Mellotronists

----- Original Message -----

From: Rick Blechta

To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 7:56 PM

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] change of perspective

Well, Andy & Jon, I don't really agree.

Would you play a piano made during Beethoven's time (the early days of piano-making), say a Broadwood, when you could have a Bechstein Concert Grand? I sure wouldn't! The Broadwood has a very interesting sound to be sure (I've played one) but it sure doesn't hold a candle to the modern instruments. I feel the same way about the original flute and the Ian McDonald flute. There is NO comparison as a voice. The original flute does not deserve so much hyperbole, Jon, at the risk of insulting you. The only thing worthwhile in it is the first octave, after that it loses most of its colour, the intonation goes WAY wonky and the attacks are dodgy. Come to think of it one of the low notes (low G?) has one of the WORST (slowest) attacks I've ever heard. Try playing that note in a fast passage! There won't be anything there. It takes too long to get started.

The 3 violins is a reasonably good sound and it's done its job over the year. I still like it and use it, but I find I'm losing it less and less. I would really like a new violin sound, though, personally. If the 3 violins makes grown men weep, imagine what would happen with an even better 3 violins!

Sorry. I guess I'm not a romantic, guys. The mellotron does it for me, the feel of the keyboard, the power that the instrument contains, but I also want the best quality recordings so it will sound even better.

Cheers!

Rick

JS wrote:

I think that an important fact being overlooked is that for the listener, and even for many players, the "Mellotron" is not just looked at as an audio playback device, but that the individual sounds are perceived is instruments in their own right.  I'm sure I'll love other string sounds available, but they will not supplant the 3-violins sound, they will supplement it.  In the same way, the "strawberry flutes" is an instrument in and of itself, a hypersonic, polyphonic flute with some odd voicing peculiarities, idiosyncrasies that are part of the character of the sound and no other sound will ever replace it.  It seems to me that the sound of each Mellotron tape set is as unique an instrument as a piano, and it's almost like the physical machine is just the delivery device for the actual instrument.
Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886

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>Of course, I'm speaking as a man who has only had his own Mellotron since
>November 11, 2002

----- Original Message -----
From: <doctorwho8@...>
To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 9:42 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [Mellotronists] change of perspective


>
> In a message dated 3/24/02 9:26:33 PM, jonesalley@... writes:
>
> >Of course, I'm speaking as a man who has only had his own Mellotron since
> >November 11, 2002
>
> So are you saying you got your Tron in the future?
> Bill "the Doctor"
Rudloff
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

Touche! Mea culpa...

Rick

JS wrote:

 First, a note to everybody.  You CAN'T offend me or hurt my feelings, so have at it... I love the spirit of adversarial debate, and take it as such. As a matter of fact, I'll sometimes play devil's advocate just to be able to hear and evaluate both sides of something. Now, then, down to business.  I was not trying to imply that any of the existing palette of Mellotron sounds was the be-all and end-all of instruments, simply that each of them has taken on a life of its own in the lexicon of music, particularly that proggy stuff we all love so much.  I can't wait to be able to install new sounds and to fall in love with them, but the overwhelming individuality of the old sounds will never lose its luster for me.  Of course, I'm speaking as a man who has only had his own Mellotron since November 11, 2002, so I really don't have the perspective of some of the people on the list who have probably become so accustomed to having that sound in their life that they may be a bit unconsciously jaded (not a diss, please don't anybody interpret it as such.)  For me, every time I touch the keyboard and hear those sounds, it's still practically the first time... And actually, yes, I'd really like to have the sound of primitive pianos and clavichords available to me as well. I would also submit that any man who willfully goes as far out of his way to preserve and restore a vintage keyboard as you have, when there are so many perfectly cool modern toys out there, IS a romantic, whether he chooses to admit it to himself or not!
Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886

----- Original Message -----

From: Rick Blechta

To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.comSent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 7:56 PMSubject: Re: [Mellotronists] change of perspective

 Well, Andy & Jon, I don't really agree.

Would you play a piano made during Beethoven's time (the early days of piano-making), say a Broadwood, when you could have a Bechstein Concert Grand? I sure wouldn't! The Broadwood has a very interesting sound to be sure (I've played one) but it sure doesn't hold a candle to the modern instruments. I feel the same way about the original flute and the Ian McDonald flute. There is NO comparison as a voice. The original flute does not deserve so much hyperbole, Jon, at the risk of insulting you. The only thing worthwhile in it is the first octave, after that it loses most of its colour, the intonation goes WAY wonky and the attacks are dodgy. Come to think of it one of the low notes (low G?) has one of the WORST (slowest) attacks I've ever heard. Try playing that note in a fast passage! There won't be anything there. It takes too long to get started.

The 3 violins is a reasonably good sound and it's done its job over the year. I still like it and use it, but I find I'm losing it less and less. I would really like a new violin sound, though, personally. If the 3 violins makes grown men weep, imagine what would happen with an even better 3 violins!

Sorry. I guess I'm not a romantic, guys. The mellotron does it for me, the feel of the keyboard, the power that the instrument contains, but I also want the best quality recordings so it will sound even better.

Cheers!

Rick

JS wrote:

I think that an important fact being overlooked is that for the listener, and even for many players, the "Mellotron" is not just looked at as an audio playback device, but that the individual sounds are perceived is instruments in their own right.  I'm sure I'll love other string sounds available, but they will not supplant the 3-violins sound, they will supplement it.  In the same way, the "strawberry flutes" is an instrument in and of itself, a hypersonic, polyphonic flute with some odd voicing peculiarities, idiosyncrasies that are part of the character of the sound and no other sound will ever replace it.  It seems to me that the sound of each Mellotron tape set is as unique an instrument as a piano, and it's almost like the physical machine is just the delivery device for the actual instrument.
Jon E Salley
MiloJohnson@...
M400 #886

 

-----Original Message-----
From: JS [mailto:jonesalley@...]
Sent: 25 March 2002 03:24
To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Fw: [Mellotronists] change of perspective

Rick/Jon 

 

Now, then, down to business.  I was not trying to imply that any of the existing palette of Mellotron sounds was the be-all and end-all of instruments, simply that each of them has taken on a life of its own in the lexicon of music, particularly that proggy stuff we all love so much.   

 

You know, I have to agree with Jon on this one! While new sounds may be technically 'better', i.e.sound more like the real thing, be in tune, stuff like that <grin>, the 'old faithfuls' are what we've heard so many times on so many records, and each of them is, for better or worse, that sound - like it or not! Saying that, of course the Ian McD flute is wonderful, and I hope to get it at some point in the future, but I doubt if I'll use it in the same way I use the trusty 'original'. and what's to say a new '3 violins' would have the same 'feel', for want of a better word, as the original? Whatever - all points of view are valid, and it's nice to be able to have a debate without any unpleasantness! (Ouch).

 

Andy T.
M400 #1145

http://freespace.virgin.net/andy.thompson/