Music in the Round #47 Recordings In The Round

Sidebar 2: Recordings In The Round

BIBER: Violin Sonatas
MUFFAT: Violin Sonata, Organ Works

Petri Tapio Mattson, violin; Eero Palviainen, archlute; Markku Mäkinen, organ.
Alba ABCD 311 (SACD/CD)

I'm a sucker for stuff like this album, titled A Virtuoso Faceoff. Each of these composers provides a powerful mixture of stately rigor and seething passion that I find irresistible, especially when well performed and recorded, as here. The soaring tones of Petri Tapio Mattson's baroque violin contrast beautifully with the rich underpinning of Markku Mäkinen's pipe organ. Add to that the piquant accents of Eero Palviainen's archlute, and it becomes a treat for the ear and mind. This was recorded in the warm acoustic of a Finnish parish church, and includes more than an hour of glorious yet soothing music. If your system is up to it, close your eyes, listen for the instrumental placements in the reverberant space, and revel in the presence you can sense.

BIELAWA: In medias res
With: Roam; Double Violin Concerto; unfinish'd, sent; Synopses 1–15
Lisa Bielawa, soprano; Carla Kihlstedt, violin, voice; Colin Jacobsen, violin; Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose
BMOP Sound 1017 (2 SACD/CDs)

Lisa Bielawa is a major new voice in music, and this two-disc set contains some of the most blindingly beautiful and original works I have heard in a while. Time Out New York describes Bielawa as possessing a "prodigious gift for mingling persuasive melodicism with organic experimentation," and that well captures my feelings. Her In medias res (Concerto for Orchestra) combines traditional harmonies with shifting tonalities. The innovative Double Violin Concerto features a portion for voice, and unfinish'd, sent is simply beautiful music for voice, in this case the composer's own. Disc 2 contains the 15 Synopses, each a short (3–7 minutes) piece for a single performer, the instruments ranging from piccolo to violin to trumpet to drum set plus voice. It all suggests that there is no limit to Bielawa's imagination.

I have nothing but praise for all the performers, but wish to single out Gil Rose and his Boston Modern Orchestra Project for their efforts, and their ability to present new music to new ears. The sound, as on previous BMOP SACDs, has clarity, presence, and power, without artifice or excessive ambience.

ERIC CLAPTON: Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010
With Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, Doyle Bramhall II, James Burton, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Pino Daniele, Vince Gill, Stefan Grossman, Buddy Guy, Warren Haynes, David Hidalgo, Bert Jansch, B.B. King, Earl Klugh, Sonny Landreth, Jonny Lang, Albert Lee, John Mayer, Keb' Mo', Robert Randolph, Cesar Rosas, Hubert Sumlin, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Steve Winwood, ZZ Top
Rhino 525668 (2 BDs)

Like its predecessors, the 2010 edition of the Crossroads Guitar Festival was a gathering of many of today's top players to pay tribute to Eric Clapton and each other. The performances are grouped by style, with some bridging between styles; some of the combinations are surprising, but surprisingly wonderful. The sound quality is outstanding, especially for a live, open-air event, and, coupled with crisp and well-directed video, there is a you-are-there feeling that's rarely conveyed by any recording medium. There is so much here that it's impossible to detail even the highlights. Hey, if the names of the artists in the head note don't get you, fuhgetaboutit!

CORIGLIANO: Symphony 3, "Circus Maximus"; Gazebo Dances
Jerry Junkin, University of Texas Wind Ensemble
Naxos NBD 0008 (BD Audio)

In my first "Music in the Round" column, in the June 2003 Stereophile (see www.stereophile.com/musicintheround/854/), I predicted the composition of musical works that would demand multichannel reproduction. Here John Corigliano gives us his Symphony 3 for large wind ensemble, complete with instruments moving and surrounding the listener, as stipulated by the composer. Admittedly, I was disappointed when this performance was originally released on CD; the liner notes clearly conveyed Corigliano's wishes in precise diagrams, yet there was no way for the listener to hear those intentions realized. Now there is.

