Do you collect incomplete sets?

[George]

I'm pretty close to a complete set of the music I need. After that, it will be a matter of slowly collecting the music I want.

Long ago, I had what I needed. KRS ONE once said wisely, "It's your wants that get you into trouble."

[dtwilbanks]

Long ago, I had what I needed. KRS ONE once said wisely, "It's your wants that get you into trouble."

For a long time, my wants got in the way of my needs. But once I figured out what I needed, there was no problem.

[George]

For a long time, my wants got in the way of my needs. But once I figured out what I needed, there was no problem.

Good for you. Amidst all of this wanting, it can be very easy to see that I have everything that I need.

[prémont]

Yes, I am not speaking of complete sets that are sold as a set, but rather those that are sold separately. For example, Schnabel's Beethoven on Pearl/Naxos or Richter's "The Master" series.

In this situation I always acquire complete sets, if possible. When I find a pianists interpretation of some of the LvB sonatas interesting, I always want to hear him/her play the rest, if he/she has recorded them. But still I own a certain number of incomplete sets,  because 1) the series was never completed or 2) the missing items are OOP.

But if I don´t favour some of the works in the series, the situation may be different. F.x. I never acquired Jos van Immerseel´s without doubt excellent Emperor concerto (because I can´t stand this work any longer), even if I own his very exiting interpretations of concertos 1,2,3 and 4.

[Mark]

I have found that over time I often grow to enjoy interpretations that I didn't enjoy very much the first time. This is another reason I buy/keep complete sets, that way if/when my taste changes, I won't be kicking myself later. Also, I often like to keep hard to find purchases that I am not wild about to reference later.

Happens to me quite a lot. I acquire a performance of a work for which I'm a total sucker (Grieg's Piano Concerto is an excellent example - though of course, it's not part of a set - particularly the Lipatti recording on EMI Reference with which I'm currently displeased sonically and musically), and then I either grow to love it, or I don't hate it so much as to want to rid my collection of it, but instead hang on to it so that I can reference other recordings against it. So effectively, it then becomes my 'bottom grade' benchmark. An apt example of this is Barenboim's Beethoven 'Eroica' Symphony with the Staatskapelle Berlin, which I have as part of the complete cycle from these forces, but which I rate as the lowest of the low in terms of all the other peformances of this work I've heard/own.

[marvinbrown]

But what about an incomplete set of complete works?  What you said makes sense, but when you generalize to other genres I hope you don't carry the completism with you. 

Anyway my fantastic example of an incomplete set that rocks hard is Smetana Q (on Supraphon) performing Beethoven's late SQs.

  Thats an interesting question DavidW.  All I can say is that I would not normally invest in an incomplete set of complete works.  A good exmaple would be the Suzuki Bach Cantatas, I like them but they are an incomplete set of complete works meaning that you only get a a handfull of complete cantatas in every set but the overall collection is incomplete, I bought one or two cds then stopped when I discovered that not all of the cantatas were recorded.  If Suzuki does not record them completely I won't buy anymore.  I know it doesn't make any sense I am like that.....force of habit I guess.



  marvin

[Bogey]

Sometimes it seems there is too much collecting going on and not enough listening. I apply this to myself as well.

Fair comment Dave when applied to myself as well.

[BachQ]

All I can say is that I would not normally invest in an incomplete set of complete works.

So if Gilels had recorded spectacular versions of 31 of LvB's 32 piano sonatas (so assume that he neglected one of them) ........ because it's an "incomplete set", you wouldn't have an interest in Gilels' 31 performances?

[Mark]

So if Gilels had recorded spectacular versions of 31 of LvB's 32 piano sonatas (so assume that he neglected one of them) ........ because it's an "incomplete set", you wouldn't have an interest in Gilel's 31 performances?

If this question were asked of me, I'd insist that I still wouldn't buy this almost-complete set. Not because it's incomplete, but because I have next-to-no appetite for Gilels' playing.

[George]

If this question were asked of me, I'd insist that I still wouldn't buy this almost-complete set. Not because it's incomplete, but because I have next-to-no appetite for Gilel's playing.

What about Gilels's? 

[Mark]

What about Gilels's? 

Got me apostrophe in the wrong place.

And anyway, D started it.

[BachQ]

And anyway, D started it.

Prove it .....

[prémont]

Got me apostrophe in the wrong place.

And anyway, D started it.

Sure, a minor problem.

[marvinbrown]

So if Gilels had recorded spectacular versions of 31 of LvB's 32 piano sonatas (so assume that he neglected one of them) ........ because it's an "incomplete set", you wouldn't have an interest in Gilels' 31 performances?

 Ok those so called Gilels piano sonatas would have to be REALLY spectacular for me to consider it.  If the performances were out of this world then I might give in...but I'd still have this nagging voice in my head that constantly reminds me of that missing sonata (it better not be the Pathetique   !!!). Incidentally for a really spectacular set of Beethoven's piano sonatas I have the Gulda set and I can sleep well at night knowing that I have all 32 piano sonatas  .

 marvin

[George]

  Ok those so called Gilels piano sonatas would have to be REALLY spectacular for me to consider it. 

It is.

[BachQ]

 Ok those so called Gilels piano sonatas would have to be REALLY spectacular for me to consider it.  If the performances were out of this world then I might give in...

....... atta boy! ........ 

[DavidW]

I'm pretty close to a complete set of the music I need. After that, it will be a matter of slowly collecting the music I want.

Does that mean that you don't want the music that you currently own?

[dtwilbanks]

Does that mean that you don't want the music that you currently own?

[marvinbrown]

It is.

  George, D are the two of you refering to this incomplete set ? (missing 3 sonatas):

 

  marvin

 

 

[Novi]

 Ok those so called Gilels piano sonatas would have to be REALLY spectacular for me to consider it.  If the performances were out of this world then I might give in...but I'd still have this nagging voice in my head that constantly reminds me of that missing sonata (it better not be the Pathetique   !!!). Incidentally for a really spectacular set of Beethoven's piano sonatas I have the Gulda set and I can sleep well at night knowing that I have all 32 piano sonatas  .

 marvin

marvin, the Gilels almost-complete set really is very good indeed 0:). If you're ever considering another set, it would be an excellent complement to the Gulda you have. Gilels' is a slower, heavier approach as opposed to Gulda's more fleet-footed take. The set is missing op. 111 amongst a few others, but the late sonatas are some of the best out there, particularly the Hammerklavier.