Re: A perfect piano recording!


Raymond Hall wrote:
<alanwatkinsuk@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1144011848.269708.173560@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

sletol@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
Andy Evans wrote:
Of course, sometimes the explanation of such failures is simple. The
sound engineer -who is trained on popular music and privately listens
only to loud rock - believes that classical piano music is some kind
of muzak for supermarkets or ladies tea-parties.>

this happens - a composer friend was distraught at pot smoking
engineers when doing an acoustic album. On the other end of the scale
are the engineers who are themselves good musicians. One example is
Jan-Erik Kongshaug in Oslo who made some brilliant ECM recordings. He
played back one of the Kieth Jarrett master tapes one evening for me
and some friends including the drummer on the session. I looked around
the studio for audiophile cables and parts - none. Nice Steinway (two
in fact). But we listened to the drums alone and that said it all - it
was the mic placement and the mixing. The recording wasn't 'hifi' it
was MUSICAL!! The balances and the intrumental tones were all
harmonious - Jan-Erik, who is an excellent guitarist, is just simply a
natural musician and his work is naturally musical. No pot either.

I agree that some of the ECM jazz recordings are very good (even if the
bass can be a tad overblown and effusiv sometimes). But Die Kunst der
Fuge with Keller Quartet on ECM is sonich horror, a complete acoustic
mess (and the interpretation made me sick, too).

Apart from the ECM stuff made in Norway, do not look to this country
for good or natural sound! It does not excist, otside perhaps some FM
transmitted live concerts. Compare with the great sound tradition of
Sweden: The many stupenduosly sounding records made by (state owned)
Caprice, Proprius, early BIS, Opus3, Swedish Radio (state owned)...
O.S.

I don't trust Norway judgments that much. I say this because I am
working on a biography of Johan Halvorsen, a composer I admire and
respect greatly, and who is COMPLETELY neglected by Norway save for the
(obviously) sub-standard sound of the Simax recordings.

Of course, no one even mentions that Halvorsen completely out
orchestrated Grieg. Every time.

Least of all do they mention this in Norway, or so I think. Perhaps
they don't know? I do.

There appears not to be a biography of Mr Halvorsen in his home
country. Why is this do you think and, for that matter, should it be
left to an Irish born citizen domiciled in Czechia and England to
attempt to remedy same?

Wonderful help and co-operation from Norwegian librarians also
sometimes puzzled as to why no one gives a *** about him in his own
country.

I guess that's Norway for you. Always looking to Sweden?


Geirr Tveitt was a pretty decent Norwegian. I'd say he completely out
composed both Grieg and Halvorsen. The suites on Naxos (from a hundred
Hardanger Tunes), and the pcs, with the Scottish National Orchestra by
Bjarte Engeset, are wonderful.

Ray H
Taree

Not in ballet music or writing for the Hardanger Fiddle they didn't.

Seek ye the Simax (obviously poorly recorded, it being Norway)
recordings of the ballet music and then let me know.

Or the three symphonies for that matter.

Kind regards,
Alan M. Watkins

(Most people are stuck with Entry of the Boyars, a student work)

.