The Snowshoed Sibelius

[vers la flamme]

I'm really enjoying this newly arrived CD. The great discovery for me has been the life-affirming and inspiriting 'Vainon Virsi' (sorry, I can't find the Finnish accents on my keyboard). I was amazed to read that it was composed around the same time as 'Tapiola'. It was Sibelius's last cantata. It can also be found in the blue Sibelius Paavo Jarvi boxed set which I wrote about earlier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llt-u8p0k_Q

Love this disc.

[Mirror Image]

Oh, that's interesting John as the one you illustrate is the one that I have.

You don't own the newer remastered, cheapo set? If you can find this one (it seems to be OOP now), then jump on it ASAP:



The remastering blows away the previous iteration, IMHO.

[vandermolen]

Love this disc.

Yes, it's a great discovery - one of those CDs that I can play through from beginning to end with much pleasure.

[vandermolen]

You don't own the newer remastered, cheapo set? If you can find this one (it seems to be OOP now), then jump on it ASAP:



The remastering blows away the previous iteration, IMHO.

No I don't John! 
Clearly I need to. It's not too expensive at the moment, so I will, no doubt, order a copy sooner or later. Thanks for the recommendation. I did not know that there was an appreciably different sound quality between the more recent 'no notes' set and the 'detailed notes + photos' earlier set.

[Daverz]

You don't own the newer remastered, cheapo set? If you can find this one (it seems to be OOP now), then jump on it ASAP:



The remastering blows away the previous iteration, IMHO.

I suspect this one is the same mastering as the one in RCA Red Seal livery pictured previously.  Anyway, I have this one, and it does sound better than the old Gold Seal singles.

[vandermolen]

I suspect this one is the same mastering as the one in RCA Red Seal livery pictured previously.  Anyway, I have this one, and it does sound better than the old Gold Seal singles.

Interesting (OT) although if it's the same mastering as the RCA Red Seal box (which I have) why should the new set, with the picture of Previn on the front cover, sound better?

[Daverz]

Interesting (OT) although if it's the same mastering as the RCA Red Seal box (which I have) why should the new set, with the picture of Previn on the front cover, sound better?

Maybe I was thinking of the Slatkin box, which also was in a cheap RCA Red Seal and a Sony box.   

[Mirror Image]

No I don't John! 
Clearly I need to. It's not too expensive at the moment, so I will, no doubt, order a copy sooner or later. Thanks for the recommendation. I did not know that there was an appreciably different sound quality between the more recent 'no notes' set and the 'detailed notes + photos' earlier set.

Oh yes, there's more of a punch in audio quality of this cheapo set. I didn't want to believe it at first and then many years ago I did a side-by-side comparison of the 5th from both the older and this newer set and I couldn't believe my ears.

I wrote a review for this more recent Previn set, Jeffrey and if want to read here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R3PU6UMXCWV19H/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B019STIIHA

[Mirror Image]

I suspect this one is the same mastering as the one in RCA Red Seal livery pictured previously.  Anyway, I have this one, and it does sound better than the old Gold Seal singles.

No, the newer set has been remastered completely. I don't have the box set in front of me, but I'm pretty sure they did a 24-bit up conversion in the set. It maybe even DSD, but I can't remember the exact technical specifics at the moment. But take my word for it (or don't ), it does sound drastically better than any other previous iteration.

[Roasted Swan]

No, the newer set has been remastered completely. I don't have the box set in front of me, but I'm pretty sure they did a 24-bit up conversion in the set. It maybe even DSD, but I can't remember the exact technical specifics at the moment. But take my word for it (or don't ), it does sound drastically better than any other previous iteration.

24 bit NOT DSD and it is better than the original versions for sure!

[Mirror Image]

24 bit NOT DSD and it is better than the original versions for sure!

Ah okay, I couldn't remember their exact remastering method.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Interesting (OT) although if it's the same mastering as the RCA Red Seal box (which I have) why should the new set, with the picture of Previn on the front cover, sound better?

