Searching MusicWeb

[George]

Something I have never figured out is how to search MusicWeb's site effectively to find reviews.

I know a number of you write reviews for them and thought that you might be able to assist me?

Thanks! 

[bhodges]

The search function on the site can be a little erratic sometimes, and I have no idea why.  Sometimes I have success trying different combinations of terms, e.g., if I'm trying to find a concert by Lorin Maazel and the New York Philharmonic, using "Maazel" and then one or two of the composers' names in the concert.  If that doesn't work, try rearranging the order of the words in the search box--sometimes that works.  Why it makes a difference, I have no idea.  Anyway, good luck!

--Bruce

[George]

Is this the one that you use, Bruce?

I have used it dozens of times and each time come up with nothing. 

[bhodges]

Yes, that's it.  What are you trying to find?  (As a professional researcher, maybe I'll take a crack at it.)



--Bruce

[George]

Yes, that's it.  What are you trying to find?  (As a professional researcher, maybe I'll take a crack at it.)



--Bruce

I am looking for reviews of three pianists' CDs:

1. Frederic Lamond (on APR and Biddulph)
2. Sergio Fiorentino (on APR)
3. Simon Barere (on APR live at Carnegie Hall, volumes 1-4)

[bhodges]

Let's try No. 1.  Is this the CD?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Nov02/Liszt_Lamond.htm

--Bruce

[George]

Let's try No. 1.  Is this the CD?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Nov02/Liszt_Lamond.htm

--Bruce

It's one of them, yes! The APR one. How'd you do that?

[bhodges]

I generally start with the very obvious and then work from there, e.g.,:

Frederic Lamond APR

And written exactly like that--no quotation marks, no other punctuation or symbols.  This time, it worked!  What did you try? 

--Bruce

[George]

The same thing! 

When I search I get this

[bhodges]

Now that is quite odd!  When I clicked your link, I got the same results I did earlier (and even cleared my cache to make sure it was a fresh result).  The Liszt still showed up first!  Hm...   Well, now I have no idea why that might be.  Perhaps someone with more computer expertise can speculate.

Meanwhile, feel free to send me all your search requests and I'll get an invoice in the mail to you right away.   

--Bruce

[George]

Now that is quite odd!  When I clicked your link, I got the same results I did earlier (and even cleared my cache to make sure it was a fresh result). 

Yet your link sends me to the review and mine doesn't. 

Meanwhile, feel free to send me all your search requests and I'll get an invoice in the mail to you right away.   

--Bruce

Sure, is #2 and #3 in the mail? 

[bhodges]

Sure, is #2 and #3 in the mail? 

Are these the ones?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Oct02/Liszt_piano_Fiorentino.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2003/Mar03/SimonBarer1.htm

Anyway, have to get back to my Schubert article, but hope this was helpful!  (Still mystified why you aren't getting the same results, though.)

--Bruce

[George]

Are these the ones?

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Oct02/Liszt_piano_Fiorentino.htm
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2003/Mar03/SimonBarer1.htm

Anyway, have to get back to my Schubert article, but hope this was helpful!  (Still mystified why you aren't getting the same results, though.)

--Bruce

Yeah, me too! Hopefully I'll get that cleared up. 

One of the links above are correct, by the way, nice work!

[bhodges]

Thanks, no problem! 

--Bruce

[George]

Now that is quite odd!  When I clicked your link, I got the same results I did earlier (and even cleared my cache to make sure it was a fresh result). 

Figured it out. Adblock was blocking out the results. 

So I disabled adblock for their site and now all is well.

Thanks again for your help. 

[bhodges]

 

Filing away for future reference, since I would never have guessed that Adblock was the culprit!  Interesting, and glad you determined the cause.

--Bruce

[George]

"Cleverly" the ads are contained in the same area as the search results. In fact, you'll notice that the ads have text that is pretty much the same as the text used to link to the reviews. So, I imagine that Firefox adblock gets confused.