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

Continuing the KC theme on vinyl.

FRANK ZAPPA  - You Are What You Is -

Ozric Tentacles  "THE YUM YUM TREE"

Frank Zappa  -  OVER-NITE SENSATION  -   all on c.d.

Very nice relaxing - just before going to bed

Sky Arts HD 1

Watched the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio documentary last night. Great film I highly  recommend it. 

This Boz Scaggs  album was recorded there.

"Loan me a Dime" is my favorite track

Matt,

Yes it would be if you don't have a clean copy.

My original first pressing LP is in a great shape but it took 5 copies to get this. :/

Incidentally, my best copy of Court and Spark is Rhyno reissue as I still haven't been able to track down good enough original pressings. This reissue is good enough that I don't even look any more.

A complete opposite to Richter, unassuming entrace opens the 1st movement. Lively and springy, he’s curt but not as angry as Richter. 

Ever lyrical, his notes are light as air without any pretense or mucho posturing. 

All the mastery and delicacy live in how the music moves. His Scherzo is rhythmically free like Schubert's Bohemian lifestyle. Attitudinally, I get the feeling Kempff’s interpretation is closer to how Schubert would have played it.

This is a letter written by the composer to hie parents around the time the Op.42 was composed in 1825:

...I  find my compositions everywhere all over Upper
Austria, especially in the Florian and Kremsmiinster
convents, where, with the help of an admirable piano-
forte-player, I produced, with signal success, my four-
handed variations and marches. The variations from
my new sonatas for two performers (Op. 42) pleased
particularly. These I played alone, and not without
success, for some assured me that the keys, under my
hands, sounded like singing voices, which, if it be true,
is a delightful compliment, as I cannot endure that
execrable hacking (vermaledeite Hacken) peculiar to
even distinguished pianoforte-players it neither tickles
the ear nor moves the feelings....

Pat, I've been looking at this - what's your opinion overall? I like 1974 gigs and this looks to be a good tracklist...

On vinyl.

Originally Posted by Florestan: 

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.  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 individualSo, 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.

Doug,

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

I realise that you have a democratic approach to music. Whilst you say there is no such thing as the perfect performance surely there is such thing as an Ideal performance for a given listener. I have my on going *pet project* Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 which so far I have listened to about 80 performances and counting. ( I gotta tell you, out of all that, I probably keep 10 performances that I enjoy ever time I listen to them ) It is fascinating what every pianist does with the score but my mood does not enter into what I prefer. 

Back to the Cello Suites.

I only have two others. 

Grammy winning Yo-Yo Ma and Martin Zeller ( which I got bored half way through in spite excellent sonics ) so I don't mind adding more to my collection. I am certainly not as familiar with the music yet.

Is the condition of the record better than our recent Kliber box set? And if you say it sounds good as Starker ( Speakers Corner ) or Maisky ( Decca & DG ), I might give it a punt. I am not familiar with this label's vinyl products that's why I asked. Certain record label I will not touch from my past disappointing experiences. ( like Hi-Q)

I am curious to see how much of this vinyl fad will last. My guess is that eventually the classical music listeners will move to streaming. All recordings are now done digitally so no point producing the vinyl records really and so far my experience on reissues with new mastering on old analogue titles have been wanting. 

I love the sound of good *analogue* vinyl records. No digital so far be able to produce the tactile organic sound ( even with a high resolution ) but for classical music where pianissimo can speak louder than loudest rock music, the absolute digital silence in the background can be advantageous for many.  I don't get bother by it but I have noticed many younger people can't stand the inherent background noise of many vinyl records.

Hi Kevin,

First listen gave a very good impression.  Will certainly give it another listen this week.  'Dark Star' > 'Morning Dew' is another one that stuck out to me while listening. 

Since you like the '74 shows I think you would like this as well. 

Pat

Kuma,

I have had good luck with Berlin Classics and Audite vinyl.  The Berlin Classics is really Edel Germany and the vinyl comes from Optimal plant.  Because this one comes as 3 LP's it is a little tight to stuff 2 of the records together in the one side but other than that the vinyl is flat and without cleaning first there is the odd small pop but nothing serious.  This is not the best I have but far from the worst.  I'll give it 8 or 8.5 out of 10?  I agree with you on Hi-Q and would add some of the Speakers Corner which have disappointed me as well although they are more hit or miss.

