I feel compelled to contribute my viewpoint, not because it is
necessarily so profound but because I do enjoy making and sharing
videos. First off, I am an amateur and I very rarely get the
opportunity to play for others (my supportive wife and indifferent
children and pets aside). When you play for your own pleasure and to
increase your technical skills, it is difficult to have a final "goal".
When is a piece good enough? When do you get tired of playing it? I
find that planning to video a piece is an impetus for me to reach a
level of proficiency that at least doesn't embarrass me to share the
results. It's not the same as the proficiency level for a recital (I
spent months working on my program before my inaugural LSA recital),
especially having the luxury of multiple takes. Nevertheless it doesn't
let you leave a piece until you can get through it with at least some
level of decent tone and having considered the interpretive choices. By
NO means would I ever claim to post a "definitive" recording, but I do
like to feel that it was my best effort on the day.
The other big advantage, since I am unable to get regular lessons, is
that watching a video of myself can uncover technical problems. Am I
breathing too heavily? Do I sway too much (as Barto is always telling
me!)? Do I think I am varying my right hand position but really am
ending up always in one spot? Are my Barre's too close to the fret for
the middle courses? Does phrasing that I think is obvious actually come
across as too subtle and four square? These are all examples that I
have seen in my own playing only with the benefit of video.
Also, even though my playing is far from the level of dedicated
professionals, people who watch the videos seem to enjoy them. I am
proud to be an evangelist for the lute and for the composers whose work
can only be shared through the lute. The lute family of instruments are
visually stunning and I believe that seeing them is a great part of the
appeal (even if sound quality is diminished on video sharing sites). I
have received countless emails from guitarists who chanced upon my
youtube site and ask me how to get started on the lute. Yes, there are
people who say I suck (I have a thick skin and surgeon's ego). There
are also people who say my playing is better than O'Dette or Barto. I
thank them and then refer them to professional recordings that
demonstrate how untrue their sentiments were.
Finally, of course there is an element of personal ego. I'm proud of
what I have accomplished in my few years of playing. Musical
performance is an act of communication. If nobody else hears, it is the
proverbial tree falling in the forrest. I was once in South Florida
during the Apollo's Fire tour (as Board Member, not performer). I was
sitting in the hall during touch up rehearsals and someone from the
local organizing committee walked past me, did a small double take,
then walked past me a couple more times. Finally, she came up to me and
said "Hey, you're Kidneykutter, aren't you?" OK, I admit it. That was
cool.
Danny
On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 8:00 AM, Rob MacKillop
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I agree that MP3s are not the same quality as CDs, and add that
CDs are
not the same quality as vinyl. I wish I had made an old-fashioned
LP. I
suppose I still can, but it would be very expensive.
I bought a 1930s gramophone a couple of years ago to play 78s. I
was
able to contrast the sound of some Benny Goodman/Charlie Christian
recordings on 78s and CDs. I can state that, in my opinion, sound
reproduction has not improved at all - it has just got different.
With
the CD versions (re-mastered) I can hear every instrument, even
the
bass drum, but the guitar sound is weak and lower in the mix. On
the
78s, Charlie Christian jumps out of the speaker, right into your
room -
a fantastic sound - but some instruments are lost. In this
instance I
prefer the 78s.
I actually WILL be recording a CD in February with the Paris-based
viol
player, Jonathan Dunford - well, he asked me to - for Alpha
Recordings.
I wonder if I could persuade them to make it a 78?!
Rob MacKillop
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