[Hantra]

the intermitent silence act as its own instrument.

You're on a roll!  

I think this is the #1 reason I like non-oversampling DAC's.  The silence, albeit seemingly contradictory, actually contributes a lot to the flow of the music, and making it sound more like a continuous musical journey, rather than a series of cool musical events.

Silence is essential in music reproduction b/c it's there in live music.  I have listened to the Accuphase SACD/Transport combo for a few hours at a friend's place, and although it sounds good, I find myself searching harder for the silence between notes.  It's not there.  Filled in by digital noise, it's nowhere to be found. . .

[boxhead]

First time I heard Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughn. What a Fender Guitar should sound like. Genesis Seconds Out is another that comes to mind. I believe the song was Suppers Ready. That was one of the first times I had a religous thought of how inconsequential I was and there is more to life than I knew. Another was the first time I heard Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. After that I knew I had to play Trumpet and have been for almost 40 years. Now that song has some power to it. Cheers.

[Hantra]

Another was the first time I heard Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. . . . .Now that song has some power to it.

If you haven't picked up Jean Guillou's rendition on the Dorian label, you have not heard how powerful this is. . .  

[byteme]

The very soul and essence of feeling stem's from those moments when I am at the keyboard.  Those times when you put your soul into the music that you play.

I think this is, for me, what is at the source of my love for music.  Many of us can certainly (obviously) appreciate music.  I'm sure with training some of us could even recreate the notes.  But, realistically, can any of us ourselves make MUSIC (speaking for myself the answer is a screaming NO!)?  It's a rare talent to be able to pour that little something extra into the playing of the notes that makes it connect with people, that is able to convey the emotion, the feeling, and get through to people on a whole other level than just various vibrations on the eardrum.

I think that paradigm transfers to audio systems as well.  Which for us is all part of the chase and part of what makes each system as personal as the music we enjoy and what we take out of it.  You can listen to a great recording of a great artist on a boombox in an empty gymnasium.  Does that do it for you?  Probably about as much as listening to your kid's high school orchestra or swing band butcher some piece you love!

Some musicians, some systems are able to take you to another level.  Most people I think don't give a shit.  They'll listen to their Bose car radio with the sunroof open and Brittney or some other mindless radio blather droning on as background music and be happy as clams.  Just like some people will happily drive to work and back every day in their Ford Festiva or Geo Metro.  Even if they've tasted an M series BMW or Honda S2000 they remain unaffected by it and consider it a ridiculous luxury while people like us who have the "audio gene" could no more live the rest of our lives listening to assembly line music on assembly line gear than could the people with the "car gene" drive a Metro after having tasted something nearly sublime.

[jimbop]

I remember one particular intense emotional experience. I was experimenting with some DIY roller blocks, and while trying to adjust the lay of the cables behind my rack, my CD player rolled off the rollers. I caught it just before it hit the floor. THAT was intense!

jd

[Cens]

Not sure what all this talk about emotion is all about.  For me, this hobby is not about music or enjoyment.  It's about collecting random, expensive pieces of equipment and filling my room(s) with unsightly wires and widgets.  I seldom even bother to turn the stuff on, except in the winter when I need some extra heat.  

Regards,

An idiot

[Gbatokai]

The emotional experience can be very satisfying. There are, however, more aspects to music than the emotional content, and a lot of different ways to listen to it. I'm wondering if we are not confusing "emotional" with "profound experience" here.

Actively creating music and learning to play musical instruments takes a lot of effort, but pays off proportionally. With basic abilities in improvisation - which is a creative thing rather than solving a lot equations on the fly, which some people seem to think - you get to express yourself and word your thoughts and feelings without the hamperings of language. Additionally, no audience is required. It's very much according to mood and state of mind, though - some days, it goes nowhere, but once in a glorious while, it's almost impossible to hit a wrong note or stop the flow of music. As you well know, music may cease even though the sounds persist.

Happy listening and playing to all...

[boxhead]

Hantra,
Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely check that recording out. Pictures has to be one of my favorite pieces of all time. I got a piano version of I can't remember who but it just did not do it. It has to be a complete symphony. I do have it by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Saw them years ago when they did the Works tour with a symphony and it was one of special occasions where I got to sit 10th row center. Fantastic.
Cheers.

[Hantra]

Hey Box. .

Guillou plays this on a pipe organ that HE designed!  It's amazing b/c it's clear he knows the instrument backwards and blindfolded.  One would think that with all that goes in in Pictures, doing it on one instrument would not work, but my goodness. . . It's amazing. .

B