Seemingly trivial things that elicit an emotional response of some kind

[briantrumpet]

Side note in case you're interested. I'm reading a book on 'tactus' in music, and it ties in with many of my instincts about tempo in baroque music, a lot of which is performed waaaaay too slowly these days, IMHO, and it does enrage me... in most case performers don't question how music is 'normally' performed these days. An example would be Bach's famous 'Air on a G String' (stop tittering at the back), which is often performed at what I think is about half speed, and completely and utterly misses the point. I have never found a recorded performance which gets anywhere close to its proper tempo. Grrr.

 

[secretsqirrel]

Nah, that didn't do it for me. Sorry. Lasted 10 seconds before I stopped it.

10 seconds! What a quitter. I probably would have done the same but i was listening to the Soul Music podcast on BBC sounds which dedicates each episode to a song. I was driving along and had app on continuous playback so listened to it all and found it quite stunning.

I’ve heard Sting doing Downland. Very good stuff.

 

[secretsqirrel]

Side note in case you're interested. I'm reading a book on 'tactus' in music, and it ties in with many of my instincts about tempo in baroque music, a lot of which is performed waaaaay too slowly these days, IMHO, and it does enrage me... in most case performers don't question how music is 'normally' performed these days. An example would be Bach's famous 'Air on a G String' (stop tittering at the back), which is often performed at what I think is about half speed, and completely and utterly misses the point. I have never found a recorded performance which gets anywhere close to its proper tempo. Grrr.

Same with Beethoven, having deciphered his scrawl it was realised that he intended that the music should be played much faster

 

[First Aspect]

I can't take responsibility for this thread turning into Pick of the Cheesy Pops hosted by Dave Lee Trumpet.

 

[Ian H]

Same with Beethoven, having deciphered his scrawl it was realised that he intended that the music should be played much faster

Though a lot of musicians disagree with deaf dead old bugger.

 

[icowden]

Side note in case you're interested. I'm reading a book on 'tactus' in music, and it ties in with many of my instincts about tempo in baroque music, a lot of which is performed waaaaay too slowly these days, IMHO, and it does enrage me... in most case performers don't question how music is 'normally' performed these days. An example would be Bach's famous 'Air on a G String' (stop tittering at the back), which is often performed at what I think is about half speed, and completely and utterly misses the point. I have never found a recorded performance which gets anywhere close to its proper tempo. Grrr.

FWIW I agree with you. I find it happens a lot with sung oratorio. You just think "I'm sure it's not meant to be this slow!"

A fun exercise but I took a listen to this. I reckon the right speed is about 1.4x the speed they are playing. 1.5x sounds about right but slightly on the edge of too fast and1.25 still sounds too slow...

View: https://youtu.be/pzlw6fUux4o?si=YVs2i0cxVn5Q50Cb

 

[Rusty Nails]

FWIW I agree with you. I find it happens a lot with sung oratorio. You just think "I'm sure it's not meant to be this slow!"

A fun exercise but I took a listen to this. I reckon the right speed is about 1.4x the speed they are playing. 1.5x sounds about right but slightly on the edge of too fast and1.25 still sounds too slow...

View: https://youtu.be/pzlw6fUux4o?si=YVs2i0cxVn5Q50Cb

I thought I'd wandered into the latest edition of Private Eye when reading this thread.

 

[briantrumpet]

I can't take responsibility for this thread turning into Pick of the Cheesy Pops hosted by Dave Lee Trumpet.

I've turned myself into

and taken the discussion elsewhere.

So someone had better get all emotional and get this thread back on track.

Oh, actually, I'll make a start by telling you of my joy of finding the rechargeable AAA batteries I was looking for in Lidl, at £6 for 8. Now I've got my internal/external thermometer remote unit working again, so I know how many layers to put on before I got out of the house.

 

[briantrumpet]

I thought I'd wandered into the latest edition of Private Eye when reading this thread.

Nah, The Listener, dear boy.

 

[Ian H]

Nah, The Listener, dear boy.

I have fond memories of the Listener when Russell Twisk was editor. It went rapidly downhill after he left.

 

[briantrumpet]

I have fond memories of the Listener when Russell Twisk was editor. It went rapidly downhill after he left.

My Great Uncle (MBE) was a regular reader. I was more interested in the redundant bell system for domestic staff in his house.

 

[All uphill]

While we're on a musical theme I'll say that I am annoyed by the use of pitch correction on singing. To me much of the emotion and expression of the best singers lies in their ability to vary their pitch and timing.

Here's an explanation:


View: https://youtu.be/6IV29YNTH3M?feature=shared

 

[icowden]

While we're on a musical theme I'll say that I am annoyed by the use of pitch correction on singing. To me much of the emotion and expression of the best singers lies in their ability to vary their pitch and timing.

Oh god yes. Autotune is the devil's work and no mistake. My kids like Glee - I was recommended to watch it as well, but I cannot bear the overproduced fully autotuned songs. They literally have no soul.

 

[briantrumpet]

While we're on a musical theme I'll say that I am annoyed by the use of pitch correction on singing. To me much of the emotion and expression of the best singers lies in their ability to vary their pitch and timing.

Here's an explanation:


View: https://youtu.be/6IV29YNTH3M?feature=shared

Having said that, I remember watching Live Aid and realising how many of the lead vocalists relied on their producers, even back then, to make their voices into something bearable. For most of them, 'pitch variation' wasn't an artistic choice, just happened to be what came out on the day.

Equally, it made you appreciate all the more the ones who were utterly in control in a live gig broadcast live to hundreds of millions, and why (for instance) Queen's set was one of the all-time greats.

 

[AuroraSaab]

While we're on a musical theme I'll say that I am annoyed by the use of pitch correction on singing. To me much of the emotion and expression of the best singers lies in their ability to vary their pitch and timing.

Here's an explanation:


View: https://youtu.be/6IV29YNTH3M?feature=shared

It's massively overused these days. Been watching 'Mary J Blige at the BBC' recently. It makes you even more in awe of her and similar old school singers who don't use it and those from the past who didn't need any assistance to sound amazing.