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LOG IN Forgot Login? Register General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board Search Terms:  Search Within:  topics posts since 2019 2018 posts 2017 posts 2016 posts 2015 posts 2014 posts 2013 posts 2012 posts 2011 posts 2010 posts 2009 posts 2008 posts 2007 posts 2006 posts 2005 posts 2004 posts 2003 posts 2002 posts 2001 posts 2000 posts users  search tips  You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1 2 3      General Discussion: Perceptions of Classical Music Based On Cover Art     1 2 3    NEXT   LAST   Last Post   Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 9:14 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) One thing that has always fascinated me is the decline of quality cover art over the years for classical LPs and CDs. In the 1950s, during the Living Stereo and Living Presence era, there were amazing designs reflecting the bold modernism that characterized that era - in the US, at least. Now, when browsing for used classical CDs, the cover art will feature either a Vermeer or Bruegel painting that is in the public domain, or a boring photo of a goofy looking guy in a tuxedo. Anyway, when seeking out classical music, I always make sure to buy a version with great cover art, regardless of performance quality. If the cover happens to house a highly regarded performance, all the better. Let's start with Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps. I would never want to hear a performance of this favorite if it did not look like one of these: The Dorati LP on Mercury is also a top-shelf performance:    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 9:17 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) And why would you ever need another version of Symphonie Fantastique if you have this? Is this Richard Powers cover art? EDIT: IT IS RICHARD POWERS!    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 9:19 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) Or Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #2?    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 9:42 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member)    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 10:00 AM     By:   nerfTractor   (Member) That Prokofiev one is hilarious. I always loved this one...    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 10:28 AM     By:   MusicMad   (Member) Wow, Onya ... that Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du printemps) - Ansermet/OSR/1950 recording has had numerous releases/covers ... I had used a rather boring one with text on a pale background (some Greek-style figures/images drawn down the RHS) ... I've now updated my album image! I see there is a more demure alternative of that image, probably for different markets. I can't say I'm taken with your Prokofiev: Piano Concerto #2, Op.16 - Henriot/Münch/BSO cover ... I don't have that recording so, for the moment, not an issue for me. Further, I wouldn't choose a particular version of a recording based on the sleeve cover (albeit I have bought more than couple film scores based on their covers!) but i do agree with you: many of the images in the 1950s are a lot more interesting than more recent ones. As I build my music library with recordings from the mid 1940s onwards I do try to get copies of the original sleeves and there are many superb works (of art?) - though those from the 1970s and early 1980s are more garish than stylish. Mitch    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 10:52 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) I see there is a more demure alternative of that image, probably for different markets. Yes! The flames and the rough-hewn font must have been too much for some listeners, so they toned it down on subsequent versions. I can't say I'm taken with your Prokofiev: Piano Concerto #2, Op.16 - Henriot/Münch/BSO cover ... I don't have that recording so, for the moment, not an issue for me. A blonde in black tights with a giant slinky? What's not to like?    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 11:03 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) I file this one in the exotica section, because it deserves better than to be filed under "classical:"    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 11:30 AM     By:   eriknelson   (Member) A fairly recent trend in classical music CD covers and publicity is to show "glamour" photos of the artists. Some of them are truly over the top, such as Nicola Benedetti on a bed with her violin. http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/soloists-glamour-style-classical-going-pop/    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 11:37 AM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) A fairly recent trend in classical music CD covers and publicity is to show "glamour" photos of the artists. Some of them are truly over the top, such as Nicola Benedetti on a bed with her violin. http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/soloists-glamour-style-classical-going-pop/ That is awful on more than one level.    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 2:18 PM     By:   Viscount Bark   (Member) A few of my favorites:    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 2:44 PM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) A few of my favorites:'> What the hell is Sinfonia Antarctica? Is is deliberately misspelled?    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 2:58 PM     By:   MusicMad   (Member) A few of my favorites:'> What the hell is Sinfonia Antarctica? Is is deliberately misspelled? It's the Italian spelling ... see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinfonia_antartica though strictly the second word should not be capitalised. Mitch    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 4:44 PM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) It's the Italian spelling ... see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinfonia_antartica though strictly the second word should not be capitalised. What is the music like?    Posted:   Apr 22, 2017 - 5:16 PM     By:   nerfTractor   (Member) It's the Italian spelling ... see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinfonia_antartica though strictly the second word should not be capitalised. What is the music like? It's fantastic. RVW wrote the symphony based off his film score for "Scott of the Antarctic"    Posted:   Apr 24, 2017 - 4:29 PM     By:   ZardozSpeaks   (Member) One thing that has always fascinated me is the decline of quality cover art over the years for classical LPs and CDs. In the 1950s, during the Living Stereo and Living Presence era, there were amazing designs reflecting the bold modernism that characterized that era - in the US, at least. Wadda 'bout this, Onya? This is the first ever opera set in space. (can't even think of any 2nd opera set in space ... )    Posted:   Apr 24, 2017 - 5:22 PM     By:   Timmer   (Member) It's the Italian spelling ... see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinfonia_antartica though strictly the second word should not be capitalised. What is the music like? It's fantastic. RVW wrote the symphony based off his film score for "Scott of the Antarctic" It is an awesome work, I'd recommend Sir Adrian Boult, Andre Previn or Bernard Haitink for the symphonic work OnyaBirri, I'd also recommend you seek out The Film Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams Vol.1 which has the full film score rerecorded by Rumon Gamba and has plenty of music not adapted into the symphony. Both are must haves and truly sublime. Along with certain other works like pieces from Holst Planets suite and Herrmann's Vertigo RVW's 'Antartica' is regularly used in documentaries, particularly anything to do with mountains or the vastness of the universe and the like.    Posted:   Apr 24, 2017 - 5:35 PM     By:   Timmer   (Member) edit. dp    Posted:   Apr 24, 2017 - 6:34 PM     By:   OnyaBirri   (Member) Wadda 'bout this, Onya? This was literally ripped out of my hands by a record dealer about 15 years ago. I still haven't gotten over it. An instrumental suite of the music appears on side two of the Eugene Ormandy 2001 knockoff on Columbia, so at least I have that.    Posted:   Apr 24, 2017 - 8:36 PM     By:   Preston Neal Jones   (Member) Mark, That Vaughan Williams cover for Symphonies 4 & 6 should have been held in abeyance until they could use it with Symphony #2 - "London Symphony." Onya, For future reference: Just about EVERY piece of music by RVW is fantastic! Trust me... PS: Why on earth did that dealer rip that album out of your hands?     General Discussion: Perceptions of Classical Music Based On Cover Art    < 1 2 3  > >>  Go to page:  1 2 3   First Post    General Discussion • Trading Post • Non-Film Score Discussion  Profile • Preferences • Community Rules • Help/Contact • Search Board You must log in or register to post.   Go to page:  1 2 3

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