• Re: JS Bach / Brandenburg concertos / Die Freitagsakademie

    From Pluted Pup@21:1/5 to Roland van Gaalen on Sat Sep 7 13:13:21 2024
    On Sat, 07 Sep 2024 03:44:30 -0700, Roland van Gaalen wrote:

    This is intended to be a glowing review.

    I like this recording VERY much, despite the intrusive sound effects of horse-drawn carriages, fireworks, bells and other background noises, occasionally even something that might resemble the 18th century Leipzig happy party sound.

    The interpretation is spirited and exciting.

    The instruments sound 'authentic' to me and yet great -- definitely
    extremely hip!

    JS Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6
    Die Freitagsakademie
    2 CDs, label: 'Winter & Winter'
    Released 2012

    Is this a live or studio recording? In either case,
    the mixing engineer has great power to emphasize or
    de-emphasize tracks in a multi-track recording, so
    it can be a reasonable demand that the effect tracks
    be turned off, or reduced in volume, that can only
    come about from a rerelease with "re"mixing, provided
    that the per-track recording haven't been deleted.

    I have the same view when applause tracks are
    *emphasized* by the engineers, or even "flown-in"
    from a different recording.

    I like to say that the best engineering is the
    least, and what you describe is *intrusive*
    engineering that screams "wow, you can really hear
    the engineering!"

    I've got a recording of a La Folia, where
    table saws are mixed into the sound, if I recall
    correctly. I can't be objective and say
    exactly that the recording would be better
    without it because as a listener/consumer only the
    released recording can be judged, not the
    hypothetical.

    But bad engineering is always a justified complaint.


    BACKGROUND (copied from website JPC.de):
    << The album "The Celebration" transports the listener to the year 1721
    for a lavish baroque celebration. The composition for this sound story
    was written by Johann Sebastian Bach. At dusk, carriages drive to the festival, splendidly dressed guests sit in them, and from afar the first notes of Bach's new work "The Celebration" can be heard The first notes
    of Bach's new work "Six Concerts Avec plusieurs Instruments" can be
    heard from afar. Margrave Christian Ludwig von Brandenburg-Schwedt
    invites guests, because Bach dedicates his score to him, only later it
    shall become world famous under the name "Brandenburg Concertos". An orchestra of more than twenty musicians, with horns, trumpets and
    strings unfolds on a square, which becomes a ballroom, the wonderful ballroom, unfolds the most wonderful sounds. The night is filled.
    'Italian' overtures resound, fugues, concerto grosso and group concerts alternate. Bach literally unfolds a fireworks display, a chase of
    pleasure, a dance of sounds. This baroque festival is a total work of
    art for the senses

    "Die Freitagsakademie", the ensemble of the best Swiss baroque
    musicians, plays the six concerts
    Recording is analog without digital tricks. The interpretation in
    natural sound promises a listening experience>>

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  • From Owen Hartnett@21:1/5 to vangaalenusenet@gmail.com on Sun Sep 8 16:02:53 2024
    On Sep 7, 2024 at 4:33:23 PM EDT, "Roland van Gaalen" <vangaalenusenet@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 07/09/2024 22:13, Pluted Pup wrote:
    Is this a live or studio recording? In either case,
    the mixing engineer has great power to emphasize or
    de-emphasize tracks in a multi-track recording, so
    it can be a reasonable demand that the effect tracks
    be turned off, or reduced in volume, that can only
    come about from a rerelease with "re"mixing, provided
    that the per-track recording haven't been deleted.

    I have the same view when applause tracks are
    *emphasized* by the engineers, or even "flown-in"
    from a different recording.

    I like to say that the best engineering is the
    least, and what you describe is *intrusive*
    engineering that screams "wow, you can really hear
    the engineering!"

    I've got a recording of a La Folia, where
    table saws are mixed into the sound, if I recall
    correctly. I can't be objective and say
    exactly that the recording would be better
    without it because as a listener/consumer only the
    released recording can be judged, not the
    hypothetical.

    But bad engineering is always a justified complaint.


    If I didn't like it, I would call the sound effects an annoying gimmick getting in the way of the music.

    But I do like it, so I call it art.
    --


    I like the energy and the very fast pace.

    I dislike the sound, they sound like buskers in the subway.

    But art is in the ear of the listener.


    -Owen

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