So you're an audiophile - are you also a musician?

Royal School of Church Music-trained boy treble (St. Nicholas medalist for you RSCM alumni) but the voice didn't really survive the assault of hormones though I remain an avid choral singer to this day. Studied double reeds through grade school and university, working with Lacey Powell and Gwydion Brooke. Played with a couple of semi-major (i.e. not "top five") symphonies and did a fair bit of studio work in Nashville. Hung up my spurs years ago, though, except for occasional chamber music sessions with a few pals.

I think another fun thread would be to compare the ways in which different groups listen to music and what we listen for...professionally trained musicians versus amateur musicians versus non-musicians. I'm betting there would be significant differences.

will

I'm not sure I want to get into this because I really do not want to offend anyone. In my first post, I tried especially not to sound as if I thought that classically trained musicians somehow had a leg up on everyone else when it comes to listening. I do agree with Dan that we probably do not listen in the same way or to the same things.

For example, our listening group met last week at the home of a guy with a system in the Albert Porter range and a huge collection of both vinyl and digital software. He has some of the most acute and perceptive ears I've ever encountered and manages to avoid the ego that so often comes with them. One of the pieces we listened to was the Weber Clarinet Concerto #1 (f minor). He went on and on about the clarity, the soundstage, the imaging, the "air," giving the recording (actually, giving his system) A+++ marks. What I and another classically trained musician in the room heard was a mediocre clarinet player with intonation all over the place, lousy articulation, and no sense of correct performance practice for Weber.

Now, my friend is a great audiophile and a great listener. He can probably hear the difference if a gnat farts on his interconnects. But nobody ever taught him what a clarinet is supposed to sound like. At least not the niceties that separate a world class player from one who teaches clarinet at Bohunk University.

This is the difference between listening to the music and listening to the sound. I think many audiophiles listen to the sound but those of us who were professionally trained listen to the music. It doesn't make us better, just different.

will