Prom 28 (25.08.21) - Eight Seasons

[mikealdren]

On TV tomorrow, I look forward to seeing it in the hope that I finally see a performance by Josh Bell that I like.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

and I'm far from convinced that shutting the door on what went before is either necessary or desirable.

The thing about "what went on before" it that however good the modern research is, our knowledge of performance practice in the 18th century is skimpy, to say the least. Assumptions are made, based upon snippets here and there, and modern interpreters sometimes pick out the bits they like.

We've been over the pros and cons many times on this forum, but the point here is that listeners need not feel "guilty" about enjoying performances that duck current fashion. Guilt of that sort suggests the presence of a feeling that the listener is thinking "Was I wrong to take the HIPP route?"

I have multiple recordings of many works, some HIPP and others not. (It's just that most of the HIPP ones are in pristine condition. )

[cloughie]

I ought to edit my response but my computer knows best!

Turn off the auto then the gobbledegook lessens - it’s easier to correct your own trypos than rely on a computer that thinks it knows bette than you!

[cloughie]

The ASMF recorded for a surprising number of different labels. At one time they were named as..... the Argo Chamber Orchestra....

I loved how Bell and his players switched so seamlessly between the musical styles, from Pastoral Romance to a cool latin mover, oil-painted meadows, clouds, storms and biting bitter winds to the swing of the hips, the swish of a dress and the click of the heels; wonderfully free and fluid phrasing in the Vivaldi, fresh as the Spring even under Summer Lightning…….

*****
So many wonderful chamber orchestras to listen to now, of all instrumental vintages.....and a surprising number of the Vivaldi/Piazzolla interspersal, either with accordion or the Desyatnikov Violin...

Its not what you do its the way that you do it

OR.....

De la musique avant toute chose,
Et pour cela préfère l'Impair
Plus vague et plus soluble dans l'air,
Sans rien en lui qui pèse ou qui pose.
(Baudelaire)

*****
Final vital word for the Radio 3 soundbalance..... they may only have 320 kbps aac to play with, but how utterly gorgeous it sounded last night, so precise, so warm and spacious; the band so very distinctive, the Hall an essential character in the sonic delights, recommending themselves nimbly and sweetly unto our gentle senses........

The Argo Chamber Orchestra tag was a 70s tag presumably for some promotional reason. One of their other pseudonyms was London Strings when they made some recordings of Bach Harpsichord Concertos with Igor Kipnis for CBS before it became Sony.

[oddoneout]

The thing about "what went on before" it that however good the modern research is, our knowledge of performance practice in the 18th century is skimpy, to say the least. Assumptions are made, based upon snippets here and there, and modern interpreters sometimes pick out the bits they like.

We've been over the pros and cons many times on this forum, but the point here is that listeners need not feel "guilty" about enjoying performances that duck current fashion. Guilt of that sort suggests the presence of a feeling that the listener is thinking "Was I wrong to take the HIPP route?"

I have multiple recordings of many works, some HIPP and others not. (It's just that most of the HIPP ones are in pristine condition. )

When I wrote "what went before" I was thinking of rather more recent times, ie what we can hear on recordings that pre-date the general adoption of HIPP "enlightenment". I certainly don't feel guilty for enjoying a non-HIPP performance; despite close to 45 years exposure to the concept I don't consider it the be-all and end-all for music of earlier times. That's probably due to me being a shallow non-academic listener though - whether the music communicates to me is more important than what language it uses to do so and whether that language is grammatically correct.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

When I wrote "what went before" I was thinking of rather more recent times...

Yes.

I was thinking more generally of the drift of time and fashion.

[edashtav]

Turn off the auto then the gobbledegook lessens - it’s easier to correct your own trypos than rely on a computer that thinks it knows bette than you!

Thanks, cloughie, you possess sufficient clout to overcome my lethargy: my computer has been emasculated!

[oddoneout]

Thanks, cloughie, you possess sufficient clout to overcome my lethargy: my computer has been emasculated!

Ouch! Bit of a slegehammer to crack a nut, it only need to learn a bit of respect for you its owner.