Future blind comparisons

[amw]

With the triumphant [sic] conclusion of the Bach Sonatas & Partitas Comparison, what lies next for GMG's least time-honoured tradition? An ignominious demise, unmourned and unloved? A zombie existence, dead on arrival but somehow still shambling forward, devouring the brains of GMG members? Or perhaps a glorious rebirth with trumpets sounding and whatnot? Share your views.

[Brian]

I organized a number of them back in the day (Ravel Gaspard and a series of "Lightning Rounds" focusing on shorter pieces like a Chopin etude). I'm simply running low on pieces I could organize a game for, using my collection. But I dearly love the blind listening games! And probably will someday do another Lightning Round or two - say, Chopin Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1, or maybe a short orchestral work like Moldau or an overture.

[Jo498]

I got the first round pieces from the S&P but they are "too heavy" for me and I did not have enough leisure. Although I really enjoyed the Schubert this took a lot of time and I guess I'd only be able to drag myself to do it if it is a piece that is short and interests me quite a bit.
So, yes, Chopin could be good. Or maybe Beethoven's op.135, I seem to recall amw suggest it some time after the Schubert quintet was finished.

[prémont]

IMO blind listening is an interesting excercise, from which one can learn
a lot. The most obvious thing is, that you listen in another way to interpretations, when you are not biased by the knowledge of the players identity. And then some recordings may turn out to be not quite in the way you recalled. It ought to be possible to find music suitable for the purpose, and which may have a general interest to the GMG'ers.

[Karl Henning]

I just don't wanna do any more of them myself is something of a misstatement, but I think they're a great idea, I enjoy them from the sidelines, but I do not often have the freedom to be fair to participation in them with time/attention.

[amw]

I guess for the record, I'd feel qualified to organise a blind comparison on any of the following topics (limiting to pieces that I think would fit the format):

Schumann - Kreisleriana, Carnaval, Davidsbündlertänze, Fantasiestücke, Fantasy in C, etc
Ravel - Piano Trio, Miroirs
Fauré - Piano Trio, Cello Sonata No. 2
Beethoven - any string quartet, piano sonata, violin or cello sonata, piano trio, symphony, or piano concerto within reason (e.g. no Hammerklavier, no Emperor, or anything else that could require 15+ minute excerpts)
Chopin - Sonata No. 3, or "lightning rounds" on any of the Ballades or Scherzi or Nocturnes or the Polonaise-Fantaisie or the Barcarolle
Debussy - Etudes, Violin or Cello Sonatas
Janáček - String Quartet No. 1
Bartók - a string quartet or piano concerto
Prokofiev - any of the "War Sonatas", Violin Concerto 1 or 2
Brahms - any violin sonata, the Horn Trio, the Clarinet Trio, the Op. 118 piano cycle
Schoenberg - Erste Kammersymphonie
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring
Mendelssohn - String Quartet in a Op. 13
Borodin - String Quartet No. 2

[Karl Henning]

I'd make time for the Brahms cl trio.

[Brian]

I'd be down for, at least,

Schumann - Kreisleriana, Fantasiestücke, Fantasy in C
Ravel - Piano Miroirs
Fauré - Piano Trio, Cello Sonata No. 2
Beethoven - any string quartet, piano sonata, violin or cello sonata, piano trio, symphony, or piano concerto within reason (e.g. no Hammerklavier, no Emperor, or anything else that could require 15+ minute excerpts)
Chopin - Sonata No. 3, or "lightning rounds" on any of the Ballades or Scherzi or Nocturnes or the Barcarolle
Janáček - String Quartet No. 1
Borodin - String Quartet No. 2

[prémont]

And I for these:

Beethoven - any string quartet, piano sonata, violin or cello sonata, piano trio, symphony, or piano concerto within reason (e.g. no Hammerklavier, no Emperor, or anything else that could require 15+ minute excerpts)
Chopin - Sonata No. 3, or "lightning rounds" on any of the Ballades or Scherzi or Nocturnes or the Polonaise-Fantaisie or the Barcarolle
Bartók - piano concerto
Brahms -  the Op. 118 piano cycle
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

[Todd]

I generally don't have enough time, and perhaps too short of an attention span, to participate, but the outcomes are nice to see.  I may be able to be of some assistance with respect to recordings of LvB or Mozart piano sonatas if anyone sets up a comparison for any of those.

