A chronological survey of the opening chords of Beethoven's Eroica symphony

[petrarch]

Makes for an interesting comparison of tempi and renders obvious the HIP intonation:

http://www.youtube.com/v/xb24c77zJ64

[Szykneij]

Very cool! I started to think the tempi and pitch were becoming more consistent with the more recent recordings until, as you mentioned, some of the HIP groups appeared to be a full quarter tone lower. I found the major varying factor between all the clips to be the presence (or lack of presence) of the timpani in the mix. 

[mc ukrneal]

It's actually pretty consistent from beginning to end with the exception of a few groups. Perhaps someone can explain why they are different? This I am not clear on. And is there a case of one being right and the other wrong? It doesn't make sense to me.

[Opus106]

Thanks for posting it, petrarch. (I know what will be ringing through my head non-stop for another twenty-four hours.)

It's actually pretty consistent from beginning to end with the exception of a few groups.

I noticed about two or three different E-flat majors in it, even among the non-HIP groups. (Disclaimer: I didn't use a calibrated frequency analyser; just my ears, and an untrained pair at that.) The most shocking was Toscanini's, the first one (I haven't heard his conducting before): so cold and "isolated". With the sound not tapering off like most other performances, I involuntarily pictured in my mind the chords to be precisely shaped rectangular boxes against a black background.

[mc ukrneal]

Thanks for posting it, petrarch. (I know what will be ringing through my head non-stop for another twenty-four hours.)

I noticed about two or three different E-flat majors in it, even among the non-HIP groups. (Disclaimer: I didn't use a calibrated frequency analyser; just my ears, and an untrained pair at that.) The most shocking was Toscanini's, the first one (I haven't heard his conducting before): so cold and "isolated". With the sound not tapering off like most other performances, I involuntarily pictured in my mind the chords to be precisely shaped rectangular boxes against a black background.

The quality of the sound is poor in many of the early ones though. I assume they cannot be relied upon much for exactness. With Toscanini, if it was an NBC recording, need to keep in mind the horrible accoustics of that studio.

[Szykneij]

Thanks for posting it, petrarch. (I know what will be ringing through my head non-stop for another twenty-four hours.)
The most shocking was Toscanini's, the first one (I haven't heard his conducting before): so cold and "isolated". With the sound not tapering off like most other performances, I involuntarily pictured in my mind the chords to be precisely shaped rectangular boxes against a black background.

From 1938, that had to be a Studio 8-H recording by the NBC Orchestra which probably accounts at least partly for the "isolated" feel. It would be hard to produce a concert hall ambience in that much smaller space, especially with the limited recording techniques available in that day.

[Opus106]

From 1938, that had to be a Studio 8-H recording by the NBC Orchestra which probably accounts at least partly for the "isolated" feel. It would be hard to produce a concert hall ambience in that much smaller space, especially with the limited recording techniques available in that day.

That's right, I did consider that. Yet the audio is all that is there. Somehow I'd expected to hear something more "special" given what I'd read about his conducting in general and his Beethoven in particular. Of course, I concede that things may get better as the music plays on beyond those chords.

[Szykneij]

That's right, I did consider that. Yet the audio is all that is there. Somehow I'd expected to hear something more "special" given what I'd read about his conducting in general and his Beethoven in particular. Of course, I concede that things may get better as the music plays on beyond those chords.

Yup, two beats isn't all that great of a sample size.   

[mszczuj]

Gielen with Cincinnati is my favorite. I wonder if he managed to make the movement waltzing ( for me the most important value here.) Probably i have never heard any other sound led by him.

[petrarch]

Gielen with Cincinnati is my favorite. (...) Probably i have never heard any other sound led by him.

He is one of my favorite conductors of 20th C music. Really worth checking him out.