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"Emotionally involving" music and your system...

I recently attended a concert performance of Brahms' 1st Symphony and found the experience, quite frankly, overwhelming. I had previously heard this piece at least a dozen times on my system. I had also attended roughly a dozen live concert events over the last several years. While I found each of these listenings on my system enjoyable and each of these live performances interesting, none had any real emotional impact. On this occasion, however, I felt swept up by the music. By the time the last few chords came crashing down in the final movement I felt emotionally drained and had shivers running down my spine. I still cannot explain my reaction. Perhaps I felt that same sense of exhilaration that Brahms must have felt as he composed those last few bars, casting off the great shadow of Beethoven for at least a few brief moments. When I returned home I put a copy of this same work on my system. It had none of the emotional involvement of the live performance.

My question, then, is this: What pieces of music have you heard performed live that have had this effect on you? Have you been able to duplicate this effect at home via a recording? (I am sure some of you might think my system needs an upgrade, and I agree, but I will save that for another post.)

krusty2k
timo's avatar
timo
610 posts
 
Yes, Tim Mahoney and Alice Peacock. Two midwestern regional performers. I have heard both live and have their works on CD. My system does give me an emotional experience with these artists, but admittedly, not quite like the live performances.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
A number of years ago I go a good reminder of what a good concert can do (I hadn't been to one in a long time, who needs to with a good stereo!). I was invited to a concert which included Tchaikovsky's 4th by a local (provincial) SO. I thought I had outgrown Tchiakovsky but I "condecended" to go. What a great toe tapping experience by an enthuiastic orchestra.!! Nothing can beat live classical concerts for scale and the immediacy of the music - but not all performances are great and thats why I still listen to my system.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Over the past 40 years, I've heard a lot of performances / concerts, and six that stand out in my mind for their emotional impact are:

1. 1957: Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars (with singer Velma Middleton), sharing a twin billing with the Count Basie Orchestra. The concert was held in the Carter Barron Ampitheater in Washington DC (an open air venue), and was my introduction to live jazz. Louis' group played first for about 90 minutes, then Count Basie and his Orchestra played for about 90 minutes, and then the two groups played together for another 90 minutes. What an evening!!
2. 1972: Roberta Flack in concert in Frankfurt, Germany. Flack appeared in an intimate hall built for chamber music that had terrific acoustics, and she delivered a superb performance.
3. 1973: Three Dog Night, also in concert in Germany (I was stationed there with the Army). This was, quite simply, the most enjoyable rock concert I've ever attended (I know, my age is showing...).
4. 1978 or 1979: the complete Wagner 'Ring' Cycle done by the Seattle Opera. The cumulative effect of the total 'Ring' cycle is nearly overwhelming, and far more compelling than hearing each of the component operas separately. If you like opera, you should experience the 'Ring' cycle in its entirety.
5. 1987 or 1988: Sonny Rollins did a concert in Seattle at the re-furbished Paramount Theater, and absolutely blew his ass off that night. On one tune (not sure, but it might have been "St. Thomas") he soloed for nearly 20 minutes in one of the most amazing virtuoso performances I've ever heard on any instrument.
6. 1994 or 1995: Jon Jang and his Pan-Asian Arkestra performing his composition "Tiananmeng Suite", dedicated to the Chinese people who were killed in Tiananmeng (sp?) Square. The performance was part of Seattle's annual "Earshot Jazz Festival". The Arkestra included some stellar performers, such as David Murray and James Newton, as well as some of the most extraordinary Chinese musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments. An absolutely riveting performance!
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