Wikipedia:Featured sound candidates/Magic Flute Overture

Magic Flute Overture
Tony brought this to my attention, and I do believe he found a gem in the rough in this one. It's a high quality recording, appears in The Magic Flute and Bangkok Opera, and shockingly enough, it's free use. Without further ado, I present this FSC.


 * Nominate and Support:  S ven M anguard   Wha?  03:13, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Support - gorgeous sound quality, acoustic, and especial kudos to the strings' articulation. A few tuning issues for the brass in the beginning (I may be simply hearing things), but overall, a beautiful performance. &mdash; La Pianista  ♫ ♪ 03:21, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Support per above.  Jujutacular  talk 03:39, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Support Comments. (In view of my strong stand about conflict of interest, since I brought this file to Sven's attention I won't formally vote.) La Pianista's concern had already struck me. Yes, damn pity they don't strike the chords with the precision they deserve; yep, the brass and winds are almost in tune. But what impressed me were the fast, fugal sections: it's brave to take them this fast, and again they're let down in a few places by the lack of brass ensemble (only one noticeably bum chord, and regrettably they're too loud for the strings in couple of places; heck, their parts are easy by comparison—those players deserved a punishment rehearsal by themselves before the big night). The string and wind parts are challenging to play, so the combined work of the players and the conductor should be congratulated. Clearly there are some good string players in Thailand. Let's remember, also, that this was a live performance—no luxury of multiple takes. [Aside: Please note that the last of those quick repeated notes in the fast fugue subject—the sforzando (stabbed loud suddenly, sticks out)—represents evil. No one else has worked this out, he boasts. After the curtain opens, the off-beat stabbed notes, now crotchets, represent the swishing of the dragon's tail as it pursues the hero Tamino; when the three ladies are singing, Mozart gives us the first hint that they're not the saviours they purport to be by bringing back this off-beat sforzando in the accompanimental texture for about 10 seconds. Cute.] Tony   (talk)  13:30, 10 February 2011 (UTC)
 * I'm sorry, but I have to go on the record here and say that seems a tad absurd. If you didn't support it, you wouldn't have brought it to my attention. It's common practice for the nominator's support to be counted as a support, especially since you had no part in the creation or restoration of this, it's a "found" nomination. In short, I fail to see any conflict of interest here.  S ven M anguard   Wha?  20:33, 11 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Sven, that is completely not the point: this process, sadly, promotes on the numbers. When two people are implicated in the nomination process, their two votes overwhelm the rather small requirement for numbers. I do not think nominators should vote, although the rules currently encourage this. Tony   (talk)  05:04, 12 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Oppose good quality recording and a fine performance undermined for me by the brass section (I agree with Tony, they should have had a punishment rehearsal before the big night). I've been thinking about how to judge musical performance as part of an FSC process, and on this occasion I feel I have to jump in this direction. A shame. Support Changed my mind as per talk page - performance is good overall, and that while the brass is a bit of a worry I don't think this should be denied featured status for that. Major Bloodnok (talk) 22:19, 11 February 2011 (UTC)
 * Support: This is miles above other symphonic works available under a free licence, and hence is amongst Wikipedia's best audio material. Getting too hung up over relatively minor flaws, when the performance overall is this good, is counterproductive, in my opinion. Further, since the brass (as a whole) is relatively low compared to at least the top couple parts of the string sections, it might even be possible to do a subtle digital rebalance of the brass and strings where needed, if someone has appropriate software (Audacity won't cut it here, methinks). Adam Cuerden (talk) 21:47, 11 February 2011 (UTC)

Promoted Magic Flute Overture.ogg -- ( X! ·  talk )  · @899  · 20:34, 16 February 2011 (UTC)