Great recordings, ODD background noises

[pmartel]

Just recently, I bought a wonderful period performance of Alessandro Scarlatti Concertos and Sinfonias by Modo Antiquo and La Magnifica Comunita on Brilliant Classics

This is a WONDERFUL recording for the price.

Upon listening to the second disc of the sinfonias on my mp3 player, I had to do a few double takes.

I heard birds chirping in the background, yes, I kid you not birds chirping.

Albeit just a touch distract, it really didn't take away from the performances of this superb group.

The only other recording I remember hearing was an old 78 of the Boston Pops and you could actually hear a subway train rumbling under Symphony Hall.

Has anyone else had interesting listening experiences??

[John Skelton]

Birdsong is quite common, actually, especially if the recording has been made in a church. Quite noticeable with harpsichord or lute recordings, say. I'm sure they like to singalong .

That looks an interesting CD - thanks for the information.

[salymap]

When recordings were made at the Kingsway Hall in London it was quite common to hear Subway/Tube trains in the background I believe, although I've never heard such a recording myself.

[rauschwerk]

When recordings were made at the Kingsway Hall in London it was quite common to hear Subway/Tube trains in the background I believe, although I've never heard such a recording myself.

I think they have been filtered out on many CD reissues, but are clearly audible on Boult's Egdon Heath, at any rate in the 1984 reissue.

[Pabmusic]

When recordings were made at the Kingsway Hall in London it was quite common to hear Subway/Tube trains in the background I believe, although I've never heard such a recording myself.

You can hear the tube more than once on Boult's Gerontius - a very faint rumble indeed, but it's definitely there.

Then again, there are plenty of recordings with artists singing along - Glen Gould, Barbirolli, Colin Davis.

[MrGongGong]

Chris DeLaurenti

http://www.delaurenti.net/index.html

collects these kind of things

(he is most known for the "Favourite Intermissions" CD ........ essential listening IMV)

[Nick Armstrong]

I heard birds chirping in the background, yes, I kid you not birds chirping.

I don't have any difficulty believing that, there must be lots of locations e.g. country churches, where there are birds all around. I recall that in a BAL recommendation for Carissimi's 'Jephtha' I think, the reviewer commented on the birdsong which was audible. I got the recording in question, and in the dramatic context, the birdsong is in fact rather affecting and appropriate.

[rauschwerk]

I once owned the LP of Tchaikovsky 4 with LSO/Szell, a recording which he would not allow to be issued. It was, of course, after his death. Near the end of the exposition, when the horns have that B major tune, I could clearly hear stamping feet - presumably Szell trying to keep the horns in tempo.

[Bryn]

Two recordings of Cage's Sonatas and Interludes spring to mind. That by John Tilbury had very quiet cooing of pigeons, and Margaret Leng Tan's has a cricket (and quite prominent it is, too). The Tilbury now seems generally hard to find. however, Presto Classical claim to have it in stock, and at the bargain price of £5.75. Not to be missed, I'd say, though as with the Japanese Decca CD release, there is one dodgy track split in th middle of a sonata, but is does not affect the continuity if you are spinning the whole work.

[Chris Newman]

There is the famous and very exciting Beecham Sibelius Two from the RFH where he conducted with the BBCSO which was transmitted to the composer in Finland on his birthday. Tommy enthusiastically sings in the big tune of the finale, shouts "Hup! Hupp!!Huppp!!!" and "More!" several times.

Sir Alex Gibson was known to stamp his feet in performance and it shows sometimes on recording.

I adore my recording of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" where Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi and John Barbirolli sing the famous "Love Trio", Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ3pKxH_j1g

Just relish the orgasmic opening

The lovely recording of Holst's Choral Fantasia with Janet Baker singing conducted by the composer's daughter, Imogen, where the organist's shoes tapping on the pedals are as loud as the organ itself.

I notice that Tony Pappano and Giandrea Noseda like to join in as well.

[MrGongGong]

I notice that Tony Pappano and Giandrea Noseda like to join in as well.

Don't I know it !!! I've spent hours trying to get rid of some "enthusiastic vocalisations" in an edit

[Serial_Apologist]

In the title track of David Bedford's "Nurses Song with Elephants" LP on John Peel's Dandelion label there are disconcerting musical sounds from a neighbouring studio in the gaps between the collective semi-improvised guitar passages. Disconcertingly, I had not noticed these when I first had the album in 1972 because the fi I then had was not hi enough to allow them to come through.

On another recording - can't currently remember which - there are intermittent deep rumbles from low-flying aircraft.

Perhaps the most remarkable extraneous sounds anywhere on a recording are those of distant cannon fire as Wanda Landowska plays Scarlatti sonatas on the harpsichord of her summer house, as the German army invades Paris: thinking of her playing on regardless and with such magnificence always brings a lump to my throat.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I heard birds chirping in the background, yes, I kid you not birds chirping.

I mentioned audible birdsong in my review of Vivaldi Bassoon Concertos (Naive) in this month's IRR. The disc was recorded in a church in Brescia. It didn't trouble me at all, in fact I found it a rather delightful addition.

[PJPJ]

Previn's RCA recording of Ruy Blas has a telephone ring several times.

Ormandy's 1947 Rimsky Scheherezade has a barking dog.

http://vinylogy.com/barker.htm

[Petrushka]

The 1944 stereo Gieseking Beethoven Emperor Concerto made in Berlin has the sound of anti-aircraft fire in the first movement cadenza. It is very faint and sounds more to me like a chair being shuffled or something being dropped but some enthusiasts claim to be able to identify the type of gun heard.