Sorry... But The OC

[Ruro]

Hi all, my severe apologies for bringing this up, the friggin Opus Clavicembalisticum, as I see many threads have existed in the past, each one containing a flame war and atleast one mock of the piece, but I can't find what I'm looking for in those threads.

If anyone has heard the recordings from both Madge and Ogdon, I'm curious as to which one is more accurate? I'm not asking for a score or mp3, Virgin have both of these available to buy, and with no comparisons on the net, choosing between the two is down to flipping a coin at the moment.
Closest I have come is Amazon reviews, and Ogdon reviews saying it's better then Madges and vice versa... getting nowhere >_<

And yes, why the hell am i buying it? As said in another post of mine, the sheer length of it would please myself, a lover of all Metal/Classical/Jpop music and unique music. I listened to the 4 samples located on a site, each 1 minute in length, which is indeed nothing in comparison to it's entire length, but they all pleased me (the fourth one was plain amusing), so I know the either £36 or £44 performance will be worth the money ^_^

Throw your opinions and curses at me please, but hopefuly... a comparison would be nice >_< And I really didn't want to have to post this, honestly, because it causes so much heat, but I think some people out there can keep cool and lend me some advice ^_^

[thierry13]

Of what i've heard and read from the previous posts, Ogdon is the best of the two. Just what I can remember of what people said.

[Motrax]

The curator of the international piano archive says the Ogdon is better. He's been in the business for quite a while longer than I've been alive, so I respect that opinion. Not that I'd ever listen to the piece myself... 

[Ruro]

Lol, it does a bit daunting the whole thing, but for some reason i'm really sure this is worth the investment, I quite trust my likes and dislikes I guess ^_^

Thanks for your input, without you inputting that I thought there was a general typical view that Madge was worse only because he has been reviewed so much more (and generaly not seeming good), causing Ogdon to rise without nothing said >_<

With just this said, I think I'll buy the Ogdon version, still have to wait for Virgin to get it in, I guess I could get back to ya with my opinion of it if it means anything to you ^_^

[fnork]

I listened a bit on Madges recording (it was availeble for download here earlier), while looking at the first pages of the sheet music. From what I remember, there were lots of errors (although it's probably impossible to play this music perfectly) and I didn't like it very much...

But I don't like OC anyway, so...

[DarkWind]

I'd wait until Powell comes out with his recording. He seems to know what he is talking about from some of his posts.

[apion]

The curator of the international piano archive says the Ogdon is better. He's been in the business for quite a while longer than I've been alive, so I respect that opinion. Not that I'd ever listen to the piece myself... 

Hey, if it's good enough for the "Curator of International Piano Archives" ......... 

[Sergey R]

From what I've heard, Madge plays many wrong notes and even improvises in some parts. Ogdon plays more right notes but very harshly making it sound just as bad meaning we have two worthless recordings. Until someone can play this piece correctly and record it well, we will never be able to have a true idea of what the piece sounds like, but even if someone did play it perfectly I personally still don't enjoy the piece. I read a review on a website that gave some sound samples and was suggesting that Sorabji's works should be listened to differently, and that they are a whole new kind of composition. This is true, but to me in a bad way. It seems to me as though Sorabji is simply uncreative and can't think of what to write to take up the four hours. In one sample I listened to it was simply running up and down the keyboard with the right hand and random chords in the left hand. Sorabji just doesn't know what to do, so he just composes it really long and with lots of staves and really hard so that no-one will be able to play it properly. Then when someone criticises how it sounds, he can say "it wasn't played properly in the recording" or "you haven't listened to the whole thing", etc. I don't like this piece at all, but I would think that if you wanted to buy a recording, buy Ogdon's because he at least hits more "right" notes.

[Regulus Medtner]

Enough with this  piece!!! 

Now, just my two cents. I can't say I dislike Ogdon's performance, but I'd go for Madge (which is the recording I own). Nevertheless, I'd urge you to go and buy anything else that you might enjoy and leave this/these recordings as the last thing you buy. The piece is not THAT good in the first place and none of the two interpretations do it full (or even semi-decent) justice.


PS. Apparently, notoriety IS everything.

[Ruro]

Ah, thankyou for further input ^_^

"Ogdon plays more right notes but very harshly making it sound just as bad" - That is quite off-putting, perhaps I should do the suggested and wait till Mr Powell releases one. At the moment I havn't brought any classical music, I just keep borrowing from the Library ^_^ Basicaly the current recommendation seems: "Expand your horizons of music elsewhere"

It shall be done I think, thanks again for your help, and with no flaming

[Op. 1 No. 2]

I'd wait until Powell comes out with his recording. He seems to know what he is talking about from some of his posts.

His recording of Sorabji's 4th Piano Sonata is truly fantastic. If he records the Opus Clavicembalisticum, it'll be a must-have!

[Etude]

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