Time to own up how many unplayed box sets

[Richard Tarleton]

I'm not a guitarist, and I find that too much gets a bit tiresome

That was part of my problem - I've long since tired of the standard guitar repertoire....don't mind if I never hear Asturias, or Villa Lobos Prelude no 1, again..... Bream was always the most interesting guitarist by a considerable margin. Nowadays it's the lute and vihuela repertoire for me, to which JB introduced me all those years ago.

[teamsaint]

I feel I`ve done quite well as there are only two which have not even been in the player - Draeseke`s "Christus" on about 5 cds, and Blomdalh`s "Aniara", both bought in the last century....

depending on what you paid, you might make a tidy profit on that.

[EdgeleyRob]

Bach,Complete Organ Music,Hänssler Classics
Bach,Sacred Choral Works,Rilling
Mahler,Complete works 150th anniversary box EMI
All Baroque 50 cd box,Archiv
Wagner,Ring Cycle,Bohm

[Petrushka]

Bach,Complete Organ Music,Hänssler Classics
Bach,Sacred Choral Works,Rilling
Mahler,Complete works 150th anniversary box EMI
All Baroque 50 cd box,Archiv
Wagner,Ring Cycle,Bohm

Not even dipped into, Rob? The Bach organ works are ideal to dip into as the mood takes you. The Mahler set will need a more structured approach while the Böhm Ring can be played first Das Rheingold complete then one act each night of the rest. A Ring all done in 10 days!

[Jonathan]

Only 2 spring to mind: Reger - Complete Piano music (Markus Becker) on 12 CDs and Rheinberger - Complete chamber music on 10CDs. Really need to sit down and listen to these. Luckily (??!!), I have a longer commute again having recently changed jobs so should have time on the way to work.

[johnb]

Looking at the JB collection it's only 42 CDs, and that would have been about £2 per CD at the original price - now totally out of reach.

If you don't mind downloads Presto Classical have the complete boxed set at £66 for mp3 or £86 for FLAC. The prices aren't exactly bargain basement and of course you miss out on the nice presentation booklet.

[Dave2002]

If you don't mind downloads Presto Classical have the complete boxed set at £66 for mp3 or £86 for FLAC. The prices aren't exactly bargain basement and of course you miss out on the nice presentation booklet.

Thanks for that. I visited the Presto site yesterday and noted that many "CD"s are now download only from that store. That's a trend which I deplore, but I suppose market forces are driving that. I have a few reasons - one of which being that it's not that easy to give a download as a gift - at least not to some people who are not used to that. Also, if anything goes wrong, then it's a complete waste of money.

It's good that the tracks are available, but given the savings to the industry - no need for middlemen, no need for production cost, no need for distribution etc., then one suspects that some people are making relatively more out of the enterprise, and not passing them back to customers. One also wonders if artists are getting the benefits - possible not, in many cases. OTOH, given that classical music enthusiasts are often causing recording companies etc. to run at a loss or very low margins, perhaps we shouldn't complain too much - (??).

[richardfinegold]

Thanks for that. I visited the Presto site yesterday and noted that many "CD"s are now download only from that store. That's a trend which I deplore, but I suppose market forces are driving that. I have a few reasons - one of which being that it's not that easy to give a download as a gift - at least not to some people who are not used to that. Also, if anything goes wrong, then it's a complete waste of money.

It's good that the tracks are available, but given the savings to the industry - no need for middlemen, no need for production cost, no need for distribution etc., then one suspects that some people are making relatively more out of the enterprise, and not passing them back to customers. One also wonders if artists are getting the benefits - possible not, in many cases. OTOH, given that classical music enthusiasts are often causing recording companies etc. to run at a loss or very low margins, perhaps we shouldn't complain too much - (??).

