Blind Comparison: R.Strauss - Also sprach Zarathustra

Started by madaboutmahler, June 24, 2012, 11:34:00 AM

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madaboutmahler

As my Mahler 6 comparison is almost finished, time to start the next one! I thought that instead of doing each Mahler symphony one of each for Blind Comparison, it may be better to have different works inbetween.
So, my next blind comparison will be for Richard Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra. The comparison will run in a similar way to the M6, in three parts - with excerpts explored in the first two parts, and then the whole piece in the final.

If you would like to take part, please just post a comment here to let me know!

I'll be starting the comparision a few days after the M6 one has finished, so probably in around a week.

:)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Lisztianwagner

Quote from: madaboutmahler on June 24, 2012, 11:34:00 AM
As my Mahler 6 comparison is almost finished, time to start the next one! I thought that instead of doing each Mahler symphony one of each for Blind Comparison, it may be better to have different works inbetween.
So, my next blind comparison will be for Richard Strauss' Also sprach Zarathustra. The comparison will run in a similar way to the M6, in three parts - with excerpts explored in the first two parts, and then the whole piece in the final.

If you would like to take part, please just post a comment here to let me know!

I'll be starting the comparision a few days after the M6 one has finished, so probably in around a week.

:)

That's an excellent idea, I love Strauss' tone poems; Also sprach Zarathustra is outstanding, you can certainly count me in. :)

Hope Karajan's recording will win this time ;)
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler

mc ukrneal

Be kind to your fellow posters!!

TheGSMoeller

This one I could not possibly miss!

Sign me up Daniel!


madaboutmahler

Excellent to have you three on board!! :)

Deciding the recordings at the moment. A good amount of choice!
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven


J.Z. Herrenberg

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

madaboutmahler

"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Florestan

Quote from: madaboutmahler on June 25, 2012, 02:27:08 AM
Excellent! Six participants so far. :)

Never before participated in these games because I'm not so good at recognizing orchestras and conductors but what the heck... count me in for this one and be merciful!  :)
Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind. — Rossini

mc ukrneal

Quote from: Florestan on June 25, 2012, 04:10:19 AM
Never before participated in these games because I'm not so good at recognizing orchestras and conductors but what the heck... count me in for this one and be merciful!  :)
Well that is ok, because that is not the goal. You just listen to the excerpts and give your views (did you like, not like, what did you like/dislike, etc.). Usually there is some sort of ordering from favorite to least favorite (or vice versa) with the winning excerpts going to the next round. So basically, you're just giving your opinion (with some interesting commentary) and seeing how others thought of the same. This has been fascinating at times, expecially when there is a surpise concensus or divided opinion.
Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Florestan

Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind. — Rossini

madaboutmahler

Wonderful to have you taking part, Florestan! :)

Great explanation, Neal. :)

Very excited about this!
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

DavidRoss

Quote from: mc ukrneal on June 25, 2012, 04:39:41 AM
Well that is ok, because that is not the goal. You just listen to the excerpts and give your views (did you like, not like, what did you like/dislike, etc.). Usually there is some sort of ordering from favorite to least favorite (or vice versa) with the winning excerpts going to the next round. So basically, you're just giving your opinion (with some interesting commentary) and seeing how others thought of the same. This has been fascinating at times, expecially when there is a surpise concensus or divided opinion.
Even though I was able to participate in only the final round of the M6 trials (and only briefly at that thanks to a holiday with nothing much planned!), I welcomed the opportunity for blind listening to significant excerpts of a beloved work. The opportunity to hear them without prejudice re. the performers was a gift. Thanks, Daniel, for your time and effort spent preparing the clips and organizing the comparison! (And thanks to discobole for his efforts in the similar La Mer comparison!)

I would be nice to see vote totals at the end. That might reveal even more consensus and help clarify strongly divided opinion. After seeing the results of Disco's survey, I expect that both will prove the usual in such comparisons, especially given the small sample heavily biased toward those with firmly established tastes: consensus re. recordings with many virtues and few flaws, disagreement due to preferences of style. Thus were they included  in the M6 comparison, I would expect Sanderling's to do well among those who prefer overt drama, Gielen's to do well among those who prefer a subtler approach, and both to do very well overall due to the quality and conviction of the performances.
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

madaboutmahler

Quote from: DavidRoss on June 25, 2012, 05:30:01 AM
Even though I was able to participate in only the final round of the M6 trials (and only briefly at that thanks to a holiday with nothing much planned!), I welcomed the opportunity for blind listening to significant excerpts of a beloved work. The opportunity to hear them without prejudice re. the performers was a gift. Thanks, Daniel, for your time and effort spent preparing the clips and organizing the comparison! (And thanks to discobole for his efforts in the similar La Mer comparison!)

I would be nice to see vote totals at the end. That might reveal even more consensus and help clarify strongly divided opinion. After seeing the results of Disco's survey, I expect that both will prove the usual in such comparisons, especially given the small sample heavily biased toward those with firmly established tastes: consensus re. recordings with many virtues and few flaws, disagreement due to preferences of style. Thus were they included  in the M6 comparison, I would expect Sanderling's to do well among those who prefer overt drama, Gielen's to do well among those who prefer a subtler approach, and both to do very well overall due to the quality and conviction of the performances.

It's a pleasure, David - I am really glad that you enjoyed the M6 comparison! Shall be revealing the results for that very soon, and will include vote totals like you suggest (Thank you for that idea), just waiting for one or two more votes, so hopefully will have the results published by Wednesday. :)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Sergeant Rock

I'll join if you promise to include Sinopoli/New York  :D ;)

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 25, 2012, 06:33:08 AM
I'll join if you promise to include Sinopoli/New York  :D ;)

Sarge


Agreed! This is a powerful recording.

madaboutmahler

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 25, 2012, 06:33:08 AM
I'll join if you promise to include Sinopoli/New York  :D ;)

Sarge

Excellent, I shall try and get hold of that recording then. ;)
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: madaboutmahler on June 25, 2012, 08:18:26 AM
Excellent, I shall try and get hold of that recording then. ;)


Do or do not, there is no try...I think I may have butchered that Yoda quote, confirmation please?

Maybe even the Blomstedt/SF, pretty exciting!

Opus106

Quote from: karlhenning on June 25, 2012, 08:43:44 AM
I may give it a try, for fun, Daniel!

Do give it a try, Karl. This comparison should be a convenient one for those short on time, as the piece is just around 90 seconds long. (What! It isnt'?)
Regards,
Navneeth