Musicians' heavy breathing and sniffing...

[richardfinegold]

The American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett's recordings are notorious for his orgasmic grunts and cries, especially in his unaccompanied solo performances, and particularly at moments of, to me, simulated "inspiration", though these thankfully are mostly blunted in his group work by others' contributions. It is very off-putting.

I've heard Jarrett in solo concert a couple of times and always been tempted to offer him some Bicarbonate of soda afterwards.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Glen Gould and his vocal contributions in this thread...

[vibratoforever]

Barbirolli did not sing as much as grunt. His 1967 recording of Schonberg's Pelleas represents possibly the most obvious example of this art, though Sibelius' Swan of Tuonela has to be a close second.
A recent magazine review chided him for this as an affectation, though I doubt this assertion. I am sure it occured as subconsciously as Bruno Walter's foot stamping in the landler of Mahler 9.
I don't find this distracting in the least and indeed an audible "fingerprint" like this is useful in assessing the authenticity of claimed off-air recordings.

[verismissimo]

Peter Cropper once told me that the earliest recordings of the Lindsays were inhibited because recording producers and engineers were totally allergic to his sniffs 'n' grunts. Later on they got more relaxed about all that and the performances blossomed as a consequence. At least, that was PC's version of events.

[cloughie]

Barbirolli did not sing as much as grunt. His 1967 recording of Schonberg's Pelleas represents possibly the most obvious example of this art, though Sibelius' Swan of Tuonela has to be a close second.
A recent magazine review chided him for this as an affectation, though I doubt this assertion. I am sure it occured as subconsciously as Bruno Walter's foot stamping in the landler of Mahler 9.
I don't find this distracting in the least and indeed an audible "fingerprint" like this is useful in assessing the authenticity of claimed off-air recordings.

A good example of JB is in his 60s recording of Elgar's Int&All for Strings.
Ref #14 I find the excessive 'breathing' in many recordings of pop singers is annoying and more should be taken out!

[Richard Tarleton]

It's a pity that breathing doesn't seem to be more widely taught as part of instrumental technique, it's important for pluckers and scrapers as well as for singers and blowers. The lutenist Jacob Heringman teaches the Alexander Technique to other musicians.

[MrGongGong]

The Allegri quartet were frequent visitors when I was a student.
They had the most extraordinary method of synchronising by sniff

[Don Petter]

The Allegri quartet were frequent visitors when I was a student.
They had the most extraordinary method of synchronising by sniff

Sure that wasn't the Allergi quartet?

[edashtav]

Eyes wide shut

DON'T LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT MY BEAT!

Arthur Nikisch was famous for using his eyes when conducting to cue entrances and to indicate tempi changes. All the more strange then to read of this incident.
(Nottingham Evening Post 19.06.1906)

MUSICAL CONDUCTOR’S NERVES
Herr Nikisch caused a sensation he other night at Leipzig whilst directing a performance of Bruckner’s “Ninth Symphony.” Suddenly rising from his seat [!], he angrily faced the fashionable audience, and sharply upbraided the ladies for staring at him through their opera-glasses. “Your conduct,” he exclaimed, “makes me so nervous that I cannot continue conducting.” Some of the newspapers declare that Herr Nikisch is trying to imitate Hans von Bulow, Wagner’s famous conductor, who was noted for his eccentricities.

[von Bulow tried to make his Meningen Court Orchestra play whole programmes from memory because he couldn’t stand the rustle of page-turning. When that failed, he banned paper programmes, ordering card replacements. They were worse- “Swish, Swish,” they went as the ladies fanned themselves. Von Bulow wasn’t beaten: individual programmes being replaced by large-print versions on cards stuck on the walls of the Hall.]

[Flay]

Sure that wasn't the Allergi quartet?

... and belching ...

That's the Belcea Quartet!

[gurnemanz]

DON'T LOOK AT ME, LOOK AT MY BEAT! (butt?)

Many years ago my wife and I went promming to see Simon Rattle with the London Sinfonietta. I remember my wife commenting that she was distracted by the rear view of the tight, contour-emphasising trousers which the conductor was in the habit of wearing in those days.

[Hornspieler]

I'm listening to the new cd of the Brahms violin sonatas played by Leonidas Kovakos and Yuja Wang Decca. It's very interesting music making, (as one would expect from these two terrific artists), but the superb sound quality really catches the violinists heavy breathing and sniffing! The notes say the disc was recorded between Christmas and New Year 2013 so perhaps he had a cold.

I suppose my question is that, with modern recording techniques, should these extraneous noises be edited out? Normally, it doesn't bother me but this is REALLY intrusive!

When Charles Groves was struggling to keep everyone together, he would snort with anxiety and urgency. (Welsh National Opera in its early days was a good example)

One day in Portsmouth we had Malcuzinsky (pardon my spelling) to play Rachmaninov 3rd concerto. Even before we started to rehearse, Charles announced "Mr Malcuzinsky and I have agreed that we shall endeavour to stop at the same time"

Malcuzinsky was also a snorter. Throughout the evening performance the work was accompanied by what sounded like two donkeys having an argument over a bag of oats. Even some members of the audience could not control there mirth!

HS

[MrGongGong]

Sure that wasn't the Allergi quartet?

It woz indood

This is the kind of Sniff that I would go for

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d7mZRoVvco

[Ferretfancy]

With some performances it's nice to know that human beings are involved. Personally I quite enjoy Barbirolli's groans, but the best answer is not to sit too near to the speakers!

[verismissimo]

When Charles Groves was struggling to keep everyone together, he would snort with anxiety and urgency. (Welsh National Opera in its early days was a good example)

One day in Portsmouth we had Malcuzinsky (pardon my spelling) to play Rachmaninov 3rd concerto. Even before we started to rehearse, Charles announced "Mr Malcuzinsky and I have agreed that we shall endeavour to stop at the same time"

Malcuzinsky was also a snorter. Throughout the evening performance the work was accompanied by what sounded like two donkeys having an argument over a bag of oats. Even some members of the audience could not control there mirth!

HS

Beaut story, HS.

[amateur51]

i attended a performance of Messiaen's Vingt régards given by Pierre-Laurent Aimard during which at moments of great intensity he appeared to be singing "Ah lurve ma wife"!

Leastways that's how it sounded to me

Great occasion