I think most music retailers would be happy to do downloads only. No excess inventory, shipping issues, returns, etc.
Our present generations (50 and older) still prefer physical media, for many reasons, one being sound quality, as you need a lot of bandwidth and a good IT connect for quality downloads. It will be interesting to see when physical media completely dissapears

[teamsaint]

I think most music retailers would be happy to do downloads only. No excess inventory, shipping issues, returns, etc.
Our present generations (50 and older) still prefer physical media, for many reasons, one being sound quality, as you need a lot of bandwidth and a good IT connect for quality downloads. It will be interesting to see when physical media completely dissapears

E books haven't taken over the world though. They have a very important share, but in very many areas, academic, specialist, travel , and so on ,physical books aren't going to disappear in the near future.
The trick for publishers, ( and in publishing it is critical) is to maximise all the revenue streams.

If you are originating a product, the physical media can be a vital part of the sales mix, ( try to get a national newspaper reviewer to take an ebook only release seriously !!) , and often books can turn a profit on really quite small sales numbers ( low thousands) and the ebook/paperback/box set/bindup becomes the cash cow.

The dynamics won't be that different for music, although of course there will be different models.

[pastoralguy]

I think most music retailers would be happy to do downloads only. No excess inventory, shipping issues, returns, etc.
Our present generations (50 and older) still prefer physical media, for many reasons, one being sound quality, as you need a lot of bandwidth and a good IT connect for quality downloads. It will be interesting to see when physical media completely dissapears

I wonder about that too, Richard. Mind you, for those of us over 50, we could be approaching a period in our lives when we won't be able to handle physical media! I remember that my father, who was knocked by a massive stroke aged 40, couldn't handle Lps although cassette tapes were easier.

Perhaps, having downloads on a computer where we can simply say "Beethoven. Pastoral Symphony. 1977 version" might be easier. (Presuming we can still talk)


But yes, I still want something in my hot, sweaty hand in exchange for my money...


And on that cheery note...

[Dave2002]

If you are originating a product, the physical media can be a vital part of the sales mix, ( try to get a national newspaper reviewer to take an ebook only release seriously !!) ....

But how are newspapers themselves doing? The Independent is now digital subscription only. Possibly there are other reasons for its demise, but maybe it won't survive much longer as a digital source either.

[teamsaint]

But how are newspapers themselves doing? The Independent is now digital subscription only. Possibly there are other reasons for its demise, but maybe it won't survive much longer as a digital source either.

I guess that newspapers seem, in the main, to be finding ways to survive on reduced circulation.
it is still true to say that for promoting or marketing books, that the mass media, national papers and the big TV channels, are still hugely influential, even though they are working in much more diversified markets than 20 years ago.

[EdgeleyRob]

Not even dipped into, Rob? The Bach organ works are ideal to dip into as the mood takes you. The Mahler set will need a more structured approach while the Böhm Ring can be played first Das Rheingold complete then one act each night of the rest. A Ring all done in 10 days!

Hi Pet

I have been rather overdosing on Bach Organ music,the latest set is my 3rd after Marie-Claire Alain and Simon Preston,they have been listened to in their entirety,this one remains in cellophane.
Same with the choral works,I have other versions,the Rilling still unopened.
I can't listen to Mahler at the moment,just seems too suffocating,but I know the urge will return (there was a time when I listened to little else),but I couldn't resist this box at the time and price,looks like there are some wonderful performances in it to savour when the time is right,unopened.
The Baroque box has been dipped into to the tune of 4cds worth.
Don't think I'm ready for Wagner quite yet.I've had the Bohm set for years and have dipped in occasionally but not really made any headway.
I have been reading up on Wagner and the Ring Cycle and feel as though the time is coming to have a real go at it,especially now I have retired.

[kernelbogey]

Just discovered a 2-CD set of Gesualdo, Hillard Ensemble. impulse bought over a year ago, still unwrapped, totally forgotten!

Just played it all.

[BBMmk2]

I still have "Handel the Great Oratorios" from Decca Classics to go through. I've played about 5 works from this set so far. The other one is Wagner Operas and other recordings. I have played two operas and two of the collection CDs. Must play as so far both these recordings a fabulous!