Sound recordings

--- Sound Pictures CD --- Toneburst CD --- Internet Radio & CD Collections --- 

Internet Radio

I listen much to Internet Radio and not just for background music. Rather than to go through an extensive collection of music on my own discs and a nearly full 1 TB HD, I enjoy listening to radio stations, particularly from Europe, for their variety of program material. It leads me to discover unfamiliar material that I like, to find something that fits the mood of the moment or to expand my musical horizon. European radio stations often carry direct recordings of musical events, which are not available on media. 
Amongst my favorite stations are:

• 103.2 | BR-KLASSIK (Classical) - Munich/Germany
• 96.7 | hr2 kultur (Classical) - Germany 
• 94.3 | Radio 4 (Classical) - The Netherlands
• COOL RADIO JAZZ (Jazz) - Germany
• JAZZ WELT RADIO (Jazz) - Germany
• KCSM-Jazz 91.1FM - CA, USA

I use the tunein application on my NEXUS 7 tablet computer (or NEXUS 4 phone) for listening via the LX521 Reference speakers both at home and at Sea Ranch. WiFi broadcasts are usually transmitted at 56 kbps data rates in MP3 format and thus of poor quality. Absolutely use the highest data rate that is available under Options > Choose stream such as at least 128 kbps or higher for the best possible sound. While 128 kbps is not quite the sonic quality of a really good CD (there are plenty of mediocre ones) I find these transmissions very revealing of what the recording engineer or producer has decided to capture and transmit. In particular the real or unreal spatial context for a particular piece of music, the 3D aspects in the recording, are readily recognized even at 128 kbps. In the end, though, it is all about my engagement with the musical content and with the realism of the illusion, which I enjoy.

• Bert Hoefsloot sent me the list < listenlive.eu> and suggested that a good DAC makes a difference
• Andre Yew suggested <KUSC> as being much closer to home and I add 89.9 | KDFC as really close.
• Alister Sibbald wrote: "Siegfried, I was surprised that you didn't include BBC Radio 3 in your list of Internet Radio stations. It's a national treasure - and transmits at 320kb/s, which is pretty decent quality." (I had excluded it because I saw only very low bit rates)
• Richard Needleman wrote: "Hi SL, My suggestion for the best Internet radio station for those with catholic musical interests: https://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/wkcr/playlist They also have speciality programs such as a 10 day, 24hr Bach festival at Christmas which includes many rare recordings. It is also the only radio station I have heard where you can hear a stuck needle."

I will stop here with additions. I think the point has been made that music of satisfactory quality and for everyone's interest and taste can be readily found on the web for free.

CD, SACD, DVD collections

Here are a variety of examples of well recorded sounds and of music that I love from my collection. The most recent additions are at the top of the list. As always, playback should be at realistic volume levels, neither too high nor too low, to fully experience the presentation. 

• Anouar Brahem, The Astounding Eyes of Rita, CD (2009)
  
• Mason Bates, Works for Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, CD (2016)
  
• L. Bernstein, West Side Story, San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, 2 SACD, SFS Media, Klassik Review
  
• J. S. Bach, Matthaeus Passion, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Concerto Koeln, PeterDijkstra, 2 DVD Video, BR Media
  
• Leonard Cohen, Live in London, Sony Music, DVD Video
  
• Elton John, The Red Piano, live from Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, DVD Video
  
• Mamma Mia, The Movie, DVD Video
  
• Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mendelssohn, Kurt Mazur, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, DVD Video, DGG B0012533-00
  
• Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 5, Daniel Barenboim, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, DVD Video, Arthaus Musik 100 033
  
• Gustavo Dudamel, Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Inaugural Concert, DVD Video, DGG B00113638-09
  
• San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Keeping Score, Copland and the American Sound, DVD Video
  
• Sjostakovitj, Symfoni Nr 15, Uppsala Kammarorkester, Magi, SCD 1148 (Great recording to show off the ORION's qualities)
  
• Beethoven, Complete Sonatas & Variations for Cello and Piano, Channel Classics, CCS SA 22605, 2CD
  
• The Ray Brown Trio Live at the LOA, Summer Wind, Concord Jazz SACD-1027-6
  
• Postcards, Turtle Creek Chorale, Reference Recordings RR-61CD
  
• Ein Straussfest, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Kunzel, Telarc CD-80098 (listen once demo stuff)
  
• Haydn, String Quartets, The Amsterdam String Quartet, Channel Classics, CCS SA 25907
  
• www.brklassik.de - Bavarian Radio classical station on the web with an interesting mix of old and new music. I listen to the station with my Logitech Squeezebox connected to the ORION system. The sound stream is at 128 kbps CBR and usually of very good quality. Often the material is from recent live concerts in Europe, well recorded, but not available on CD.
  