I haven't listened to all my sets recently but my sense is that Maisky and Starker are the better players and maybe can bring more out of the instrument.  Of the two, Enders is more similar in style to Maisky but not quite as skilled or proficient (yet) or milk it as much as Maisky for that matter.  Now that I have the three sets on vinyl I'm not giving up any of them.  All three different and all three have a place for me.  I haven't figured it out yet but Enders recording seems cleaner and marginally closed in sounding whereas Maisky and Starker are more open or richer sounding.  Starker though is the warmest / most open sounding.  

For me the Enders is good value for your money at half price of the other two.  Hopefully, the interpretation / playing is to your liking?  I am confident that the vinyl quality itself wouldn't be a disappointment for you ?

Edvard Grieg:  Eivind Aadland / WDR Sinfonierorchester Koln 

Symphonic Works Volumes 1 & 2  (180g Vinyl LP's)

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 & 2

Symphonic Dances

From Holberg's Time

 The Sleeping Beauty:  Tchaikovsky | Prokofiev Ballet Transcriptions

Berlin Classics 45 rpm vinyl

I just sat down but it's time to change the side.  Doctors orders were that I start exercising more and so this is my idea of exercising more.  I love vinyl and never feel closer to the music.  Mid and upper registers do sound a little closed in (like the Enders Cello Suites?) but occasionally some really beautiful bass come through which is to die for.

Doug,

Try the 78 rpm vinyl for robust exercise.You will be getting up every three minutes to flip the sides.

A collection of pieces by Western composers that attempt to explore the subject of China musically as well as culturally. Jenny Lin is brilliant on the piano. This is a highly recommended joyful masterpiece.

http://www.slacker.com/album/jenny-lin/chinoiserie

I agree regarding Speakers Corner. Hit and miss ( more misses ) on classical and rock music purchase whilst all the jazz titles from the same label have been excellent.

I am no surprised that Maisky and Starker can give more mature performance but you never know. I am hoping to bump into either original LPs locally rather than buying reissues which bound to be less good. ( especially on the Maisky disc, if the same remastering engineer as Kleiber reissues.

Turned out I have one Brilliant Classic LP. Christin Karg's Straus Lieder. 

A decent digital recording but it does not have the analogue natrualness and it is stark sounding. Soprano gets too thin and annoying in upper midrange. Interesting that you are experiencing the same thing.

Cello as an instruments are relatively easy thing to sound decent say compared to piano or voices, tho.

Thanks again for your input.

I am interested in your experience with the new classical releases. PIty that my reissue thread was closed, tho cuz, it would be useful to others if there is one place for the data bank.

P.S. Are you going to pony up for MTT's Mahler Project box set?

A breakfast treat with a lot of coughing....

Green Day. International Superhits! On CD from 2001. After tonight's Super Bowl outcome I felt a need to hear something with angst, rage, and loudness. So I'll call this music soothing at the moment.

My favourite Diana album

Bach Violin Sonata played with historically authentic curved bow. 

I wasn't even aware that there are two types of violin bow existed. 

A curved bow is said to be capable of playing 4 strings all at once giving the polyphony Bach intended with a natural projection.

Here is a fascinating background regarding Bach and curve bow.

This is not the most fluid presentation and in some spots appear primitive and rough. It is like a violin played like a pipe organ. On the same token, the simplicity and unpolished presentation add to the quaint charm of the past.  There is no technical polish nor over emoting. The melody line tells the story with a 3rd narrative approach. The tone of the violin seems to be more appropriate with slow moving tunes rather than fast paced virtuoso one as it starts to show the limitation of the curve bow or perhaps technical ability of the soloist.

It requires some adjustment to appreciate its unique sound but there is a zen garden like minimalistic beauty.

Out today in the UK. Frank Sinatra he is not but I have to say the album has a certain charm about it. You'll probably have to be a Dylan fan to enjoy it.

Streaming on Qobuz.

Dave

IMHO one of their best.... 100% agree with you... They turned into the Phi Collins support band after this.