Comments on: Inauguration Scandal: Music Not Live

By: Some one smart

Some one smart — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:43:06 +0000

you guys are being absolutely stupid. If you go to one of their concerts INDOORS they will amaze you. First of all, the stringed instruments are worth milliions of dollars and are too delicate to play outside or they will crack. Secondly, wood expands and contrasts as the weather changes, and when is 20 degrees outside, there is no way their instruments will sound good. Thirdly, all four of them are respected as musicians world wide, and have reputation as being phenomenal. They were force to play at the inauguration outside, they couldnt help it. They recorded it, and didnt lie about it. They are not like ashlee simpson or anything, they were just being smart.

By: Eneils Bailey

Eneils Bailey — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:57:24 +0000

Who cares?
It was nice music.
Very few people have ever been able to stroke a fiddle or blow a flute when it has been 20 degrees.
Barney Frank was unavailable for consultation.

By: Our Paul

Our Paul — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:10:54 +0000

Whether it was piped in, or actually played, I thought the whole performance was pretty slick… A traditional Americana tune, Simple Gifts, with variations scored by an American Composer, played by a classic quartet (Violin, cello, clarinet, piano), whose individual musicians were multicultural, and (gasp) included one of those species horribillis, a foreigner (Gabriella Montero) on the piano, and (horrors) just before the swearing in ceremony… Of course, only a true liberal, with unbound sensitivity would appreciate the subtlety of such a pastiche. My pappy, source and fountain head of all knowledge, once commented that : ”If you got, flaunt it”. Ms. Montero carries what is truly a simple gift in her musical brain, the ability to pick a tune, and improvise on its themes. I believe the product, among classic fans, is termed Variations on a Theme. Here she is at the Koln Philharmonic, showing she’s got it, and for about six minutes, flaunting it…

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:01:08 +0000

Brass, string, and woodwind instruments all have their problems with weather, temperature, and humidity. They're just different problems. Extreme conditions lead to extreme consequences, starting with detuning the instruments, but also possibly leading to frostbite on the lips for brass players.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:40:17 +0000

Frankly, it would never have occurred to me to announce it.

Ummm....right. Because history shows there's never been a kerfluffle over recorded music that was supposed to be live.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:38:05 +0000

I do remember Perlmann and Ma wearing the earpieces. Now it's making sense, they were "playing" the music to the recorded score.

By: M1EK

M1EK — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:34:11 +0000

The sound of brass instruments isn't affected by the cold the way string instruments are.

No, but it is a lot harder to play brass instruments in the cold. To say nothing of the freezing valve problem.

By: tom p

tom p — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:31:53 +0000

As they were playing, I was very curious myself... I knew Perlmann and YoYo Ma weren't playing their personal instruments (which might very well be valued as high as 3 mil or better), add to that the effect of cold on stringed instruments and the difficulty of making cold fingers do intricate moves (I have a lot of experience with this)(and the broken, twisted fingers as a result to testify to this fact)...

To say that I am not surprised is an understatement.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:26:27 +0000

No big deal?

You may want to ask Jeff Lynne about that. ELO, you may or may not recall was one of the first bands accused of lip syncing.

I must admit, though...there is something rather satisfying, though, and rather fitting,seeing the Obama Coronation being compared to a Mili Vanili album...

By: Alex Knapp

Alex Knapp — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:45:54 +0000

I will note, however, that the Marine band sucked it up and played despite the cold.

The sound of brass instruments isn't affected by the cold the way string instruments are.

By: sam

sam — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:24:36 +0000

I dunno, these are the same people who pay $700 for a hammer.

As an Ex-Marine I resent that remark. We'd steal the effing thing.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:50:47 +0000

I dunno, these are the same people who pay $700 for a hammer.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:48:10 +0000

I don't recall the Marine Band having any delicate wooden instruments costing about $1 million.