authentic space recordings

I'm thinking that music recorded in churches and cathedrals present "space." 

Here are some possibilities. They are examples of Early Music (pre-1600s)

The Tallis Scholars

Stile Antico

Anonymous Four

Trio Mediaeval

And then there are albums recorded in clubs and studios with great acoustics. Here are some jazz possibilities-

Miles Davis-Kind of Blue

Philip Catherine-any live recording

Tete Montoliu-any live recording

Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen-any live recording either as a bandleader or accompanist

Anouar Brahem

 

"Fiesta" Reference Recordings lp

In 1980 the Grateful Dead did a series of shows at The Warfield in San Francisco and Radio City Music Hall in NYC. They performed an acoustic first set and then two electric sets at each show. The recordings culled from these shows were released on two double albums: Reckoning and Dead Set, acoustic and electric respectively. The stage mics, placed close to the voices and instruments were recorded to two synced 16-trk tape machines and the room mics, capturing hall ambience were recorded to two 4-trk machines. During mix down the signals from the close and distant mics were blended and phase aligned yielding a recording that captures the robust, immediate quality of the stage mics and the ambient, crowd noise of the room mics without any time smear. This unique approach to live recording creates a good approximation of being in the audience. On vinyl, these records also have tremendous dynamic range, capturing the Dead's proclivity to play somewhat quietly and then very loudly. Fun!

The jazz label, ECM is known for their natural, spacious soundstage reproduction, although, I don't think many of their recordings are done with the "purity" of classical recordings. 

Also, ECM was very respected during their vinyl era for sound quality, and they took it very seriously. They pressed their recordings on some of the best quality available, so they were super quiet.  

Gallery - David Samuels vibes, David Darling cello, Paul McCandless oboe, Ratso Harris bass, Michael DiPasqua drums.

 

Azimuth with Ralph Towner - Départ

Kenny Wheeler flugelhorn, Ralph Towner acoustic guitar, John Taylor piano, Norma Winstone voice. 

 

Keith Jarrett piano, Jan Garberak sax, Palle Danielsson bass, Jon Christianson drums - Belonging

 

 

ECM made a great transition to CD too, and the maintained their high standards for musicians. Their recent releases have been great sounding, with a new crop of very creative and talented musicians. 

Craig Taborn - Daylight Ghosts

Michael Formanek - Small Places

Ralph Allessi trumpet, Andrew Milne piano, Ravi Coltrane sax, Drew Gress bass, Mark Ferber bass - Imaginary Friends

Dominique Pifarély Quartet - Tracé provisoire

And so many more old and new releases. 

The vast majority of classical music is recorded in such a way that captures the original acoustic space the musicians were playing in. 

The microphone configurations used in classical recordings are designed with that as a major goal, i.e., Blumlein, XY, A+B, ORTF, Decca tree. 

I listen to mostly mid 20th century, and up to the current era, classical music, so your mileage may vary (musically speaking), but the following recordings have a ridiculously 3d soundstage and detailed image. 

 

The Cleveland Orchestra recorded this also, and released it on their own label, and it is almost at good. 

 

 

This is on the Nonesuch label. Back in the 70's they did an entire series of modern and avant-garde classical recordings, that are universally great with regards to reproducing that sense of space. 

 

 

@dweller 

“Singing Whales” and the large soundstage…..love the humour….

Don’t forget the “singass” (‘singers’ in English) from Welsh Wales, and the “echooes” down the “Vallees”

disclaimer:-

The joke does not necessarily have to be understood by Americans, but compulsory for Aussies and Kiwi’s.

 

For ultimate reverb look in to the Deep Listening Band and trombonist Stuart Dempster, believe recordings were made in empty cistern and cathedral

Colin Meloy "Live"
Mark Kozelic/Son Kill Moon "Live"..stuff…

Patricia Barber "Cafe' Blue"

Donny Hathaway "Live"

Hot Tuna "Live, at the New Orleans House, Berkeley"

Steve Phillips  "Steel Rail Blues"

these are my two initial choices, more to come......

Diana Krall-Live in Paris

Here's one smaller venue and one larger:

Patricia Barber Companion -- recorded in the Green Mill bar complete with clinking glasses and silverware.

Sera Una Noche -- recorded in a large cathedral I think, at least that's what it sounds like.

Neil Young, Live at the Cellar Door
Patricia Barber, A Fortnight in France
Allison Krauss, Live

More evocative and mysterious than probably any other of their releases...The Unforgettable fire certaintly is not short on atmospherics...it was recorded in a fricikin castle!

I wish I still had my 45 rpm record that came with my JGI Joe mercury capsule. That was a real space recording.

The Bernstein Carmen with Marilyn Horne in the title role comes as close as I think a recording could to duplicate such as large space as the Met.

Madonna CD used QSound in the recording. Here is a list of some other QSound Recordings.

so how about adding a twist - on an old telarc CD, 1812 overture, there's a point where i can hear the bells of the courtyard/quad, in some cases up and behind me! there's an old madonna cd (immaculate collection) where there's stuff going on all over the place. so this is obviously digitally added in,

but the point is: how about 2 channel that sounds like surround-sound?

here are two more.

Holly Cole Trio - Girl Talk

whole album on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu_HSLb6r8c

HD Download.

http://www.hollycole.com/holly-cole-trio-girl-talk-high-res-audio-download-now-available/

Recorded at Stephen Leacock Theatre, Keswick, Ontario, Canada. Girl Talk was recorded live to two-track using a single microphone

CD

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Girl-Talk-Holly-Cole-Trio-Holly-Cole-CD-Jan-1980-Alert-Canada-/46443270

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UltraAnalogue Recordings sampler cd

From the master tape.

the CD of Beethoven Cello Sonata No.3, Op.69, Rachmaninov Cello Sonata, Chopin Etude, Rachmaninov Romance

can be bought from the store tab here.

http://ultraanaloguerecordings.com/wpsite/store/?cat_product=sietse-jan-weijenberg-and-yun-yang-lee

some sample tracks - not downloadable.
but what is on the cd can be previewed here.

http://ultraanaloguerecordings.com/wpsite/sample-tracks/

Recorded in the producers house in the treated pool area. http://ultraanaloguerecordings.com/wpsite/gallery/

Bill Evans "Waltz For Debbie", "Sunday At The Village
Vanguard"
Dvorak/Tchaikovsky "String Serenades" Leppard/English
Chamber Orchestra
Tower Of Power "Live And In Living Color"

Not exactly like Norah Jones, but all will give you a wonderful recreation of
the recording space; all very different size venues. For more classical look
for any of the great Kenneth Wilkinson/Decca-London recordings. And
second Sinatra/Sands.

i'll have to check out the trinity sessions, it might be too upbeat for me at this point

Hardly. There's a reason they call themselves Cowboy JUNKIES.

thanks. i have been putting off getting jazz at the pawn shop (ironically i asked about that a few years ago, couldn't remember the name) to see if i can find a deal on it locally. otherwise i might just download it from HDtracks or Acoustic sounds.

i did find muddy waters "fold singer" at the local store today and ripped it. love the music! lots of reverb in there.

i'll have to check out the trinity sessions, it might be too upbeat for me at this point but does sound interesting.

"No Better Than This' by John Mellencamp.

Many -- perhaps most or all -- of the releases from M-A Recordings.

Try Charlie Haden and Kenny Barron, Night and the City

Sinatra - Live at the Sands

Cowboy Junkies-Trinity Sessions-Recorded in a Church.

Eva Cassidy-Live at the Blues Alley

Patricia Barber - Companion

Try jazz at pawn shop.

Ever heard the singing whales?
Talk about soundstage!