Sorabji vs Microwave Background Radiation Hiss

[thalbergmad]

You prattle on about it so much that they have to be plugs.

[ahinton]

You prattle on about it so much that they have to be plugs.

So what if they are? That said, how often have I put in a word for the record label?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Lost count

[ahinton]

Lost count

You cannot "lose" anything unless you have found or had possession of it in the first place; that said, I suggest that you check how many (or rather how few) times I have made mention of the Piano Classics label and its parent company Brilliant Classics and, while you're about it, you might also care to explain why mere mentions of the names of record labels appear to bother you.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

He has done it again

[ahinton]

He has done it again

Who has done what again? And what's the problem with it anyway? Is there, for example, a reasonable limit on the number of times that a member might mention "Thal" in his/her posts?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Mentioning Thal isnt pushing products.

[ahinton]

Mentioning Thal isnt pushing products.

Of course it isn't! That said, mentioning the name of a record label isn't necessarily doing that either and I am unaware that the inclusion of such a name and any other details in a reference to a recording contravenes forum rules or causes offence other than to any member who might happen not to like said recording.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I think you realise their is a problem as for the first time in living memory, you have neglected to mention the record label, the pianist and the composer.
It seems you are capable of reform.

[ahinton]

I think you realise their is a problem as for the first time in living memory, you have neglected to mention the record label, the pianist and the composer.
It seems you are capable of reform.

No idea what you're on about, Thal (I presume that it's OK to mention Thal here)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Of course it is. It just gets a bit tiring with all this Powell, Sorabji, Brilliant Classics bollox.

[ahinton]

Of course it is. It just gets a bit tiring with all this Powell, Sorabji, Brilliant Classics bollox.

For you, perhaps; best to go and have a lie down, then.

Anyway, are you not adding to whatever it is that apparently saps your energies by mentioning Powell, Sorabji and Brilliant Classics (the label is actually Piano Classics, which is a division of Brilliant Classics)?

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

JESUS CHRIST... is this crap still going on???

Alistair - we all see you as what you are... a Sorabji fan-boy with nothing else to do in life and no other interest.

Any chance you can put this mother-f@#$ing s@#$ to rest??? The only thing that is getting tiring is that you talk of NOTHING ELSE!!!

Show us you know a LITTLE more about music, other than the music of 'he-who-shall-not-be-named'?

[ahinton]

JESUS CHRIST... is this crap still going on???

You'd better ask Thal, who initiated this thread; I don't, however, believe that JESUS CHRIST has a new recording out on the record-label-that-shall-not-be-named, so the reason for your invoking him might seem unclear...

Alistair - we all see you as what you are... a Sorabji fan-boy with nothing else to do in life and no other interest.

It's funny how people with little of value to impart attempt habitually to resort to the first person plural in the vain hope of looking as though they are bolstering their cause! That said, I have not been any kind of "boy" for many years and you have no idea what I have to do in life or what my other interests are so, once again, you spout forth without a shred of evidence in support of your unfounded assertions.

Any chance you can put this mother-f@#$ing s@#$ to rest??? The only thing that is getting tiring is that you talk of NOTHING ELSE!!!

Show us you know a LITTLE more about music, other than the music of 'he-who-shall-not-be-named'?

Again, you know nothing of what else I do and with what I spend my time. As it happens, I have many interests in, for example, a vast range of piano repertoire, from Haydn and Beethoven through Chopin, Liszt and Alkan, Brahms, Albéniz, Debussy, Granados, Busoni, Godowsky, Scriabin, Ravel, Medtner, Szymanowski, Bartók, Prokofiev and beyond. As it also happens, I have spent most of this morning checking the work of an excellent typesetter who is in the process of editing/typesetting my fifth piano sonata and, if I knew little about the music of anyone else besides the composer to whom you refer without naming him, I would hardly have been able to write music of my own.

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

As it happens, I have many interests in, for example, a vast range of piano repertoire, from Haydn and Beethoven through Chopin, Liszt and Alkan, Brahms, Albéniz, Debussy, Granados, Busoni, Godowsky, Scriabin, Ravel, Medtner, Szymanowski, Bartók, Prokofiev and beyond.

Good! Try shutting up about Sorabji and start talking about them...

[thalbergmad]

There is little chance of that happening.
He habitually has to have the last word and will continue to advertise even though this Sorabji crap is of interest only to a very small minority.
Hopefully Hinton will just button it.

[ahinton]

Good! Try shutting up about Sorabji and start talking about them...

I don't take instructions from you. I have certainly referred to quite a few of these on this forum over the years in any case.

[ahinton]

There is little chance of that happening.
He habitually has to have the last word and will continue to advertise even though this Sorabji crap is of interest only to a very small minority.

