Sunday, February 17, 2008
Recordings can enrich enjoyment of live performances
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Midwinter is the time of year for season announcements by performing arts organizations. If they've done their job well, the cold outside is dispelled a bit by warm hopes for future delights."
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2 comments:
I completely agree with the author in arguing that there is a high desire for live symphony and orchestra recordings. However, when you change perspectives and look into the world of modern music, primarily bands that are comprised of instruments with direct inputs, there is no possible way of arguing whether the band's live recordings or studio sessions are better. With a modern rock band, there is a certain aesthetic that all good musicians strive for in the studio, then there is a certain sound they want to receive when playing on stage. I have met several people over the years that prefer to listen to an artist's live recordings rather than their studio recordings because they feel the artist offers a different emotion when playing on stage. Then there are others who cant stand to hear the reverberation and crowd noises that come from all live sessions. In classical music it might be enriched, but don't dare try to tell me one is better over the other when it comes to modern music.
This is an issue that I have run into a lot in the past few years. Because of the heavy implementation of technology in music, live recordings are dwindling in number. As Anthony brings up, direct input to machines and effects re-create almost identically what has been recorded on the record in concert. In my experience, it has become harder and harder to find groups that are actually better live when you can feel the energy and devotion to the artistry they are creating. I mean when was the last time you saw a Britney Spears Live in Concert CD if ever? The value is more in the visual aesthetic than the music, which is really sad.
On another note, for those that have passed, having live performances of orchestras and operas that are no longer done in certain manners or quite frankly don't exist, it's extremely valuable to have that.
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