La ciencia llega a España: Goyescas

[Todd]

Lock the thread NOW!

I think it makes sense to first understand potential legal consequences of posts about Spanish piano music recordings, or any other recordings, with the person who brought up the topic of legal consequences providing clear and comprehensive information on the topic. One would think that only an attorney would broach that subject.

[Brian]

My fault, folks. I thought Brett was making a dry joke with his post and I confess I did laugh, during the time when I thought it was intended to produce a laugh.

DBK - Todd has been calling his listening projects "science" for months or maybe years. It is self-deprecating humor. He is ranking the performances according to what his own ears tell him, and obviously, self-perception is not "scientific method," so he using that term to add a little irony. The underlying message is that you should listen to the performances yourself to decide for yourself.

[Mandryka]

I think it makes sense to first understand potential legal consequences of posts about Spanish piano music recordings, or any other recordings, with the person who brought up the topic of legal consequences providing clear and comprehensive information on the topic. One would think that only an attorney would broach that subject.

Well, let me say that I appreciate this thread very much, and I was kind of hoping it wouldn't become derailed. 

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Ok sorry about derailing the subject on this nice thread. I like this thread too. Brian, if you think its better for the thread, please remove my comments. Todd, I'm looking forward to reading your posts on other recordings on this thread. Thank you for your contributions.

[Brian]

It's OK, no harm after all. I'll be busy until tomorrow morning. If everyone still wants the digression removed, or if more debating happens, I'll do so at that time. But if it is all peace, calm, and Spanish piano discussions, I might leave it be. 

[Mandryka]

Interesting playing. Reminds me of Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.

Reminds me of Afanassiev's Chopin mazurkas and nocturnes, and his Brahms intermezzi. Very good tone and cantabile. I like that sort of thing very much.

[Todd]

Todd, I'm looking forward to reading your posts on other recordings on this thread.

And I'm looking forward to your post, informed by your vast professional legal experience and knowledge, to explain how the "wrongful usage of the term science" (your words) could have a "legal consequence" (your words), and specifically what that consequence or those consequences may be.  Since you introduced a legal threat to the thread, you really should take responsibility for your stance and detail the legal risks involved here.  Your credibility will be lowered if you do not address the topic. 

I took the liberty of copying your last few posts in the event that you or moderators delete them in the event they can be useful for illustrative purposes at a later time.

[Todd]

#6

Alicia de Larrocha's first recording, on Decca, from 1955, is the slowest overall take of her four studio recordings, but it never sounds slow or even slower.  Indeed, the final RCA recording, though quicker in timing sounds and feels slower than this one.  That is down to flexibility.  By that I mean Laroccha effortlessly moves between faster and slower music with perfect transitions, plays with spicier rubato, and when she does play some of the slower music slower than in later versions, there's a musical tension that seems to dissipate with the decades.  While one hears it in the opener, it becomes clearer in Coloquio en la reja, which despite sometimes sparse pedaling, just hangs there, as radiant musical perfume.  The Fandango has fantastic energy and intensity and verve, while Quejas, o La Maja y el ruiseñor has a fantastical air to it.  El Amor y la Muerte has more of that enchanting, effortless back and forth between almost dreamy slowness and biting fieriness and passion, and a drawn out, exhausted coda.  Here, the Epilogue has a loosey goosey, almost unstable feel, though it's obviously expertly delivered.  The effect compels.  Younger Larrocha could deliver.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Reminds me of Afanassiev's Chopin mazurkas and nocturnes, and his Brahms intermezzi. Very good tone and cantabile. I like that sort of thing very much.

Spontaneous, slightly sunnier rendition. A super-imposed timing here and there. Timing becomes a part of the melodies. I find her arpeggios and fingering relatively fast (and mostly effective). There is a little roughness/rawness in the touch, I think. Possibly the microphone was close to the instrument.
I will check Afanassiev.

[Mandryka]

Spontaneous, slightly sunnier rendition. A super-imposed timing here and there. Timing becomes a part of the melodies. I find her arpeggios and fingering relatively fast (and mostly effective). There is a little roughness/rawness in the touch, I think. Possibly the microphone was close to the instrument.
I will check Afanassiev.

When she plays notes fast, possibly in apeggiation, that's where I have a slight problem - it has a showy offy cocktail bar pianist vibe IMO - that's what I hear in Los Requierbos in fact. Afanassiev would never be like that!

This only struck me when I listened on my best system, the ESLs. When I first posted about her, I'd heard the CD on less revealing speakers.

Nevertheless I like the whole thing in fact, I guess I like cocktail bars.

[Mandryka]

Does anyone know if Larrocha 1955 which @Todd reviewed today has ever been released off LP? CD or streaming? I don't know if I've ever heard it.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Does anyone know if Larrocha 1955 which @Todd reviewed today has ever been released off LP? CD or streaming? I don't know if I've ever heard it.

https://www.eloquenceclassics.com/releases-archive/alicia-de-larrocha-the-first-recordings/#:~:text=That%20dominance%20began%20with%20recordings,now%20reissued%20collectively%20on%20CD.

I will comment on this recording next week.

[Todd]

Does anyone know if Larrocha 1955 which @Todd reviewed today has ever been released off LP? CD or streaming? I don't know if I've ever heard it.

It's in the Larrocha big box.

[Mandryka]

https://www.eloquenceclassics.com/releases-archive/alicia-de-larrocha-the-first-recordings/#:~:text=That%20dominance%20began%20with%20recordings,now%20reissued%20collectively%20on%20CD.

I will comment on this recording next week.

Thanks Brett.

It's in the Larrocha big box.

Thanks Todd.

[Kalevala]

Ciccolini is a cold dead fish marinated in French perfume.

Meow! 🐈

K 

[Kalevala]

https://www.eloquenceclassics.com/releases-archive/alicia-de-larrocha-the-first-recordings/#:~:text=That%20dominance%20began%20with%20recordings,now%20reissued%20collectively%20on%20CD.

I will comment on this recording next week.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

I don't know how many times she recorded his works.  The ones that I have are later ones on RCA.

K

[Kalevala]

Meow! 🐈

K 

@Mandryka  I should have also asked "Shalimar or Chanel No. 5"? 

K

[Todd]

I don't know how many times she recorded his works.

She made four studio recordings.  This was cited in the RCA recording summary.

[Mandryka]

@Mandryka  I should have also asked "Shalimar or Chanel No. 5"? 

K

When I first started to learn French I came across the phrase Eau de Javel and thought it was an expensive perfume from Grasse or somewhere like that.  Sounds lovely doesn't it . . . until you know what it is!

[Kalevala]

When I first started to learn French I came across the phrase Eau de Javel and thought it was an expensive perfume from Grasse or somewhere like that.  Sounds lovely doesn't it . . . until you know what it is!

I wouldn't want to dab that on my neck, wrists, etc.!    As an aside, I have a couple of Baccarat bottles back from the day.  Love both perfumes.

K