Test tracks based on my personal love for music and music I love.

Sandbakk · « **on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:15 am »

I love music, and this is music I love.

Here I will present my own list to test the reproduction of music in a music system, or reproduction in a room. Everything based on my own taste in music, not just based on the sound itself. These are samples from all genres I listen to, but which also give me an impression of the reproduction where I am, and the reproduction of various instruments and instrument groups, electronically generated music, and vocals.

I welcome suggestions for new tracks.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:17 am »

Track title: The Curse
Artist: Agnes Obel
Album title: Aventine (Deluxe Version)

This is a track from a very beautiful record. The recording reproduces a beautiful and nuanced soundscape, where the vocals and strings come out beautifully. I have this in my playlist just to test the reproduction of deep strings, in addition to the fact that, as I said, I think it's a beautiful song.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:20 am »

Track title: The Soul
Artist: David Helbock
Album title: Into the Mystic

Beautiful music. In the youtube video, you can see the bassist playing a bass ukulele, as if it were the only instrument in the world. : D

Sandbakk · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:24 am »

Track title: Sinklars Visa
Artist: Týr
Album title: Land

A good recording of Metal, both vocal and instrumental. From the Faroe Islands.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:25 am »

Track name: Tjønneblomen
Artist: Annbjørg Lien
Title of Record: Felefeber

A great reproduction of harding fiddle music from Norway.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 10:27 am »

Track title: Angel
Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Album title: Surfacing

Well known to many, a very beautiful recording.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 12:41 pm »

Track title: E du nord
Artist: Kari Bremnes
Album title: Og så kom resten av livet

Kari Bremnes comes from my own country, Norway. She grew up in a musical family, and at the beginning of her career she sang a lot with her two brothers, Ola, the eldest of them, and Lars, the youngest of the siblings. They have all sung backing vocals on each other's recordings on several occasions. Both brothers have released several albums as solo artists.

Kari Bremnes records are known for very good studio quality, and are preferred for sound testing by several around the world. I have chosen this track both because it separates the instruments in a good way, but also because I am very fond of the lyrics in the song. I simply love this song.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 12:53 pm »

Track title: Fido
Artist: Hot Club De Norvège
Album name: La Roue Fleurie

There are countless recordings of Gypsy String Swing Jazz, first and foremost developed by the legendary Django Reinhardt.
Here is one from a very famous Norwegian group, The Hot Club de Norwége. I have chosen this track because it separates the instruments in a nice way, not because it is the most intricate and hefty composition they have made. They have many. Beautiful music.

Phil A · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 02:00 pm »

How about Anette Askvik (born in Stavanger and now in Oslo) - "Liberty" (I have the 24/48 download of the album).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU2MBOX4QyM

Sandbakk · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 02:02 pm »

Track title: VIII. Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum) - Con mortuis in lingua mortua
Artist: Jean Guillou, organist
Album title: Mussorgsky : M.P.: Pictures at an Exhibition - Stravisnki : 3 Movements From Petrushka

I have always loved organ music, and often listen to various recordings with pipe organ as the main instrument, although it can be tiring for the ears since many of the compositions can be very dynamic and monumental with very high sound pressures.

I would probably actually choose to listen to something melodic, but since I have made my playlist also to test sound system, I have chosen to include this recording, since it takes us to the very deepest tones. All the way down, all the way to 16.35Hz (C0), something that very few speakers can reproduce, nor can most people hear, just "feel". My speakers can only reproduce down to about 35Hz, so I can only hear the harmonics of such deep sound frequencies.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 02:09 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 2 Oct 2021, 02:00 pm

How about Anette Askvik (born in Stavanger and now in Oslo) - "Liberty" (I have the 24/48 download of the album).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU2MBOX4QyM

Thanks for the great suggestion. Unfortunately, in a way, I know that song very well, since it represents one of the most tragic episodes in recent Norwegian history. I just can't play it that often, precisely because of its history.
But it is in itself a very beautiful song, and also a very good recording.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 02:34 pm »

Option 1:
Track title: Lakmé / Act 1 (Léo Delibes)
Artist: Patricia Petibon (& Karine Deshayes)
Album title: Patricia Petibon: French Touch

Option 2:
Track title: Lakmé, Act 1: Duo des fleurs.
Artist: Sabine Devieilhe (& Marianne Crebassa)
Album title: Mirages

I simply love opera and operettas, they represent a kind of music that goes straight to my soul.
I actually have this composition in two favorite recordings. This is the one, since it's with a singer I like very much, Patricia Petibon.
The other is with Sabine Devieilhe and Marianne Crebassa. Also a fantastic recording, and perhaps the most famous after all.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 03:01 pm »

Track title: Carnival of the Animals, R. 125: No. 5 The Elephant
Artist:Martha Argerich, Piano - Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra
Album title: Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals & Symphony No. 3, "Organ Symphony"

Sometimes classical music can also be a little fun, like here. The whole composition is both fun and interesting, I use this track to reproduce both bass in general, and also the double bass (contra bass) in particular.

In this piece, there are two prominent deep tones, A # 1 / Bb1 = 58.27 and G1 = 49Hz.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #13 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:21 pm »

Track title: Death Row
Artist: Chris Stapleton
Album title: From A Room: Volume 1

Clear, strong and dynamic Blues / Country. I just like it.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:25 pm »

Track title: Antonias Theme
Artist: Joscho Stephan & Helmut Eisel Quartett
Album title: Bei dir war es immer so schön

Again music inspired by Gypsy String Swing, but with a more "personal" and jazzy feel. Also here chosen both because it is beautiful music, and for good separation of instruments.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:29 pm »

Track title: No Sanctuary Here
Artist: Chris Jones
Album title: Roadhouses & Automobiles

Needs no mention, this is known among many.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:35 pm »

Track title: Legend
Artist: Huun-Huur-Tu & The Bulgarian Voices Angelite
Album title: Fly, Fly My Sadness

This is for me exciting and great music. Mongolian throat singing mixed with Bulgarian traditional women's choir / traditional song. I heard this composition in a concert in Tromsø Cathedral in 1996, and have since been fascinated by the type of song.

The song Legend has been recorded several times by the same group from Mongolia, this is to my taste the best.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:46 pm »

Track title: Viima
Artist: Hedningarna & Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Anita Lehtola
Album title: Karelia Visa

Suggestive music from Sweden / Finland, based on traditional folk music from both countries. Great dynamics and a great soundscape characterize much of the music of Hedningarna, where most of the songs are arranged traditional Swedish, Finnish/Karelian and Norwegian folk music compositions.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:54 pm »

Track title: Fragile
Artist: Nils Landgren & Rigmor Gustafsson
Album title: Sentimental Journey

A very musical, lyrical, relaxed and beautiful version of Sting's famous song.

Sandbakk · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Oct 2021, 04:56 pm »

Track title: Fragile
Artist: Sting
Album title: Nothing Like The Sun

The Original.