Schubert D960 Andante Sostenuto - Blind sampling

[johnb]

After the recent thread on Schubert's Bb Piano Sonata, D960 I wondered whether people would be interested in blind sampling some readings of the Andante Sostenuto, a movement I chose because it touches on the sublime and is at the heart of the work.

Your impressions would be very interesting to read.

PM if you want to know the pianists, though I will probably post the names here once the thread has run its course (which might well be hours rather than days!).

The examples are in no particular order:

Version A

Version B

Version C

Version D

Version E

Version F

Version G

Version H

Version I

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(which might well be hours rather than days!).

More likely weeks or even months, with 9 samples at over 9 minutes each. It's a great idea, but perhaps a smaller range ...?

[johnb]

Yes, I thought that too ...

... but then couldn't decide which to leave out - it seemed a pity to leave out Z when many people won't know the recording, and then Y is so idiosyncratic that it's useful as a foil, then R,S,T are greatly admired.

I could have left out some that, though inevitably different nevertheless have a not too dissimilar general conception.

Most of the pianists mentioned in the previous D960 thread are present - though with a joker thrown in the form of one off air recital (it might not be the example you think).

What to do .... Do I cull the examples or leave it as it is?

[amateur51]

A brilliant idea, johnb and it certainly will take me days to sort out, I'm sure, if at all.

What say that after an agreed time lapse (1 day?) you announce the names of the pianists but not the correct order?

Or perhaps the names of some likely pianists who are NOT represented?

This one could run and run ...

Thanks in advance for your hard work in setting it up

[Bryn]

Leave it as it is. I am slowly working my way through, saving with TR so I can normalize them to the same RMS value before trying to compare them. No recordings of performances on the type of instrument it was written for, I note.

[johnb]

amateur51,

What say that after an agreed time lapse (1 day?) you announce the names of the pianists but not the correct order?

Or perhaps the names of some likely pianists who are NOT represented?

Good idea.

In retrospect I wish I had ordered the samples differently but it's done now!

Bryn,

No recordings of performances on the type of instrument it was written for, I note.

Apologies - I didn't have any at hand.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

[QUOTE=johnb;14629]amateur51,

Apologies - I didn't have any at hand.

It's remarkable just how many you did have.

[johnb]

Don't tell anyone but I cheated by using a £2.00 credit that Amazon had given me (for mp3 purchases) to download two examples I didn't have but was interested to hear.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Don't tell anyone but I cheated by using a £2.00 credit that Amazon had given me (for mp3 purchases) to download two examples I didn't have but was interested to hear.

No, we won't tell anyone. Why bother, now that you've announced it (potentially) to over 6,000,000,000

people

[Basil]

What a great idea, I've been making my way through the selections and D & I are the ones that stand out, for me.

I think Version I is Mitsuko Uchida but I have no idea about D, or any of the others.

As a footnote, I am ashamed of how little of Schuberts piano music I have.

[johnb]

Basil,

As you have mentioned Mitsuko Uchida, I can reveal that .....

one of the versions is by MU - but I'm not saying which one it is!

[Basil]

That's fair enough.


Obviously no point in having more than one of these at a time, so, inspired by John, I bags the next go!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As a footnote, I am ashamed of how little of Schuberts piano music I have.

Me too. I end up with a Lea Pocket score, screwing my eyes up and using lots of imagination.

[Chris Newman]

This is a fascinating task. I have found it almost impossible to listen to more than three in a row. Sometimes hearing one on its own you think it beautiful: then you hear the same version next to another and you think the player has missed the point entirely. I need more time before I can comment on any of them, though there are three I do not think I could live with and would not buy.

[Cellini]

johnb

Change of subject but did you get the Elias quartet doing Britten? (I think it was you who said you had ordered it).

Hope you liked it. I have my copy with me here in NZ.