• Jennifer Warnes, Famous Blue Raincoat, The Songs of Leonard Cohen, BMG 01005-82092-2
  
• Randall Thompson, The Testament of Freedom, Timothy Seelig, Turtle Creek Chorale, Dallas Wind Symphony, Ref. Recordings RR-49CD
  
• Rachmaninoff, Vespers, Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Telarc CD-80172
  
• Handel, As steals the morn ..., Arias & scenes for tenor, Mark Padmore, The English Concert, Harmonia Mundi HMU 907422
  
• Beethoven, Complete Sonatas and Variations for piano and cello, Pieter Wispelwey & Dejan Lazic, Channel Classics CCS SA 22605, 2SACD
  
• Leif Ove Andsnes, A Portrait, (piano - Grieg, Liszt, Haydn, Nielsen, Tveitt, Johansen, Saeverud, Janacek, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich) EMI Classics 5 74789 2 (2 CD)
  
• Thomas Quasthoff, Bach Cantatas, (bass-baritone) DGG B00003458-02
  
• Janine Jansen, Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Decca B0005298-02
  
• Jacintha, Here's to Ben, A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster, Groove Note, BRV1001-2, #4, 9
  
• Joe Cocker, Ultimate Collection, Hip-O/A&M B0001572-02 (a study in recording technique and sound processing over a 32 year span)
  
• Herbie Hancock, Gershwin's World, Verve 314 557 797-2, #2, 3
  
• Mahler, Symphony #3, Riccardo Chailly, Concertgebouw, Decca B0002336-02
  
• Stravinski, The Rite of Spring, Lorin Maazel, Cleveland, Telarc CD-80054 (powerful bass, fierce brass, spectacular)
  
• Diana Krall, The Girl in the Other Room, Verve B0001826-12, #3, 10
  
• Mahler, Symphony #2, San Francisco Symphony, MTT, SACD 821936-0006-2
  
• Arthur Rubinstein, The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos, Living Stereo, SACD 82876-61396-2
  
• Orff, Carmina Burana, Telarc SACD-60575
  
• Sound Pictures, a sampling of my own special recordings on a Demo CD
  
• Super Bass 2 with Brown / Clayton / McBride, Telarc SACD-63483, #7, 11, 12
  
• Medeski, Martin & Wood, TONIC, Blue Note Records, #8, 6 
  
• Mickey Hart, Planet Drum, Rykodisk RCD 10206, #7
  
• Three Guitars, Larry Coryell / Badi Assad / John Abercrombie, Chesky JD248, #5
  
• Lhasa, La Llorona, Atlantic 83120-2, #8, 5
  
• Stravinsky, Shadow Dances, DGG 289 453 458-2, #1, 21, 24
  
• Brian Bromberg, WOOD, A440 music group, 4001, #1, 3
  
• Wynton Marsalis, Mr. Jelly Lord, Standard Time, Vol. 6, #2, 5
  
• Rachmaninoff, Symphonic Dances, Eiji Oue, Ref. Recordings RR-96CD
  
• Ports of Call, Eiji Oue, Ref. Recordings, RR-80CD, #2, 1, 9
  
• Benjamin Britten, The young person's guide to the orchestra, RCA 09026-61226-2, #10, 2, 1
  
• Horowitz at Home, DGG 427-772-2, #7
  
• Yo-Yo Ma, The New York Album, Sony SK 57 961, #1, 2
  
• Ofra Harnoy, Romantic cello sonatas, RCA 09026-61818-2, #3
  
• Igor Stravinsky, Histoire du soldat, Chesky CD122, #12
  
• PULSE, The New Music Consort, Classic Records NWCD 319, #1, 3
  
• Ariel Ramirez, Misa Criolla, Philips 420 955-2, #1, 5
  
• John Rutter, Requiem, Ref. Rec. RR-57CD, #9
  
• Mi Buenos Aires querido, Daniel Barenboim, Teldec 0630-13474-2
  
• Belafonte at Carnegie Hall, Classic CD LSOCD 6006, 2#9, 5, 4, 7, 6
  
• Fairfield Four, Standing in the safety zone, Warner Bros. 9 26945-2, #9, 3, 7
  
• The Roches, Warner Bros. 3298-2, #5
  
• Rickie Lee Jones, Pop Pop, Geffen GEFD-24426, #7, 6, 9
  
• Holly Cole, Temptation, Metro Blue CDP 7243 8 31653 22, #4, 3, 11 (bass is exaggerated)
  
• Jazz at the pawnshop, Proprius PRCD 7778, #3, 5
  
• Duke Ellington, Indigos, Columbia CK 44444, #8
  
• Bela Fleck, Live Art, Warner Bros. 9 46247-2, 1#4, 7, 2#1, 6*, 9
  * = Test your system to hear if it can play track 6 on disc 2 cleanly at realistic volume levels. Be careful!
  
• I - Ching, Of the marsh and the moon, Chesky WO144, #1, 6, 7, 10
  
• Andreas Vollenweider, Book of Roses, Columbia CK 48601
  
• Pink Floyd, The Wall, Columbia C2K 68519, 1#4, 5
  
• Stevie Ray Vaughan, The sky is crying, Epic EK 47390, #2, 8, 4
  
• The best of Santana, Columbia CK 65561, #3
  
• Eagles, Hell Freezes Over, Geffen GEFD-24725, #6
  
• Bucky Pizzarelli, Swing Live, Chesky JD 218, #7, wow! play it live!
  
• Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Mike Marshall, Uncommon Ritual, Sony  SK 62891, #7, 8, 17
  
• Deedee Bridgewater, Live at Yoshi's, Verve 314 543 354-2, #5, 9
  
• MANGER, Musik wie von einem anderen Stern, sampler (Caution: #12 has severe subsonic signals)
  

More to come, as I think of other recordings, or hear something special. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, just a sampling of the sonic treasures out there. Let me know, if you have a favorite that I should listen to.

A good reference source for audiophile recordings is the catalog from musicdirect.

Marc Heijligers has a music collection where I see a number of recordings that I have heard and I would assume that other ones are of similar quality.