As good as it gets

[M forever]

This awesome new thread is brought to you by the same mastermind which brought you "Mystery Orchestra".
0:)

People here incessantly talk about what "top" and "world class" orchestras are, but it is pretty obvious a lot of them don't really know what makes orchestras and musicians "top" or "world class", nor have they heard enough of the usual suspects live and unplugged to have a clear idea how well they actually sound and play under live conditions and how what can be heard on recordings (live or studio) relates to that.

Playing music is, after all, first and foremost a fine craft, not a random artistic expression. Craftsmanship - or craftswomanship - may not be gaugeable precisely, but there are standards and parameters which can be compared and assessed and put into context.

Therefore, this thread will feature clips of moments of outstanding playing and music making, solo and ensemble. Moments of highly refined or spectacular (or both) playing, moments of outstanding solo playing or ensemble culture.

You can also contribute selected clips here but I may rule them out as not belonging in the category "as good as it gets". After all, it is my thread 



To start, here is a clip with breathtakingly good bassoon playing. Judith LeClair, principal bassoon of the New York Philharmonic, plays the solos from the second movement of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Sheherazade" in the RCA recording conducted by Yuri Temirkanov.
This solo contribution is so good in every respect, musically, technically, tonally, that I had to listen to it literally 10 times or so over when I first heard it.
It really is...as good as it gets.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2gxa6j

(1'54 clip, 4.4MB)

[greg]

It says the system is busy 
i'll get it, though.....

[Sean]

Rapt stuff there M.

Reminds me of Dennis Brain and the truly phenomenal subtlety he elicited from the horn: the most amazing of his recordings I've heard is of the Strauss Seond concerto with Sawallisch where perfectly idiomatic breeziness and throw-away technical bravaura combines with an extraordinary inwardness of tone and thinking, quite peculiar.

One other favourite- Segovia, immense intelligence and sensitivity.

[Keemun]

You can also contribute selected clips here but I may rule them out as not belonging in the category "as good as it gets". After all, it is my thread 

If members post their own clips, how exactly do you plan to "rule them out" as not belonging in the category "as good as it gets"?   

[Brian]

Well the very first thing I think of is this.

[MishaK]

And I think of this, or this.    These two clips should make any pianist drool (and eat humble pie).

Playing music is, after all, first and foremost a fine craft, not a random artistic expression. Craftsmanship - or craftswomanship - may not be gaugeable precisely, but there are standards and parameters which can be compared and assessed and put into context.

That's true, but you can't take it to the other extreme. It's true that people mostly don't understand the craft-aspect of music making. So many idiotic Hollywood movies  (Shine, Hillary & Jackie, Amadeus, Red Violin, etc., you name it) attest to this misperception that a great musician is simply endowed with some inexplicable gift for musicmaking, while completely omitting the great intellectual and mental effort that goes into becoming an accomplished musician. That being said, music is not only a craft. The best craftsman will always fail to communicate anything meaningful to the audience without some artistic genius for the moment, some spontaneity, some ability to empathize with the content of the music and translate that to the audience. Of course, a great deal of this, too, can be learned through exposure and through a serious effort towards understanding style and phrasing, etc. But it is not only that. The most dilligent, committed, physically gifted student will not learn this entirely without some inner ear for this. So, just calling it a "craft" would be a misnomer, not to say an injustice.

You can also contribute selected clips here but I may rule them out as not belonging in the category "as good as it gets". After all, it is my thread 

Now, M, let's not go there. You know even accomplished craftsmen can disagree about this, even assuming music were only a "craft". If you disagree, just post here why you disagree (as I am sure the rest of us will). That will be far more interesting of a discussion and more open to everyone than declaring certain posts to be disqualified.

[Drasko]

To start, here is a clip with breathtakingly good bassoon playing.

To continue with some more nice woodwind playing:

http://www.mediafire.com/?1bmtw2n02zc

Already had this uploaded so it isn't a snippet but whole piece

Slavonic Dance in C minor op.46 no.7
Czech Philharmonic / Karel Sejna

[some guy]

Well, I have heard Tim Hodgkinson play live, and Christian Marclay, so even though this first clip does not feature Tim playing his bass clarinet, still, it IS as good as it gets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOkw31ZFCBQ

And Christian Marclay the same:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yqM3dAqTzs

a great if too too too short documentary.

[c#minor]

And I think of this, or this.    These two clips should make any pianist drool (and eat humble pie).

This humble pie tastes sour, i need alot of practicing.

[Brian]

Well, I have that astounded feeling I get when one hears something so extraordinary that one wants to share it with the whole world. So I am uploading a whole piece. But ... it's a jazz piece!

Dr. Michael White plays the clarinet in this incredible version of Gershwin's "Summertime". He's backed up by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Have to say - it may not be strictly classical, but this truly is as good as it gets!