Not worth the risk
Sir: John Boyden's heartfelt and perceptive discourse on 'the destruction of great music by modern technology' (Arts, 26 Septem- ber) reminds me of a time before the advent of CDs, some 20 years ago, when the cottage industry known as 'audiophile recording' set the standards for sound qual- ity. Attempting to release the best-sounding LPs available to the consumer, this breed of specialist record label recorded classical and jazz performances without resorting to any of the editing which so incensed Mr Boyden. In practice and effect, they reject- ed modern studio conveniences for riskier but more rewarding methods which were far less dependent on technology.
Called 'direct to disc' recordings (nothing new, as all early mechanical recordings were made this way), they did sound truly lifelike. But, alas, because they could be made in only 'one take' and mistakes were deemed to ruin a performance, the musi- cians exercised too much caution and delib- eration. With hindsight, many of these once-coveted works are now regarded by the audiophile community as stilted and musically bereft, however spectacular the sound. So maybe it's not only profligate use of editing which is at fault; the complete absence of the safeguards provided by post- performance corrective surgery creates a tension with its own damaging by-products.
To Mr Boyden I would say, 'Welcome to the 20th century.'
Ken Kessler
Hi-Fi News & Record Review, Link House, Dingwall Avenue, Croydon
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