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Discussion: Bantock: Omar Khayyam - Handley

Posts: 8

Post by steviev September 11, 2009 (1 of 8)
Nice review, great recording.

Just one question, Graham -- by my count, Bantock set all 101 quatrains of the text, and Handley et al recorded 92 of them. Did you add up the total number of tracks (27+23+13) then subtract the five musical interludes to arrive at 58 quatrains? Note that many of the tracks encompass multiple quatrains.

Too bad they didn't record the whole thing, because I doubt anyone, even Naxos, will record this work again, especially in the wake of this near-perfect production.

And I have another question for those who have listened to this recording in MCH. In the boffo chorus/soloists settings that end parts 1 and 2 the soloists's voices totally overload my center channel, and sound quite harsh even when I turn the center gain way down. It's the worst sound I've ever heard from a SACD, and resembles analog distortion. Anyone else notice this, or is my cheapskate rig to blame?

Post by Peter September 11, 2009 (2 of 8)
steviev said:

And I have another question for those who have listened to this recording in MCH. In the boffo chorus/soloists settings that end parts 1 and 2 the soloists's voices totally overload my center channel, and sound quite harsh even when I turn the center gain way down. It's the worst sound I've ever heard from a SACD, and resembles analog distortion. Anyone else notice this, or is my cheapskate rig to blame?

It's your cheapskate rig, which is also responsible for your odd views on the sound of the Langgaard cycle.

Post by flyingdutchman September 11, 2009 (3 of 8)
Oooh. Cheapskate rig for sure. I think you are losing a lot on the top with your system. No wonder the recordings sound booming and cavernous. Get thee to a speaker shop and buy new speakers. While you're at it, get a new receiver. A higher end Denon would be at minimum.

Post by steviev September 11, 2009 (4 of 8)
flyingdutchman said:

Oooh. Cheapskate rig for sure. I think you are losing a lot on the top with your system. No wonder the recordings sound booming and cavernous. Get thee to a speaker shop and buy new speakers. While you're at it, get a new receiver. A higher end Denon would be at minimum.

Hi flyingd and Peter,

The Bantock is neither boomy nor carvernous on my system; it's a great recording overall. And many reviewers have noted the reverberant sound of the Langgaard SACD recordings, not just me. Have you and Peter actually listened to this disc, or are you just demeaning my admittedly cheapo system?

Anyone else noticed occasional overload in the center channel on the Bantock recording?

Post by flyingdutchman September 11, 2009 (5 of 8)
steviev said:

Hi flyingd and Peter,

The Bantock is neither boomy nor carvernous on my system; it's a great recording overall. And many reviewers have noted the reverberant sound of the Langgaard SACD recordings, not just me. Have you and Peter actually listened to this disc, or are you just demeaning my admittedly cheapo system?

Anyone else noticed occasional overload in the center channel on the Bantock recording?

No, I have the discs and love the recording. I have no problems with my B&W Speakers or overload.

Post by Peter September 12, 2009 (6 of 8)
steviev said:

Hi flyingd and Peter,

Have you and Peter actually listened to this disc, or are you just demeaning my admittedly cheapo system?

To be honest, I didn't look at your what equipment you have. It may be, of course, a combination of your equipment and an unsuitable listening room, and faulty setup of the multichannel side of things.

As far as the Langgaard is concerned, yes you can hear the acoustic of the old DRSO hall but after extensive listening I would not describe this as reverberant, i.e. cloudy, and find the sound quite detailed enough. Perhaps the sound in the 1st Symphony could do with being a bit drier, but I'd rather it is as is it is than plain old dry. Yes, there's plenty of acousitc, no, I don't find it a problem.

If you take your discs to be played on a well set up system you may well come to a different conclusion. On the other hand, we may simply perceive things in different ways.

Try the Bantock out as well; you may have a faulty disc.

Post by Castor September 12, 2009 (7 of 8)
steviev said:

Nice review, great recording.

Just one question, Graham -- by my count, Bantock set all 101 quatrains of the text, and Handley et al recorded 92 of them. Did you add up the total number of tracks (27+23+13) then subtract the five musical interludes to arrive at 58 quatrains? Note that many of the tracks encompass multiple quatrains.

Too bad they didn't record the whole thing, because I doubt anyone, even Naxos, will record this work again, especially in the wake of this near-perfect production.

And I have another question for those who have listened to this recording in MCH. In the boffo chorus/soloists settings that end parts 1 and 2 the soloists's voices totally overload my center channel, and sound quite harsh even when I turn the center gain way down. It's the worst sound I've ever heard from a SACD, and resembles analog distortion. Anyone else notice this, or is my cheapskate rig to blame?

Hi Steve
As the booklet notes indicate, a small number of cuts have been made. In the text section of the booklet cut quatrains are placed in square brackets so you can easily count up the missing ones..

Like Peter and Flying Dutchman I have been unable to hear any distortion from the centre channel.

I totally agree that this is a superb production and a fitting tribute to the marvellous Vernon Handley.

Graham

Post by Peter September 12, 2009 (8 of 8)
Castor said:

Hi Steve
As the booklet notes indicate, a small number of cuts have been made. In the text section of the booklet cut quatrains are placed in square brackets so you can easily count up the missing ones..

Like Peter and Flying Dutchman I have been unable to hear any distortion from the centre channel.

I totally agree that this is a superb production and a fitting tribute to the marvellous Vernon Handley.

Graham

There was a furious post on musicweb about the cuts, Graham, did you see it? Someone was, er, very cut up about it all.

Closed