The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-02-10 16:29
I was disappointed to hear NPRs interview with Ma, in which he extolls the virtue of the pre-recorded Inaugural to "honor the moment."
Well, Aretha Franklin honored the moment LIVE. She did feel her performance was lessened by the temperature, but I doubt any one listening would have thought so.
The President's Own had no choice in the matter and they sounded wonderful.
Keep pre-recorded music in the can where it belongs.
Oh, and as long as it's live, let Ma have his $40,000 in Kenosha.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2009-02-10 16:34
Never liked it on the Lawrence Welk Show, and like it even less now that the practice is spreading to every venue.
To me it's the difference between watching a tight rope walker by being present at the performance, or watching a newsreel of it.
One of the things that amazes me is that some people can't seem to tell the difference, even if they are "present" at the prerecorded event.
I guess it all started with the invention of that darned microphone, or was it the megaphone?
My point of view is that the more layers of technology there are separating
the audience from the performance, the less the enjoyment of the performance.
Heaven help us once hologram technology is perfected. You won't be able to tell if the "performer" was even really there.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-02-10 18:32
John -
When I watched the inauguration, I recognized almost immediately that the quartet was prerecorded, because of small differences between their movements and the sound. However, some sophisticated players and recording engineers on the Klarinet board who maintained that it was live. They were quite embarrassed when the truth came out.
Given the frigid conditions, I can understand and (almost) forgive this particular fall from grace. Still, I'd rather that they had played carbon fiber strings, a plastic clarinet and even an electronic piano. Live is always better.
Ken Shaw
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-02-11 13:25
I heard his interview on NPR also, and what truly amazed me is to what extent they went to perpetrate (and I use the word purposefully) the deception. Disconnecting the piano action? Using soap on the bow?Really! It was disappointing to say the least, and a bit disturbing.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-11 13:26
>>Well, Aretha Franklin honored the moment LIVE. She did feel her performance was lessened by the temperature, but I doubt any one listening would have thought so.
>>
As a big fan of Aretha Franklin, I'm sorry to have to disagree with you, but I thought she was right that her performance sounded far from her best. She sang seriously out of tune and wasn't always in control of her vibrato. I sat there wincing and cringing to the point where I almost hit the "Mute" button. Aside from the performance issues, I also thought she sang an atrociously tortured, trying-way-too-hard arrangement. Apparently the maker of that hideous hat is enjoying brisk sales of his mass-market version, however.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2009-02-11 13:27)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-02-11 13:45
Lelia Loban wrote:
>
> Apparently the maker of that hideous hat is enjoying brisk
> sales of his mass-market version, however.
Hideous is in the eye of the beholder. It is common to see styles similar to that in large numbers on any Sunday in Detroit and the local environs. I for one thought it was most certainly acceptable attire, but then again, I live in the Detroit metro area.
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2009-02-11 15:09
Liquorice,
I rarely laugh out loud watching youtube videos, but I'm sitting in my office laughing and getting strange looks- that was truly funny - I can't wait to play it for my class.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-02-11 18:17
Personally, I understand why they would have pre-recorded the inauguration performance. Normally, it would not be my choice. But- In those temperatures, the first thing that occurred to me was "How in heck are they going to play at all, or anywhere near in tune?" There would also be serious issues with response and technique. Think about it, these were extremely difficult conditions in which to perform, (unless you are in a marching band!) Sure, I would have loved to hear them play live, but under the circumstances, I would rather it sound good.
Can you imagine the reaction to a performance going out around the world being poorly played, out of tune, even perhaps less than clean and precise. It could do serious damage to the reputation of these world class musicians. Who here would want to play such a major performance using second tier equipment?
A big problem is that we have a myth of what a performance should sound like. Due to editing and overdubs, we expect players to be super human and without fault. I recall a few years back people were slamming a major player when they heard him squeak in a performance.
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Author: Jkaye
Date: 2009-02-11 18:43
I wonder if it was ever considered to have outdoor heating for the group or use heat lamps of some kind?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-02-12 12:40
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> I thought Aretha sang fine for somebody that age.
"... You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run..."
...GBK
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-12 13:23
GBK wrote,
>>"... You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run..."
>>
Yup. Aretha Franklin isn't at her peak performance level any more, but she isn't finished. She can sing much better than she did at the Inauguration. I think most singers, including younger ones, might want to fold 'em before agreeing to a live mic at an outdoor gig in such raw weather.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-02-12 13:48
So....why don't we just move the inauguration to May ...and cherry blossoms.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-02-13 04:05
Yeah, but Milli Vanilli=bad even without lipsynching! YMMV, of course... ;P
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2009-02-13 12:38
Of course with Milli Vanilli, they were lip synching to someone else's voices.
That's bad.
What they should have done in the inauguration, IMO, is something similar to what was done for the Queen's Birthday concert a few years ago. You simulcast the classical music playing live at an indoor location.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-13 13:10
Merlin, I think that's a good idea. The indoor venue could admit an audience early, before the music performances, and leave the venue open later, to screen the news footage of the other Inauguration events. It would be a good, festive alternative for people who strongly want to be there but can't attend the outdoor events because of physical limitations.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2009-02-13 17:26
I think what bothered me most was the way the people involved defended the practice. Maybe they were trying to convince themselves while they tried to convince the rest of us.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-02-14 04:11
My feeling is simple, I'm against playing pre recorded music and pretending that it is a live performance, period. If you're going to pretend to be playing a live performance you're trying to fool the public. Though I thought the quartet sounded very good I thought they should have announced that what the audience was hearing was prerecorded do to the weather conditions. That would have been the "honest" thing to do. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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