Maximum Personal Emotional Reaction to Particular Recording
- Thread starter Ron Resnick
- Start date
When I entered Juilliard in the late 70s, people were still talking about Michael Rabin's extraordinary talent and tragic life.
Just to bring a more contemporary perspective, Funeral by Phoebe Bridgers always makes me tear up. https://open.qobuz.com/track/53660394
I'm mostly rock. But I have classical roots.
I know its not hifi, but if you want to hear the best performance of Strauss's Four Last Songs, the best recorded interpretation is on 78s, which Furtwangler conducting and Kirsten Flagstad as solo. Furwangler knew Strauss and this is evident in his conducting. I cannot play or even write about the 4th Song without a strong emotional response. When the lyrics speaker of birds you can hear them in the flutes. Flagstad's power and command was unequalled in her day; the best hifi version is in mono and sung by Elizabeth Schwarzkopf; its mediocre in comparison. Schwarzkopf's stereo recording is excellent sound and the interpretation worse. So its worth seeking Flagstaff's version which is on YT.
she has all the tones at her disposal to make the human voice simply wonderful and give you goosebumps..what a voice freya ridings
When I'm inspired to emotion it has a lot to do with how the song relates to my own personal experiences, especially more recent thoughts and experiences, so singer/songwriter stuff works more on me that way than classical/orchestral stuff, or instrumental Jazz, both of which I find highly inspiring but not particularly emotional. Those create a more a soulful experience than an emotional, although a general emotion of joy comes along for the ride.
Trying to separate emotions from soulful experiences, or perhaps "fancies" as Edgar Allan Poe tried to describe them, is tricky. But I think it's fair to say that I know an emotion by my physical response. I feel it viscerally; tears flow, I laugh, feel butterflies of elation in my gut or gut wrenching pangs from fear or despair. These other experiences like wonder, fascination/obsession, or curiosity seem to be more confined to the mind, although not necessarily the intellect.
Ron, I almost laughed when you said you were trying to inure yourself against the music! I find this happens automatically for me over time. I still feel it, but the intensity fades with repeated listening.
Lately I discovered Judee Sill, who's songs emotionally stir me. In her case it's not that I necessarily relate directly to what she's singing about, but indirectly through experiences of people I care about.
Another song that I was very moved by hearing again recently was Cat Steven's rendition of Morning has Broken. It's a Christian Hymn, written by Eleanor Farjeon. Neither I nor Mr. Yusuf Islam consider ourselves Christian by faith, although he might have when he sung that. But there's a message there about life in general that I think transcends religion. Losing parents over the last few years makes me reflect on their lives, and how beautiful life is to us. It wouldn't be possible without the sun, and it's not going to quit on us any time soon. That brings tears of joy rather than sadness. I listened to it again last night. I love the sound of the backup singers. Apparently I've inured myself pretty well to that one. I'm sure something else will come along and hit me again soon.
Trying to separate emotions from soulful experiences, or perhaps "fancies" as Edgar Allan Poe tried to describe them, is tricky. But I think it's fair to say that I know an emotion by my physical response. I feel it viscerally; tears flow, I laugh, feel butterflies of elation in my gut or gut wrenching pangs from fear or despair. These other experiences like wonder, fascination/obsession, or curiosity seem to be more confined to the mind, although not necessarily the intellect.
Ron, I almost laughed when you said you were trying to inure yourself against the music! I find this happens automatically for me over time. I still feel it, but the intensity fades with repeated listening.
Lately I discovered Judee Sill, who's songs emotionally stir me. In her case it's not that I necessarily relate directly to what she's singing about, but indirectly through experiences of people I care about.
Another song that I was very moved by hearing again recently was Cat Steven's rendition of Morning has Broken. It's a Christian Hymn, written by Eleanor Farjeon. Neither I nor Mr. Yusuf Islam consider ourselves Christian by faith, although he might have when he sung that. But there's a message there about life in general that I think transcends religion. Losing parents over the last few years makes me reflect on their lives, and how beautiful life is to us. It wouldn't be possible without the sun, and it's not going to quit on us any time soon. That brings tears of joy rather than sadness. I listened to it again last night. I love the sound of the backup singers. Apparently I've inured myself pretty well to that one. I'm sure something else will come along and hit me again soon.
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You certainly have chosen one of the all time great romantic German sopranos. Alas I looked on tidal and Qobuz and not there.
Yes, Schwarzkopf's singing became more and more mannered as time passed. Her mono recordings such as the Schubert Lieder with Edwin Fischer sounded much fresher and freer. On that vein, the Decca recording of Mahler's Songs of the Earth with Kathleen Ferrier is also incredible.
Sorry for that for me it works.
Another great voice from today Loren Allred, so unknown for years. now who everybody knows she sang "Never enough"(Greatest Showman movie). What a voice so emtional, hitting every high note(kill it)
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