Bach Guild Big Summer Box - need artist and composer info

Old Listener · July 13, 2012, 10:05:12 AM

I bought the Bach Guild Big Summer Box from Amazon last night - mostly for a couple of Mozart works conducted by David Blum.

two problems:

1. The MP3 files did not include tag information for composer. The artist tag gives the ensemble name but not the conductor.

2. A warning: Tracks 46-49 (part of the Mozart Divertimento K.287 conducted by Blum) have very audible glitches that make those tracks unlistenable. A person from Vanguard says that replacement tracks have been uploaded to Amazon but it is not clear how to retrieve the replacement tracks.

(Similar problems were reported for the Big Haydn Box. The corrupt tracks were for a recording of Symphony No. 91 conducted by Blum.)

I'd appreciate any help on resolving these two problems.

Bill

bigshot · July 13, 2012, 05:19:46 PM

You mightntry contacting the Bach Guild direct...
http://thebachguild.com/

They have a facebook page too

Szykneij · July 14, 2012, 05:15:22 AM

Wow! Only $ .99 for 69 tracks? At less than 2-cents per track, I can see where they might not be as focused on tagging or quality control as we might like.

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Summer-Box-Bach-Guild/dp/B008J7FEK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1342271225&sr=1-1&keywords=Bach+Guild+Big+Summer+Box

Old Listener · July 14, 2012, 11:32:42 AM

@bigshot: Thanks for the suggestion. I sent them an email explainign my problem.

@Szykneij: You said "I can see where they might not be as focused on tagging or quality control as we might like.". I have some comments:

- It isn't just that the necesasry information is absent from the tags in the file. Neither the file names, the Amazon listing nor the Bach Guild web site identify the composer or the conductor. Perhaps you think that a work described only as "Sonata in A minor" is adequate to identify the composer. Or how about "Concerto in G"?

- Vanguard's strategy is to offer the "box" for $ 0.99 for a few days and then raise the price. Their Bach Guild Haydn box started at $ 0.99 and then went to $ 7.99 and is now at $ 9.99. It still looks like a bargain for all that material but if parts may be corrupted and other parts are not identified, is this a sensible product for buyer or seller?

- If Vanguard lists tracks as part of the box, those tracks should be usable. If not, they are offering a faulty product. If they do not fix the fault after it has been brought to their attention, they are guilty of false advertising.

- My interest in the Big Summer Box was specifically for Mozart works conducted by David Blum: Divertimenti K. 138 and K. 287. (I'm not sure who performed K. 136 and 137.) I have not found any other way to acquire those performances. Three of the tracks making up the K. 287 performance are corrupted. What good is a bargain if the parts you really wanted are defective?

- Vanguard released the Bach Guild Haydn box several months ago with some performances conducted by David Blum including Symphony No. 90 and 91. I had never been able to acquire those performances (90 and 91) so the Haydn Box was an opportunity to get music that was otherwise unavailable. Two tracks of 91 were corrupt. Vanguard promised to supply replacement tracks to purchasers but that does not appear to have happened. I passed up that bargain when it was $ 0.99 because I was aware of the corrupt tracks. I still check to see if the problem has been fixed.

Bill

Szykneij · July 14, 2012, 02:57:10 PM

Yes, I figured it was some kind of loss-leader promotion because they're probably losing money by offering it at 99 cents. Hopefully, they'll get the bugs fixed for those who have already ordered and before they start to charge real money. I suspect the fault lies with Amazon and not Vanguard. Amazon's set up (as well as itunes and others) doesn't lend itself well to classical listings. Song title and artist is usually sufficient for popular music, but not for classical.

Szykneij · July 14, 2012, 03:29:59 PM

Quote from: Old Listener on July 14, 2012, 11:32:42 AM
- My interest in the Big Summer Box was specifically for Mozart works conducted by David Blum: Divertimenti K. 138 and K. 287. (I'm not sure who performed K. 136 and 137.) I have not found any other way to acquire those performances.

They're available from itunes, but will cost more. Itunes is charging .99 per movement.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mozart-serenades-divertimenti/id6969506

I don't know if you're interested in vinyl. Arkiv lists the album, but it's out of stock. Amazon has it for $15.00

Ebay lists a different pressing for $7.95 or best offer.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=david+blum+mozart&_sacat=306&_odkw=lot&_sop=1&_dct=1&_osacat=306&_from=R9&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSRCHMODX%3ASRCH&_dmd=1&_pcats=11233&_armrs=1

Old Listener · July 16, 2012, 10:03:34 AM

Szykneij,

Thanks for the leads on finding the Blum Mozart performances.

I play everything from my computers now. I have transferred the music from ~ 30 LPs to music files left from my full LP collection and it has required a lot of work removing clicks an pops. Buying an LP on eBay would be a last resort but it is good to know about the availability of the LPs.

I use JRiver Media Center rather than the iTunes software because it is much better suited to my needs. I understand that iTunes is less aggressive about adding unwanted software to your system now but for years I avoided having it on any PC I wanted to use for other things. Your suggestion that the Blum Mozart material is available on the iTunes store gives me a reason to re-think my position. I won't use iTunes to play music but maybe I should consider using the iTunes store as another source to buy from.

Thanks again for the useful suggestions.

Bill

PaulSC · July 16, 2012, 10:39:23 AM

Bill,

Amazon does a pretty shabby job with quality control of their classical music downloads. But their customer service is excellent in my experience. If you report receiving damaged or unplayable files you can expect a refund (of your whole 99 cents!). Or if the faulty files have been replaced — which may be hard to determine unless the durations differ — you should be allowed to download the replacements at no cost.

I realize you're only out 99 cents, but I still recommend pursuing this with Amazon. You can start on the following page and use the "contact us" link. The callback option works quickly in my experience.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200197240

Good luck!

Old Listener · July 16, 2012, 11:47:06 AM

Quote from: PaulSC on July 16, 2012, 10:39:23 AM
If you report receiving damaged or unplayable files you can expect a refund (of your whole 99 cents!). Or if the faulty files have been replaced — which may be hard to determine unless the durations differ — you should be allowed to download the replacements at no cost.

I realize you're only out 99 cents, but I still recommend pursuing this with Amazon. You can start on the following page and use the "contact us" link. The callback option works quickly in my experience.

Thanks for providing a detailed and useful response.

My experience with Amazon downloads for classical music has been limited. For classical music, I usually buy used CDs from Amazon rather than MP3 downloads. Single track downloads of jazz and rock titles have been a reasonable way to get one hit wonder material.

I agree that Amazon is great about providing refunds for defective items.

I have already been through the process of contacting Amazon about the corrupt files. Someone from Vanguard said in a comment on the Big Summer Box page that replacement files had been uploaded to Amazon. I sent an email to Amazon and they quickly arranged for me to be able to download the tracks again. However, the tracks were still corrupt. I think that ball is in Vanguard's court to fix the problem.

I will probably ask Amazon for a refund and just not be concerned with Bach Guild Big Boxes again.

Bill