Proposed Break

While I fully appreciate the listening schedule, and have the utmost respect for the work done to concoct it, I would propose we take a little break in April.  That will give us time to get motivated again (these two weeks were light on the listening comparatively speaking) and enjoy the first vestiges of spring.  Plus, I'm traveling and moving all month, so my interests are purely selfish.  However, I don't want to let the team (of apparently two) down, so if you wish to press on, press on we shall.

New Music

New Music has come through.  Just listened to the Organ Concerto No. 7.  I actually have a recording of this already, but this recording is lighter and more engaging.  The harpiscord fugue is interesting as well, especially in light of the Bach B-Minor Mass.  If we can muddle through the oratorios, the rest of these two weeks should be cool. 

You said you were putting this all on FLAC?  How much drive space has this project consumed thus far?  Wondering if I should purchase a little more capacity before heading to Houston.

Final week of Baroque - does that make you happy or sad?

March 15 – 28: Scarlatti, Handel

            VGCM p86-109

DOMENICO SCARLATTI

Harpsichord sonatas including the E major K 380, F major K. 525, G major K 549, and D major K. 96

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

Water Music

Royal Fireworks Music

Concerti Grossi op. 6, especially no. 3 in E minor and no. 7 in B-flat major

Organ Concerto in F major, "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" 

Harpsichord Suite no. 5 in E major, "The Harmonious Black­smith"

Coronation Anthems

Oratorios: Acis and Galatea, L'Allegro, il Pensieroso ed il Moderato, Messiah, Israel in Egypt, Saul

CD v LP v MP3

I have a Solti recording of Beethoven 9 in all three formats.  Last Sunday, I determined the LP provided the ultimate in listening quality.  The timpani is deeper, the brass is clearer, and the overall richness of the sound is simply better.  However, I didn't want to be one of those people who says that to be cool, so when Carra returned, I attempted not to jade her.  I played all three formats.  She said the LP dusted it for the same reasons noted above.

I have done minimal reading on the whole digital v. analog debate and understand the basic concepts at issue (i.e. capturing a picture of a wave at various speeds v. the realistic audio grasping of analog).  It was just interesting to confirm what I had long suspected.  I am not sure the differences would be so remarkable if it weren't for the sub-woofer driving home the bass lines and the clarity with which my speakers play brass.  Also, I am not using the best format possible for CD sound (a high def transmission through a PS3).  I guess that is the next phase of the journey.

Regarding the MP3, it actually does a nice job of muzzling superfluous sound (i.e. static).  Unfortunately, it also muffles everything else.  So if you have a recording laced with extra sounds that actually detract from the main music, I would encourage this format.