Are we really trying to recreate the performance? Every time, every place, every piece I perform with any given ensemble (my own or someone else’s) it sounds different…with inherently good and bad things happening sonically. But I will at least enjoy it as long as I can hear and spacially enjoy hearing us together relative to my physical position in the group.
a listening setup…it’s coming from boxes (or other binaural sources). My intent is not to recreate what I know will never sound like my group (or listening to a group) in the same room. But to create that immersive and sonically engaging sound field that can elicit those same aural triggers. In fact I’m hoping it won’t sound the same as if musicians are right in front of me (which in the truest sense/in actuality is simply not possible), as I want to be as much in awe of the qualities and capabilities of my system as I am of the music I’m listening too.
It’s so interesting to me that (often) good mono recordings can sound just as engaging as stereo recordings, which I believe is connected to your excellent question. The overarching aspect of this that we should be considering is how unique, odd, enigmatic and wonderful human hearing and our sensory psyche can really be.