When listening to a recording of music, there is the issue of audio quality. Even if the recording engineers have done a great job, the odds are that the audio system used to play back the recording is not up to par with live performances. It is tempting, then, to spend heavily on an expensive audio system. However, there is a strange phenomenon that applies here - above a certain point, the closer something is to perfection, the more we tend to notice the imperfections.
When I listen to music, I hope to experience the music's soul, to be transported to another world, almost forgetting where I am. A recording is not measured by its audio quality but rather by its ability to make listeners forget they are listening to a recording that is performed by a certain orchestra and conducted by a certain conductor. A good recording should bring the listener face to face with the composition. It is only after listening that we wish to reflect on matters such as audio quality, performer, and conductor, lest we be disturbed.
Some people prefer older recordings. Maybe, without realizing it, this phenomenon related to audio quality is sometimes the reason. A couple years ago, I would have been unimpressed by offerings of FM quality audio. Yet, over the course of listening to many recordings on Naxos's website, I have had some wonderful listening experiences.
2 comments:
I like how you put it, to be "transported to another world." It is always desirable to have good audio quality. The imperfection of a performance should not hinder how the music communicates. A great performance does not mean a perfect performance. The soul of the performance will transcend imperfection as well as audio quality. Hearing the audio artifacts in an old recording is much like listening to the echo of a performance from outside the concert hall, wishing you were inside.
Thanks for your comment. The last sentence makes for a wonderful quote.
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