It would be interesting to listen to the two sets (Like you, Jeffrey, I have the older set).  One thought:  the older one gets, the worse ones hearing gets.  I try hard to protect mine [As a side note, I hate all of the leaf-blowing, power-washing, blowers to apply mulch, etc., etc. that goes on in my neighborhood.  I have to often wear ear protectors when outside in my yard!    ].

PD

[aukhawk]

Sibelius, anyone?

(Although hearing deteriorates as we age, that's merely a physical thing.  Our brains compensate for the hearing loss to a very large extent so our appreciation of excellent sound quality isn't really affected too much.  IME anyway.)

[Leo K.]

I hadn't got into Sibelius for years and years of my listening, until last year around October, and now he is one of my favorite composers ever, his music is mind blinding great!

In particular, his 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th symphonies raise me into heights I never expected or knew of. Amazing.

[Mirror Image]

I hadn't got into Sibelius for years and years of my listening, until last year around October, and now he is one of my favorite composers ever, his music is mind blinding great!

In particular, his 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th symphonies raise me into heights I never expected or knew of. Amazing.

Excellent to read, Leo. No love for the 4th?

[Leo K.]

Excellent to read, Leo. No love for the 4th?

I really love the 4th too, and I should mention the famous 2nd, it is just so brilliant. I like the darkness of the 4th and the scoring, updated baroque-like textures - takes my breath away.

[Mirror Image]

I really love the 4th too, and I should mention the famous 2nd, it is just so brilliant. I like the darkness of the 4th and the scoring, updated baroque-like textures - takes my breath away.

My sentiments exactly. Have you investigated any of the tone poems, incidental music, solo piano music, chamber works, etc.?

[vandermolen]

It would be interesting to listen to the two sets (Like you, Jeffrey, I have the older set).  One thought:  the older one gets, the worse ones hearing gets.  I try hard to protect mine [As a side note, I hate all of the leaf-blowing, power-washing, blowers to apply mulch, etc., etc. that goes on in my neighborhood.  I have to often wear ear protectors when outside in my yard!    ].

PD

OT
Some years ago my wife (an audiologist) arranged an emergency hearing test for me as I 'obviously' had a serious hearing problem because I 'never responded' to anything she said. Unfortunately the test revealed that I had the hearing of a 20 year old - this was very embarrassing. Later that year we were walking round a lake in Slovenia on holiday when she accused me of not listening to something she said, pointing out that I was supposed to have perfect hearing. I said that was true, as I could hear the rain on the leaves and lots of other sounds. My wife said that my mind should have censored out those background noises. I responded by saying 'OMG that's terrible - my mind has obviously gone into some kind of weird reverse mechanism where I can hear everything other than your voice!' At that point she (playfully) attacked me.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

OT
Some years ago my wife (an audiologist) arranged an emergency hearing test for me as I 'obviously' had a serious hearing problem because I 'never responded' to anything she said. Unfortunately the test revealed that I had the hearing of a 20 year old - this was very embarrassing. Later that year we were walking round a lake in Slovenia on holiday when she accused me of not listening to something she said, pointing out that I was supposed to have perfect hearing. I said that was true, as I could hear the rain on the leaves and lots of other sounds. My wife said that my wind should have censored out those background noises. I responded by saying 'OMG that's terrible - my mind has obviously gone into some weird reverse mechanism where I can hear everything apart from your voice!' At that point she (playfully) attacked me.

Yes, interesting to hear (read) [once again] of a man's ability to filter out his partner's voice.    And I'm guessing that you meant to type "my mind" rather than "my wind"? 

PD

EDIT:  By the way, I suspect that the hearing of most 20-year olds has declined a lot over the years due to ear buds and blasting of music.

[vandermolen]

Yes, interesting to hear (read) [once again] of a man's ability to filter out his partner's voice.    And I'm guessing that you meant to type "my mind" rather than "my wind"? 

PD

EDIT:  By the way, I suspect that the hearing of most 20-year olds has declined a lot over the years due to ear buds and blasting of music.

Yes, I corrected the typo PD. I'm sure you're right about the hearing of 20 year olds. If my daughter suspects that I'm not listening properly she says 'WHAT DID I JUST SAY?'