Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[doversoul1]

I have a sneaking suspicion that many Baroque lovers and HIPP enthusiasts enjoy not being Essential in the current Radio3 thinking. So, leave poor Rob alone. It’s the names on the labels that have to be Essential. True, it probably doesn’t interest those who are new to this work, but again, I don’t think the programme is seriously meant for that sort of thing.

[hmvman]

I must admit I enjoy Rob's playing of 'vintage' recordings on his programmes.

[Black Swan]

What is it with Rob Cowan's penchant for not playing anything later than the 1960s in Baroque repertoire? On Thursday we had a Bach Cantata in the Richter version when we could have had one of so many better versions informed by recent scholarship. The Richter was frankly as dull as ditchwater in extremely elderly sound.

The thing with Cowan is that when he plays repertoire which is clearly not his thing he falls back on those recordings from what he clearly considers to be the golden age of recording. Lovers of the baroque deserve far better than they get from R3!

I totally agree, this has always been a bone of contention for me with Rob Cowan. He prefers recordings from what he considers to be the Golden Age of recordings. Not only lovers of the Baroqwue deserve better but so do those musicians who have been recording since 1960. Hence, my usual avoidance of his programs.

[french frank]

I think perhaps CD Masters was the right context: it did what it said, and hearing versions that perhaps aren't often played is of interest. But the context was that that's what the programme was about. (Though possibly it could have been just on a Sunday, or just an hour long, to better please those who were interested and those who weren't?

[Black Swan]

I have a sneaking suspicion that many Baroque lovers and HIPP enthusiasts enjoy not being Essential in the current Radio3 thinking. So, leave poor Rob alone. It’s the names on the labels that have to be Essential. True, it probably doesn’t interest those who are new to this work, but again, I don’t think the programme is seriously meant for that sort of thing.

Sorry, don't agree with this. We deserve better than pontification and historical reference.

[Honoured Guest]

I have a sneaking suspicion that many Baroque lovers and HIPP enthusiasts enjoy not being Essential in the current Radio3 thinking. So, leave poor Rob alone. It’s the names on the labels that have to be Essential. True, it probably doesn’t interest those who are new to this work, but again, I don’t think the programme is seriously meant for that sort of thing.

What does HIPP mean? I've been trying to guess and the best I can come up with from the clues in your post is "highly inauthentic period performance".

I will quite understand if this is a secret code amongst keepers of the flame of inaccessible classical music broadcasting and you don't want to tell me.

[hmvman]

What does HIPP mean? I've been trying to guess and the best I can come up with from the clues in your post is "highly inauthentic period performance".

I will quite understand if this is a secret code amongst keepers of the flame of inaccessible classical music broadcasting and you don't want to tell me.

Historically-Informed Performance Practice.

There are quite a lot of abbreviations used on this forum. Perhaps there should be a glossary thread ;)

(I don't think there's any deliberate intention to exclude people who don't know the 'code')

[Honoured Guest]

Thank you, hmvman. I'd never have guessed that and googling didn't help either. Maybe not a deliberate intention, but the effect's the same.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I will quite understand if this is a secret code amongst keepers of the flame of inaccessible classical music broadcasting and you don't want to tell me.

That's just a little insulting. Individuals have different views on classical music broadcasting (and I don't subscribe to many of the HIPP arguments), but belittling others is surely not the best way forward.

[Bryn]

Since H Guest had correctly 'guessed' at "Performance", the Google failure argument just does not stand up to scrutiny. Entering "HIPP" and "Performance" into Google as one's search criteria brings up clear definitions of both "HIP" and "HIPP" as the second, third, fourth and fifth 'hits'.

[Honoured Guest]

Yes, I guessed "performance" this time, but I'd seen HIP and HIPP on here several times previously and just been baffled, despite googling "HIPP".

I've noticed on Radio 3 music and speech programmes (e.g., Music Matters and Free Thinking) that most terms used by contributors are quickly explained by the presenter. May I ask, in a non-insulting tone, if this annoys some of you? I expect it does, but I think many listeners would just be alienated from the station and switch off if it wasn't done.

[hmvman]

Yes, I guessed "performance" this time, but I'd seen HIP and HIPP on here several times previously and just been baffled, despite googling "HIPP".

I've noticed on Radio 3 music and speech programmes (e.g., Music Matters and Free Thinking) that most terms used by contributors are quickly explained by the presenter. May I ask, in a non-insulting tone, if this annoys some of you? I expect it does, but I think many listeners would just be alienated from the station and switch off if it wasn't done.

No, it doesn't annoy me and I'd say that it's essential they do it because not all listeners will know all the terms used.

I think, though, that there's a distinction between public broadcasting and an internet forum where most members tend to know terms and abbreviations used in their particular field of interest. It will be the same in forums dedicated to football, cricket, mechanical engineering etc. I recognise that it's frustrating for new members to the forum who don't know all the terms but I usually find that with a bit of studying of previous posts one can work it out. If not it's best just to ask nicely. I don't think anyone on this forum would ridicule someone for asking about a term they don't understand.

We're nice people here

[Don Petter]

Though it did cross my mind that Stephen Walsh in yesterday's BaL didn't really need to translate 'Hommage á Rameau' as 'Homage to Rameau', which did come across as a little bit condescending.

[Frances_iom]

Yes, I guessed "performance" this time, but I'd seen HIP and HIPP on here several times previously and just been baffled, despite googling "HIPP".

?is your google different than mine?
google "Music HIPP" returns as 2nd (1st non paid) item the wikipedia entry - always add a distinguishing field (eg likely subject area) to help with abbreviations tho Wikipedia usually has a disambiguation entry

[Nick Armstrong]

Thank you, hmvman. I'd never have guessed that and googling didn't help either. Maybe not a deliberate intention, but the effect's the same.

Is it just me or is there a whiff of an oh-so-polite variety of troll hereabouts?