In this sweeping and tumultuous work, Corigliano relates the spectacle and tragedy of Rome's Circus Maximus to today's overloaded and overlarded entertainment culture, with its "ever more extreme 'reality' shows." The work is rich in atmosphere and emotion, and builds to a dramatic peak in the title section, with movement and fanfare, and to an emotional peak in the concluding Prayer and Coda: Veritas movements. I particularly enjoyed the two Night Music movements (shades of Mahler!), which depict, with color and humor, the sounds of forest and city.

As for sound, this is a biggie: The listener is seated in a hall with a concert band on stage, smaller ensembles arrayed above and around, and a marching band—marching! Naxos has captured it all with clarity and weight in 24-bit/88.2kHz (upsampled to 24/96), 5.1-channel surround (DTS-HD MA).

ANDREAS FLIFLET: Jienat Mira
Jienat JNCD002 (SACD+BD)

This one's a hoot! Mixed, mastered, and authored by Morton Lindberg of 2L in bracingly immediate 5.1-channel sound, Andreas Fliflet and his cohort of performers surrounded a pentagram of main-channel microphones so that the listener sits right in the middle of the fun, surrounded by voices, drums, and various amazing sounds. The result is music that is, at least to me, completely novel. Elements of rock, world music, and folk intertwine, and though there's a fair amount of variation from track to track, I was happiest listening to only a few at a time. Perhaps that's because the experience is so intense, or perhaps I'm just not that into nonclassical stuff. Still, I keep going back to sample another and another. As for that hoot, check out track 7, which Fliflet dedicates to his puppy, Mira.

LUTOSLAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra, Symphony 3, Chain 3
Edward Gardner, BBC Symphony Orchestra
Chandos CHSA 5082 (SACD/CD)

If you like big, bold, and beautiful, you probably already know the music of Witold Lutoslawski—he tends to use large forces laced with surprising flavors and dissonances, and is often inspired by folk music. This disc, which contains three major orchestral works, should be an engaging and inspiring experience for audiophiles and music lovers alike. Chandos tends to record with more hall ambience than other labels, and they do so here, but the brass and percussion easily cut through. The result is a concert presentation more similar to that of a live event than most so-called "minimalist" or "audiophile" recordings. Turn it up and enjoy the space!—Kalman Rubinson

COMMENTS
Kal Rubinson's picture

It has been pointed out to me that I mentioned using the built in Audyssey MultEQ XT prior to using the Pro kit but failed to comment on the latter.

FWIW, MultEQ Pro didn't seem to make much difference over XT with the current setup. What was a more significant improvement was the addition of the Audyssey SubEQ for the two subs. I reported on that product earlier: http://forum.stereophile.com/content/music-round-40-page-2

Kal

Ashok's picture

Hi Kal,

I have a very basic question. Does this pre-pro (or any other) have an "Auto" setting for audio playback?

By "Auto" I mean:

- if presented with a 2-channel signal on an HDMI input, it does not apply any EQ or bass management, and simply sends the signal out on the Front L and R outputs.

- if presented with a multi-channel signal on the same HDMI input, it does apply EQ, and bass management, and sends output on all necessary channels.

I read through the user manual, and could not readily tell if such a mode exists. It seemed to me that if the Surround listening mode was employed, it would create surround channels even if the source was 2 channel.

I suppose I could manually switch to the Direct mode for 2 channel source material, but was hoping that the pre-pro could automatically do this.

Thanks for the review, this device seems like a reasonable entry point into multichannel audio.

Kal Rubinson's picture

Sorry.  There is no way to do this as you would prefer.  Other prepros, like the Integras, permit one to set a decode preference for each input format for each input and would allow you to prescribe "Direct" for stereo PCM input while programming "Decode" or other options for other formats.

OTOH, the Marantz remote allows easy access to "Direct" as well as the Audyssey options, all of which you must do from the menus with the Integras.

