Beethoven Archduke Trio

[OrthoSean]

I once turned down an opportunity to own (for free, yet!) a complete "Tristan und Isolde" because I quaked at the daunting task of lugging all those albums. In that case, the move would have necessitated all hand-carrying from a forest cabin down to a lake shore, into a small motorboat and across the water, then another shlep from boat to car, plus where to put the things once I got them home. And then how often would I ever play the damn things? I'm still not at all sorry I passed on that one!

I have a complete two volume "Tristan" on VT Columbias. 20 or 22 12 inch discs, I think. Not that bad! I'll admit I've never played through the whole set and I probably never will, but it's a nice set to have IMO.

Sean

[Henry]

IIRC, the set I spoke of was on Victor, and it was far more than 20-22 records. Double that; maybe 8-10 albums worth.

When you consider that "Tristan" takes 5-6 hours to perform live (complete), that's a lot of getting up and down to do the manual changes---too much for me even to contemplate. I can barely sit through a Saturday matinee MET radio broadcast of it, in the comfort of my own home, where I don't have to do anything. Maybe catch a few Z-Z-Zs.

IMO, the best Wagner music dramas are "Das Rheingold" and "Die Walküre"; but I digress.

Apologies if this horrifies the Wagnerites among us.

[De Soto Frank]

"Wagner's music is better than it sounds."

- Mark Twain

[CptBob]

An autochanger would be good and the set seems designed for it, with the first six sides on consecutive records. I'd have played them on my Lenco turntable but the first disk was a bit warped and the first half minute or so wouldn't play properly. Agreed, if that was all you had a set like this would be wonderful, but the problem for me isn't so much changing records as getting involved in the music and it coming to an abrupt stop.

Re Wagner, I just bought a CD set of Tristan - the Beecham 1937 recording with Flagstad and Melchior, in a discount shop here in France. I've never ever listened to Tristan all the way through in one sitting, but this set held me. Admittedly there was a lot of frying pan noises in there, and I'm sure a set of 78s would sound better, but it was an involving performance and I could sit by the wood burner and get into the music.

BTW I've not responded sooner because the only internet access I have here is in the bar in the nearest town. I'm here with a lunch time demi.

[Henry]

"Wagner's music is better than it sounds."

- Mark Twain

I thought it was "Wagner's music sounds better than it is," but I could be confused (---easily!).

[Henry]

BTW I've not responded sooner because the only internet access I have here is in the bar in the nearest town. I'm here with a lunch time demi.

Take your time, Bob! Sounds like you found a much warmer and more comfortable setting. One could easily pass on the Wagner.

I'll take Martinis!

[CptBob]

Well, I did play the whole set again and the I found the first two movements totally gripping, but the third and especially the fourth seemed to run out of steam. The two movements form a single span of music over six sides, but it's when you get to the last side, the momentum seems to have disappeared.

I've ordered a copy of the Naxos CD and also their version of the Mendelssohn. I had thought of making my own recording of it, when I go back to France next week, but I've got painting and decorating to get on with and I don't think I'll have the time.

I'll take Martinis!

I have all the ingredients, and six martini glasses in the UK. I'll take them with me

[CptBob]

I got the Archduke trio from an Ebay seller from whom I'd bought a small job lot of classical records. It received no bids and I gave him his starting price of a fiver. He also had one album of the Hugo Wolf society set, volume 6, I paid the same for that and I wish I'd bid on all the others he listed.

There's something wonderful about listening to serious music on a gramophone, especially if the records activate the automatic brake. You listen, the record stops, and you think about what you've listened to for five minutes and then think about playing the other side of the record. It's such a more thoughtful way to listen to music.

It's a wonderful set, with comprehensive notes, pity there's at least one disk missing. I don't think the seller was to blame, there's no index in the notes and it wouldn't be clear how many discs should have been in the pack because they are individual discs in a folder. I didn't really know Wolf's music before but it is rather wonderful.

I'm sure a better gramophone would make it even more wonderful, and if I got the wow and flutter (especially noticeable on piano music) sorted out it would be better. That's obviously another part of the forum, but next week I'll make a few recordings and post them and seek advice in the machines section.

[larryh]

78 albums have been a life long interest to me. I have had thousands of them and given them all away several times. Over the past several years I have once again purchased a good deal of them. Enough to more than fill a large wall in my music room. They ranged from the few earlier acoustic versions of things like Don Juan, Greig Concerto, Rite of Spring, and others pre electric recordings. Then when I had the Credenza I had most of the available late 20's early 30s Orthophonic and Columbia sets. However I never exactly liked the somewhat raspy effects the symphonic victor things had. Columbias were warmer sounding and string trios and quartets were also very good. Now I have returned to an automatic turn table to play the sets of the later variety. (I never did like the overwhelming sound of a classical set much after the 20's) played mechanically.) I have a Elac 50 H changer that does a good job of dropping the 78s and a Grado 78 Cartridge that provides very good sound. However the down side to the Elac is its very touchy about any defect in the record and most records from the Pre Lead In Groove era won't start. So I have to weed out any that are early and play them on manual. Still the sound of a good condition set can be very impressive and much better than any rerelease can offer. I have also tapped a number of sets on cassette which I personally like as a method to play an hour and a half of uninterrupted music. A friend has sent me quite a number of near mint sets from a college he works at, they have shown me the ability of a good record to produce great sound.. Not much surface noise and clear tones. I really still like the acoustic orchestra things since there the first time that type of music was recorded, some of them for there time were surprisingly good. The rachmaninoff concerto with the Philadelphia orchestra comes to mind as a set that if you didn't know it was an acoustic recording you might think other wise. I do agree though that having to change the records frequently can be a determent to playing some of them.. I have overcome that by having several mechanical machines next door where my mom has a rather large basement and I play many of the sets that demand attention constantly on that while I walk. It makes the listening and the walking more enjoyable.

Larry

[celticguitar666]

I agree with Larryh to a great degree. I have about 20 sets mostly of the 12 inch variety. I listen to them on my dedicated 78 system an Garrard TT XV15 cartridge Carver mag through a set of vintage A/D/S book shelf speakers while I use the preamp in the carver the carver also has three tone controls bass mid and treble so I can approximate the right eq. My set are all pretty E+ or better with little surface noise to distract during the quiet parts Wonderful power impact flow and musicality definitely worth the effort of the records changes even on my Victrola for the acoustic opera single sided records Comon guys isn't this what the hobby is about? Not just the machines it's the music too? sort of like owning a antique British sports and having to do all the work that's required to keep it running but t all goes away when cruising down a sun dappled country road same as when the needle drops on that vintage shellac and hearing something few others can my 2 cents but I also make cd's and mp3's for the car as the old Vic wouldn't fair well there
Dwight