[Scott[_6_]]

On Feb 13, 7:50=A0pm, Scott wrote:
Based on a number of discussions on Two other audio forumsin regardsto pe=
rformance qualityin classical music,Idecided toposta couplesimple single bl=
ind comparisons of the same piece of music on those
forums for the other forum members to rate. Only catch was theyweren't al=
lowed to know who the artists were.In one pollIhad eightversions of a Chopi=
n Etude played by many different pianists fromdifferent eras with different=
reputations.In the otherIsimply madeit two selections.Ionly got two voters=
in one poll and fourin theother. The one that got four was barely blind sin=
ceit wasin reactionto the old guard v. the new young talent debate andit wa=
s easy todiscern which was the more modern recording and which was the"hist=
orical" one. Naturally all four voted for the historical one.Butanyway.Iwas=
quite surprised at the lack of participation. WheneverIhave the opportunit=
y thisis somethingienjoy doing when auditioningperformances of classical mu=
sic. Thisis how musicians audtion now for
orchestras!

Ihave always been a bit suspicious of classical music fans as agroup.IME =
they tend to favor popular reputation over real merit.Thisjust adds another=
a little more fuel to that fire.Iguessitis mucheasier to know who your fav=
orite musicians are as long as you "know
who they are."

Looks like I jumped the gun. At one of the forums the other forum
members have started to take an interest and participate. Of course
with the open discussion it is not entirely blind anymore. but so far
the results have been varied so we don't seem to have anyone following
the heard.