Kal

Bob Jones's picture

Kal,

 

First off, let me congratulate you on a great column.  I also love the "Music In The Round" music reviews at the end of each article.

 

I am leaning toward purchasing an AV7005 (upgrade from a receiver), and also looking at a new OPPO BD player.  I use my current 7.1 system for both movies and 2 channel music (about 50-50%), because of a single room limitation.  I have no SACDs or DVD-As, but would like to start getting more into multi-channel music (to complement my collection of Vinyl, CDs, BDs and various computer music files).  The back half of my system consists of NHT Classic VT-2s (FL & FR), NHT Classic 2C (Center), NHT Classic 2 (SSR, SSL, SRL & SRR), NHT Sub, Classe CA-150 Amp (2ch) and Emotiva XPA-5 Amp (5 channels).

 

So here are my questions:

 

1.  In your MITR article #44, you talk about digital connections from the player to the processor being preferred because of the requirements for level, delay & bass mgm't processing in the digital realm ... is this intended for both multichannel music and 2 channel music, or are the level, delay & bass mgm't functions not really needed for 2 channel music (I would think both would still have common need for room correction requirements?)?

 

2.  Based on my 50 / 50% split usage, do you recommend using HDMI digital from the player to the processor for multi-channel music and analog pass through for the 2 channel music, or digital for all?

 

3. The OPPO BDP-95 apparently has much better DACs and stereo analog outputs ... is it worth twice the price compared to the BDP-93 for my listening application? 

 

I intend to keep the new player and processor for awhile, so I would opt for better components now, rather than having to upgrade in the short term (3 years minimum) ... so if you have better recommendations that are worth the money for either the AV7005 or the OPPOs ... I could afford to spend a little more and therefore, I am all ears!

 

Appreciate your response and keep up the good work on MITR.

 

Thanks & Regards ... Bob

Kal Rubinson's picture

1.  Depends on your speakers, of course, but my answer is, generally, yes.

2.  Both.

3.  I doubt it if you are using HDMI.

 

Kal

bwfrazer's picture

Hi Kal,

 In # 47 you mention that the AV 7005 " can't accept DSD directly" . How can the AV 7005 accept DSD ? considering that the OPPO ( I believe) can send DSD via HDMI.

Can these two components "talk" DSD to one another?

If not, would the Integra DHC 80.2 / Onkyo PR-SC 5508 be a better match for the OPPO? I would prefer the Marantz but if the Integra has more function ability vis a vis DSD then that would be my choice.

 

Thank you for your time. your articles have definitely made my new equipment purchase  an easier task.

Best regards,

Bruce

bwfrazer's picture

Hi Kal.

 

Forgot to ask, on the tape out of the AV7005 is there no RIAA equalisation added? I would like to use Channel D's Vinyl software, with all of its EQ curves, and I would need an out with no EQ added.

Thanks again,

 

Bruce

Kal Rubinson's picture

1.  The Oppo (and all other HDMI-output players, afaik) will convert DSD to PCM from SACDs for HDMI output.  The Marantz is perfectly happy with this.

2.  The tape-out doesn't add any EQ, RIAA or otherwise.  However, I will bet that the phono input does. 

Kal

srydy's picture

Hi,

I like the features of this pre-pro and would like to pair it with a 2 channel amp (like parasound 2125 or BK ST-140) do you see any challenges in doing this?

Thanks!

Kal Rubinson's picture

No.

Cygnus72's picture

   Hi Kal

  I just purchased a Cambridge Azur 751BD because of its excellent DACS. I am starting to wonder if this was a good idea because I need an LPCM input via HDMI to use most receivers built in room correction. So I have two questions on this topic

 1. if i am using LPCM through HDMI I will no longer be using the great DACS in the Cambridge but the so-so DAC in the av7005?

 2. Will the av7005 apply room corection to the analog inputs so I can use the 751s DACS and therefore the bass management on the 751 aswell

 

                                                       thanks

                                                                        Drew S

Kal Rubinson's picture

1. Yes.

2.  No

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