Reference Recordings

FWIW, a few other Reference Recordings I think highly of -

1) Copland - Appalachian Springs Suite (OV for 13 instruments)

2) Menotti/Barber Concerts for Violin & Orchestra

Both were recorded by Prof Johnson with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.

On the subject of Prof Johnson and the art of recording in the late 50’s, Professor Johnson’s Astounding Sound Show, if you can play vinyl and your interested (research on Google) this recording is a hoot! My house is still reverberating from the African drums cut - I used to love to bring the house down with this. :-)

I think many of their earlier works were very good. I have not been as enthused by a lot of the later recordings which I have and rarely refer to.

I agree with twoleftears re Arnold's overtures as well as his disc for Bands. I thoroughly enjoy Coplands Symphony #3, which I consider an audiophile's wet dream.

Something of theirs I have really enjoyed over the years is the 'Tempest', a ballet in 2 parts by Paul Chihara. They recorded this in analog as well as digital to show the differences, or lack there of in the two formats. I've had both...frankly couldn't care less. It's the music!

Whart, Revised! But I thought all you guys were clairvoyant and would just know these things. :-)

IMHO, none of this stuff is realistic, only just a poor facsimile of the real thing. That said, IME some systems do sound better at higher volumes at doing the soundstaging tricks, etc. However, with systems not properly set up or constituted, the sound is just loud (magnified) distortions which make you want to turn the volume down (or off).