last in today's attention deficit world.  Us old fogeys won't be around forever to keep it going.

I have already something like 10 different versions of the piece so for this piece I will not extend the collection any further, although your point of view is valid.

Nice, quality recording as ever.