Blind Comparison: Mahler Symphony no.1

[zauberflöte]

A few days?? 
Hope I can hold out that long.

[madaboutmahler]

A few days?? 
Hope I can hold out that long.

Sorry!! I think it might have to be Sunday, but I'll post them as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience!

[Lisztianwagner]

A few days?? 
Hope I can hold out that long.

+1

I'm simply bursting, hope the Bernstein will pass the turn!

[North Star]

Sorry!! I think it might have to be Sunday, but I'll post them as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your patience!

No, thank you, Daniel. We can hold our breath to Sunday.

[jwinter]

No, thank you, Daniel. We can hold our breath to Sunday.

Indeed; thanks very much for taking the time to put this together!

[Beale]

Just worked out the results! What an interesting, exciting top 5 you have chosen!

I shall make sure to post the results in the next few days!

Great job madaboutmahler.

I noticed you used the word "interesting" often in describing the rankings and comments. Could you be more specific (elaborate) on what you meant by that? Without further clues I presume "interesting" = "not what you had expected".

Edit - just trying to gain some insights on how we are tracking as participants

[madaboutmahler]

Thank you, it's my pleasure!

Great job madaboutmahler.

I noticed you used the word "interesting" often in describing the rankings and comments. Could you be more specific (elaborate) on what you meant by that? Without further clues I presume "interesting" = "not what you had expected".

Edit - just trying to gain some insights on how we are tracking as participants

Yes, some of the votes, and indeed the results I find slightly surprising. It's also very interesting to see what people say about recordings that they are known to love/hate when listening to them blind! (you'll see what I mean soon!! )

[DavidRoss]

Thank you, it's my pleasure!

Yes, some of the votes, and indeed the results I find slightly surprising. It's also very interesting to see what people say about recordings that they are known to love/hate when listening to them blind! (you'll see what I mean soon!! )

Ah...but you must remember the difference between hearing samples out of context and being immersed in a continuous, hour-long unfolding.

[madaboutmahler]

Ah...but you must remember the difference between hearing samples out of context and being immersed in a continuous, hour-long unfolding.

Of course, Dave. So, the final round should be extra interesting, considering we are comparing 5 recordings of the whole work!! (Is everyone happy with that idea? )

[Lisztianwagner]

That would be great. To judge it, listening to the whole piece is always the finest idea in my opinion.

[North Star]

That would be great. To judge it, listening to the whole piece is always the finest idea in my opinion.

Indeed - it's the only way to make the comparison reliable, as in small snippets technical aspects are overemphasized and the interpretation may sound odd out of context. Listening to five whole symphonies does take a lot of time, though. One Saturday or Sunday - ruined 
And listening for five hours isn't going to work, as one will inevitable tire of the work, and this will cloud judgement. OTOH, listening on different occasions distorts the results, too.

[DavidRoss]

Indeed - it's the only way to make the comparison reliable, as in small snippets technical aspects are overemphasized and the interpretation may sound odd out of context. Listening to five whole symphonies does take a lot of time, though. One Saturday or Sunday - ruined 
And listening for five hours isn't going to work, as one will inevitable tire of the work, and this will cloud judgement. OTOH, listening on different occasions distorts the results, too.

Yeah, but if you don't really care about comparing and ranking them, but just in hearing them to see what you like without preconceptions coloring your musical palate, it should be fine spaced out over several days.

[North Star]

Yeah, but if you don't really care about comparing and ranking them, but just in hearing them to see what you like without preconceptions coloring your musical palate, it should be fine spaced out over several days.

Certainly. This, of course is the best thing in these blind comparisons - all too often one can hear in performance something that isn't really there, but previous experiences of the performers cloud one's judgement.

[DavidRoss]

Certainly. This, of course is the best thing in these blind comparisons - all too often one can hear in performance something that isn't really there, but previous experiences of the performers cloud one's judgement.

Yep. My biases lead me to minimize the flaws and magnify the virtues of that which I'm predisposed to favor, and vice versa for that which I'm predisposed to dislike. With objective material--such as the documented effects of a legislative act and which politicians supported or opposed it--commitment to the facts will overcome prejudices. But with purely subjective material, like musical tastes, the objective facts aren't helpful at all and blind listening may be the best way to recover the objectivity required to overcome our biases.

[Beale]

Thank you, it's my pleasure!

Yes, some of the votes, and indeed the results I find slightly surprising. It's also very interesting to see what people say about recordings that they are known to love/hate when listening to them blind! (you'll see what I mean soon!! )

Great, can't wait for the result. You have the joy of playing Dungeon Master.

[madaboutmahler]

Thank you for your feedback!

Going to hopefully make a start on the results today, they will be posted tommorow evening at the latest.
Currently listening to selections from the Top 5, what great choices you have made!!!! I think this is going to be a very exciting final round!

[johndoe21ro]

Thank you for your feedback!

Going to hopefully make a start on the results today, they will be posted tommorow evening at the latest.
Currently listening to selections from the Top 5, what great choices you have made!!!! I think this is going to be a very exciting final round!

Thank you for your efforts. Anxious to see the restults. Have a nice evening!

[madaboutmahler]

Thank you for your efforts. Anxious to see the restults. Have a nice evening!

My pleasure! I shall make sure to post the results tommorow evening. At the moment, I am creating the links for the final 5, you really have chosen very well in my opinion.... I think I've decided my favourite out of the 5.

Thank you, you too, Radu!

[Lisztianwagner]

I'm really looking forward to knowing the results, time is passing too slowly!
Like in this scene:

http://www.youtube.com/v/q030WNZvXrA

[DavidRoss]

I'm really looking forward to knowing the results, time is passing too slowly!
Like in this scene:

Ha! I just watched that Saturday night!

Seeing as how the results so far have already convinced me to acquire Norrington's M1 and both Tennstedt and Rattle's complete cycles, I'm not sure my wallet can stand learning the identities of any more samples that I liked!