On what specific basis do you assume this "very small minority" interest? All Western "classical music" is a minority interest in the general scheme of things although, of course, some composers inevitably attract more interest than others.

One presumes that, in these two cases, the record label and the pianists do not regard the music as such, otherwise the former would not have invested in the releases and the latter would not have invested the many hundreds of hours in preparing and recording the works; nor has the editor/typesetter of the two scores whose work in preparing some 550 pages of A3 landscape format material has likewise occupied many hundreds of hours. It is also clear that those who have so far published reviews do not regard the music in that way either.

Moreover, FWIW, for all that mere readings of posts may not alone represent a guarantee of the extent of interest, the Pianophilia forum (for example) of which I believe that you either are or were a member (please correct me if I'm wrong about that) shows 651 readings of a post about the first of these and 214 of one about the second. That would appear not to be insignificant.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

651 readings and 600 of them was probably you.
Now please naff off and go and do something useful.

[gep]

There is little chance of that happening.
He habitually has to have the last word and will continue to advertise even though this Sorabji crap is of interest only to a very small minority.
Hopefully Hinton will just button it.

What happens exactly at CERN is of interest only to a very small minority, yet the connsequences of what happens there afflicts many and much, even if those many haven't got the slightest idea such consequences did originate there; the whole Internet started at CERN, for ex.. What the CERN example further examplifies is that, yes, there may be not that many who know what is going on there, and even fewer who understand it, but those that do know and understand are usually utterly devoted people. Was it not for their devotion, much would either not have happened, or only much later. Granted, the music of Sorabji is not as important in the grand scheme of things as is, say, the Internet, but that does not diminish the devotion of some to this music, or the appreciation thereof - I have no doubt - quite a few more than you would either believe or be willing to accept.

It is especially the diatribes against the music of Sorabji in prejudiced principle that seem to butt-on eternally from a 'very small minority'. I would be (pleasantly!) surprised if a majority of PF members would enjoy the music of Sorabji (and if someone doesn't, and such is their genuine taste: no problem), but such says nothing about the quality of the music; just as little as millions upon  millions who like this or that music says anything of the quality of that music. And even then quality is not, nor should be, equal to personal developed taste. Starting a poll because you think you can in any sensible way vote about "is this music valid or valuable,  or not" is nonsense.

In the mean time, new recordings of Sorabji's music do appear, and in the case of Sequentia Cyclica, do get ever more positive if not indeed rave reviews; so far, I have to see the first merely mildly positive review. Butt-on as much as you like, reality does not mind.

[ahinton]

651 readings and 600 of them was probably you.
Now please naff off and go and do something useful.

Not probably. Not at all, in fact. My only involvement in those threads was their initiation.

For your information, I have been doing useful things all day, none of which involves the music of a certain Parsi composer who lived from 1892 until 1988.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

Good!

So all of those composers are OK in your book, yes?

One might take from that list and conclude that Godowsky is more of a minority interest than Liszt or that fewer people would likely express as much interest in Medtner and Busoni as they would in Chopin and Brahms - but your omission to do this yourself seems rather to illustrate the invalidity of what passes for your point.

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

My only involvement in those threads was their initiation.

[ahinton]

No, I have no involvement in equestrian excrement.

That said, where is your proof? You seem to have developed quite a habit of making unevidenced statements.

I have no need to view those threads unless anyone responds thereto; that would be a pointless and time-wasting exercise and I have better things to do.

Anyway, what's unproven is of no relevance or value.

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

[ahinton]

Now what was it that you wrote on another thread about your intelligence?...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

In the mean time, new recordings of Sorabji's music do appear, and in the case of Sequentia Cyclica, do get ever more positive if not indeed rave reviews; so far, I have to see the first merely mildly positive review. Butt-on as much as you like, reality does not mind.

This is moronic even by your standards. It is likely to get rave reviews as it is going to be people who already like that kind of crap who are going to buy it. The casual classical listener is not going buy it.
I havent written my review yet.

[perfect_pitch]

There is literally millions of posters very much like this Alistair.



I am MORE than happy to continue posting them here.

[ahinton]

This is moronic even by your standards. It is likely to get rave reviews as it is going to be people who already like that kind of crap who are going to buy it.

Where is the logic behind that? Those who publish reviews are professional reviewers; those who purchase the reecordings are customers. That some people are already well disposed towards this music can have no impact upon the content of published reviews.

The casual classical listener is not going buy it.

Of that I have little doubt, but the "the casual classical listener is not going to buy" a whole host of things!

I havent written my review yet.

I was unaware that you write for magazines, &c., that publish record reviews; when you publish your review, do please let us know in what source you do so.

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

There is literally millions of posters very much like this Alistair.



I am MORE than happy to continue posting them here.

Post whatever you like; it makes no difference to me, any more than does the number of the posters to which you refer.

