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I just downloaded and listened to this new issue from High Definition Tape Transfers. This is a superb performance. The recording is highly dynamic and sounds quite natural when played at full concert volume. (192/24 FLAC version)
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
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Here's the Mercury 2-track tape issue at 7½ ips. The HDTT issue is from a 2-track 15 ips copy that they had access to. I guess they didn't have this tape box to scan, although they do often use 7½ ips 2-track and 4-track tapes as a source. The LP has additional music. The recording was made in Manchester's Free Trade Hall. The notes say, "Elgar's orchestral masterpiece provides a stunning demonstration of stereophonic sound reproduction, since each instrument in the orchestra is at one time or another given an opportunity to sing its solo."
I just went to one of those inflation calculator sites. So let's say you paid $11.95 for this tape in 1958. (This is for HALF of the equivalent LP album, which also had the Purcell-Barbirolli Suite for Strings.) In today's dollars, that would be. . . $97.63. Yikes!
(BTW, I've edited my post below yet again, because I've now figured out that the 50's babe on the cover is depicting puzzlement over the . . . Enigma!)
Indeed, the quizzical expression is over the price too.
If you were a kid, as I was, working at the minimum wage of $1.00 per hour, then $12.00 for a 7.5 IPS two track tape was a lot of money. One year I managed to scrape together enough money for a tape deck, Dynaco Preamp. Citation II amplifier and a pair of KLH-6 speakers. I had enough money left over to buy one pre-recorded tape. This was a 4 track London recording of Ansermet playing the Rite of Spring and Petrushka. When I got tired of one ballet, I had the other. This went on for several weeks until I could expand my library.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
My system doffs its cap to your system. ;-)
-Bob
Yes, this means RMS SPLs of about 95 dB at the listening position. To do this cleanly means a peak capability of 115 dB, which each speaker is rated to do. I listen in near field, 1 meter from the speakers in a small room. I have never had to turn down my gain control when listening to music because my system was distorting. The downside is that the bass only extends to just below 30 Hz.
I am fortunate to live alone and usually far from any neighbors. Actually, the near field setup makes little noise in a room on the other side of a wall from the speakers.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Sounds beautiful, Tony. Are you still using the Focal monitors listed in your profile?
-Bob
Same Focals. Very nice, but quite a challenge to set up. Nothing you would want to have around pets or kids due to the hazards of Beryllium dust.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Whoah! Would you mind elaborating? I'd think that if the Beryllium dust is that hazardous, then Focal could be open to legal liability? I've got some baby Focals myself (Chorus 705 S's) in the computer room, but I can't remember if they have Beryllium in their tweeter fabrication or not. (I think they do, actually.)
Beryllium dust is hazardous if inhaled. This is known, back from the Manhattan Project. My Focals came with protective covering and instructions on what to do if the tweeter dome is cracked or broken.
"The Solo6 Be and Twin6 Be use a tweeter equipped with a Beryllium dome, allowing a frequency range extending beyond 40kHz. In its solid form, Beryllium is harmless. However, due to its nature, certain special precautions should be observed to avoid exposure to unnecessary risk: Under no circumstances should the Beryllium dome be subjected to any form of abrasive action. To ensure no accidental damage to the tweeter dome it is advised to carefully replace the protection covers while not in use. In the unlikely case of damage to the dome, of any form, a wide piece of adhesive tape should be immediately used to seal the whole front surface of the tweeter. The protective cover should then be replaced and also taped securely in place. You
should then inform the dealer from whom you purchased the product so that the tweeter can be removed by a professional and returned to the product distributor for replacement. If the dome is broken in any way giving rise to loose particles of Beryllium, these should be carefully collected with the use of an adhesive tape and sealed in a zip-top bag to be returned with the tweeter."
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
I did some further checking and my Chorus 705 S's have a magnesium alloy tweeter, not Beryllium as used in Focal's higher end models.
I once had the original recording with the Halle. Barbirolli's interpretation was good, but the Halle strings sounded mighty thin. Maybe they've processed the audio to fill out the strings.
I have a 1962 Barbirolli conducting this piece with the Philharmonia. It's a live recording. I liked it better.
Thing is, I'm not crazy about Elgar. I know the Brits love him, and I know there are folks on this board who like his music, but he just doesn't ring my bell. So I'm surely not going to invest in a $20 retread of music I'm not loving to begin with.
"Life without music is a mistake" (Nietzsche)
Sorry - I was trying to edit my original post (originally below) and it got chopped off in the re-posting, so I decided it was just easier to put up a new post.Thanks for the heads up - when I first saw the HDTT announcement about the Elgar Enigma Variations, I didn't read it too closely and assumed it was a later EMI recording. I wish HDTT would issue more of those Command Steinberg/Pittsburgh recordings too, now that they seem to be really doing them right. In any case, I'll try to download this Barbirolli Enigma recording soon!
(I don't know what this "babe from the 50's" cover has to do with the Enigma Variations however!)
EDIT: Now I get it - she's trying to figure out the Enigma!
BTW, one of the first recordings I had in my collection was the Mercury/Pye Barbirolli/Halle Suppe Overtures. I think I was about 10 years old and I loved it!
Edits: 05/06/15 05/06/15
Just listened to it on Tidal
Very exciting performance
Thanks for the recommendation
Boult also has a great performance of the Elgar
Alan
This one?
.
Yes
Does anyone know who the cellist on the Elger cello concerto is on this particular recording?
Alan
Link below should be .pdf of back cover.
Edits: 05/05/15
Thank you
Alan
Barbirolli has long been one of my favorites, especially for
Elgar and Sibelius. He had an interesting life.
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