[Mahlerian]

I think I'd be up for these ones:

Schumann - Kreisleriana, Carnaval, Davidsbündlertänze, Fantasiestücke, Fantasy in C, etc
Beethoven - any string quartet, piano sonata
Chopin - Sonata No. 3, or "lightning rounds" on any of the Ballades or Scherzi or Nocturnes or the Polonaise-Fantaisie or the Barcarolle
Debussy - Violin or Cello Sonatas
Janáček - String Quartet No. 1
Bartók - a string quartet [No. 3 perhaps?] or piano concerto [Especially No. 1!]
Brahms - the Clarinet Trio, the Op. 118 piano cycle
Schoenberg - Erste Kammersymphonie [I'll be doing a write-up on the work in a few weeks, so it'll be fresh in my mind]
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

[Sergeant Rock]

I participated in, and enjoyed, the blind comparisons of symphonic works (Bruckner 6, Mahler 1, Brahms 2, Zarathustra). I'm less interested, and feel less qualified, in chamber and solo works. So, I'd participate in a comparison of these works from amw's list:

Prokofiev - Violin Concerto 1 or 2
Schoenberg - Erste Kammersymphonie
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

Sarge

[Spineur]

I said I dont care.  These blind comparisons take forever to conclude, and I loose interest after a couple of weeks.  Furthermore, if it takes six months or more to come to some sort of conclusion, the outcome is meaningless and of no interest to me.

[mc ukrneal]

I'm in! Wait, there is no response for that! I love them - find them very helpful at refocusing on a piece and enjoy hearing all the different takes.

I'd do pretty much any of them, except for the Rite of Spring. Can't stand the piece. But everything else is pretty much fair game.

[Pat B]

IMO blind listening is an interesting excercise, from which one can learn
a lot. The most obvious thing is, that you listen in another way to interpretations, when you are not biased by the knowledge of the players identity. And then some recordings may turn out to be not quite in the way you recalled. It ought to be possible to find music suitable for the purpose, and which may have a general interest to the GMG'ers.

Yes. Participating in the process has been much more valuable than seeing the results.

I was part of the problem in the Bach Violin S&P one but I think I'm up for a new one. I'd probably prefer shorter excerpts and round 2 of S&P showed that we need a deadline.

[Cato]

I think I'd be up for these ones:

Schumann - Kreisleriana, Carnaval, Davidsbündlertänze, Fantasiestücke, Fantasy in C, etc
Beethoven - any string quartet, piano sonata
Chopin - Sonata No. 3, or "lightning rounds" on any of the Ballades or Scherzi or Nocturnes or the Polonaise-Fantaisie or the Barcarolle
Debussy - Violin or Cello Sonatas
Janáček - String Quartet No. 1
Bartók - a string quartet [No. 3 perhaps?] or piano concerto [Especially No. 1!]
Brahms - the Clarinet Trio, the Op. 118 piano cycle
Schoenberg - Erste Kammersymphonie [I'll be doing a write-up on the work in a few weeks, so it'll be fresh in my mind]
Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring

The ones in heavy type are of greater interest, but I will help with anything! 

For the Beethoven idea, how about the Opus 111 for a piano sonata?

[kishnevi]

I just don't wanna do any more of them myself is something of a misstatement, but I think they're a great idea, I enjoy them from the sidelines, but I do not often have the freedom to be fair to participation in them with time/attention.

My problem as well. Beyond that, I found myself loathe to say some recordings were superior to others.  Which resulted for instance in my verdict for the final round of the Bach as all of them being in their different ways equally good.  I hope that did not screw up the scoring too much!

[amw]

I participated in, and enjoyed, the blind comparisons of symphonic works (Bruckner 6, Mahler 1, Brahms 2, Zarathustra). I'm less interested, and feel less qualified, in chamber and solo works.

FYI I am pretty much the opposite. So if anyone wants to organise a blind comparison of a symphonic work, please do, don't mind me and my pro-chamber bias.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I would also be very interested in symphonic works as well.......I haven't ever participated in a blind comparison but I think it might be nice to try one.

[GioCar]

......I haven't ever participated in a blind comparison but I think it might be nice to try one.

+1, for a short (10-15min max) piece.