Gershwin/Duo-Art/Woodhouse
By Karl Petersen
A painting is nominally judged by the ability of the artist to produce the effect desired. Often the audience, unaware of the desired effect, and not being familiar with the nuances of the medium, is not able to comprehend the work, much less judge it.
My conjecture is that Ms. Woodhouse has taken time to hear and consider Gershwin audio recordings, and has edited the already edited rolls into her best-shot emulation of George playing for a critical audience. Fine job.
I would think that now, five or six interpretations and transmutations later, we are quite lucky to get a whiff George's aftershave and must simply enjoy the CD as it is offered, appreciating the talent, labor and insight that went into it. Having heard half a dozen audio renditions of the man himself, I too prefer Oscar Levant, but that is not the subject.
What I really miss in this rather linear discussion is the compleat interview with Artis herself, comparing her view of phrases on a roll versus phrases on a recording. We could get insight into the pitfalls and successes of transcribing the Duo-Art recordings to electronic format and the snafus in the editing process. Even the audio recording sessions must have been technically challenging. Can you really hear the difference between solenoids and pneumatics?!
My contributions to So.Cal.AMICA as newsletter editor and program editor for the '72 convention received 70% flack and 20% disinterest, so I wonder if anyone should expect over 10% praise if they should make a public offering of their dedicated interests in the reproducing piano field.
I would like to thank Robbie Rhodes for his newsy and insightful comments, Craig Brougher, and others for their extensions on musical and technical notes, and everyone who contributes to these discussions, especially with positive suggestions and insight. Please, also, keep this note in your hold file so you can send it back to me when I shoot out some inadvertent vitriol in an adrenaline rush of my own!
Thanks
Karl A. Petersen
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(Message sent Mon 21 Oct 1996, 23:31:03 GMT, from time zone GMT-0600.) |
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