Likewise, it is of no concern whether or not you listen to what I say (or rather read what I write), although you appear to do so to the extent of responding as you have done so far.

My observation about intelligence nevertheless still stands.

Bes,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I was unaware that you write for magazines, &c., that publish record reviews; when you publish your review, do please let us know in what source you do so.

Best,

Alistair

As a purchaser, I am entitled to leave an Amazon review which I intend to do.

[ahinton]

As a purchaser, I am entitled to leave an Amazon review which I intend to do.

Of course you are, although I'd thought that you'd specifically stated that you had not and would not purchase the item!

I was, however, referring not to personal purchaser reviews on Amazon or elsewhere but to professional published ones for which the reviewers are paid (albeit usually a pittance).

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

Post whatever you like; it makes no difference to me, any more than does the number of the posters to which you refer.

Likewise, it is of no concern whether or not you listen to what I say (or rather read what I write), although you appear to do so to the extent of responding as you have done so far.

My observation about intelligence nevertheless still stands.

[ahinton]

The purpose (if any) of your quotation is unclear, other than to the extent that it has about as much to do with the topic as the Civil War in Syria and its possible consequences has to do with Brexit (as may be noted from the thread on that topic).

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

[ahinton]

I'd not noticed your silence, or your calmness, or your kindness, I know nothing about your acceptance, I note that you seem to have developed a weakness for quoting but not crediting the words of others, but I have witnessed instances of your ignorance; I suppose that one out of six isn't bad.

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

[ahinton]

If Arnold, then Schönberg...

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

[ahinton]

!!!

Sorabji, inspired by Alexander Pope, once wrote that "insects that are merely noisome like to think that they can also sting".

Much more recently, a distinguished Sorabji scholar, mindful of this and during the heyday of "The Three Tenors", paraphrased this to "tenors that are merely noisome like to think that they can also sing".

Thank you for the opportunity to mention this!

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

You sound so sexy, when you’re not talking.

[ahinton]

You sound so sexy, when you’re not talking.

How can you be so sure, at least in comparative terms, given that I do not and indeed cannot "talk" per se on this forum?

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I was, however, referring not to personal purchaser reviews on Amazon or elsewhere but to professional published ones for which the reviewers are paid (albeit usually a pittance).

Best,

Alistair

They are normally written by opinionated wankers.

[ahinton]

They are normally written by opinionated wankers.

So you wouldn't trust any published professional reviews, then, irrespective of the music, performances and recordings concerned?

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

You would be much more likeable if it wasn’t for that hole in your mouth that noise comes out of.

[ahinton]

You would be much more likeable

How can you be sure of that? On what grounds do you assume this?

if it wasn’t for that hole in your mouth that noise comes out of.

Never end a sentence with a preposition. Bear in mind, though, that any such "noise" that emanates from my mouth or indeed any of my orifices originates in the brain, so why I would be "much more likeable" escapes me.

As I mentioned earlier, a distinguished Michelin starred chef once publicly opined that there is a place for a microwave: in the corner, out of sight.

That said, sharps were as important as flats and naturals for Sorabji, just as they have been for centuries for all other composers.

Lastly, as I have mentioned previously, your references to "noise" and "mouth" in this context continue to overlook the fact that neither pertains here, since on an internet forum all that contributors can do is type and submit posts; no "noise" is involved and I imagine that no forum member would type with his/her mouth...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

So you wouldn't trust any published professional reviews, then, irrespective of the music, performances and recordings concerned?

Best,

Alistair

Absolutely not, apart from Musicweb

[ahinton]

Absolutely not, apart from Musicweb

OK, well that's clear enough as a personal opinion, even though you have yet to declare on what particular grounds you'd make that one exception.

That said, you have advised that you listened to only around half and hour of Jonathan Powell's new Sorabji recording and that you would not listen to any more of it; this effectively reveals that any review of it that you might post will be of little more than 1/17th of the value that it might otherwse be were you to have listened to the work in its entirety. That rather speaks for itself.

You've also made remarks about appreciation of Sorabji's music being confined to a tiny côterie of fans of which you clearly have a low opinion.

Do bear in mind, though, that 40+ years ago, no one listened to this music because it wasn't being performed, broadcast or recorded so, with many hundreds of performances and broadcasts having since taken place and more than 50 CDs of or including his work released, it clearly has a far wider listener base than once it did.

The head of Brilliant Classics has written that he wants to partipate in the introduction of this music to an audience not already familiar with it; a worthy and important aim with which I wish him the best of success. There could be nothing worse than a situation in which this music was the sole province of a minuscule fan club.

Best,

Alistair

[perfect_pitch]

[ahinton]

I've seen peas being shelled but have never seen them shutting either up or down.

Best,

Alistair