The MusicWeb Message Board: Re: Sleeve notes

Ralph is speaking as someone who has a detailed knowledge of the music he normally listens to. But most people are not like that and do not have that knowledge and welcome the guidance of the sleeve notes. As an example of what can be done I was listening to a Naxos recording of Arnaldo Cohen playing Liszt 8.553852. The booklet provided with this is 24 sides with notes in English, German and French with 9 pages of description and analysis in each language!
Len Mullenger

Previous Message

Although I concede that they can sometimes be helpful and well written, I confess to being wary of reading sleeve notes and sometimes ignore them altogether, so am heretically not that bothered by their absence or lack of quality. This is because mean-minded people - not MusicWeb readers, obviously! - are quick to accuse amateur reviewers of paraphrasing them -an accusation I am keen to avoid. What I do want from the notes, for example, is information such as which version is being used in a recording of a Bruckner symphony and the what are the differences from other editions that I must look out for. I don't want a "musicological" analysis nor a hagiography of the artists. Some context for the music and the history of its performance and reception is always interesting. I do agree that graphic designers are increasingly careless of legibility; there is a trend for light text on a light background in a miniscule font instead of black on white in a sensible point size. I am certainly not prepared to read the notes online and welcome the demise of the short-lived trend of providing libretti on a CD-Rom disc - which nobody ever accessed. Nor do I want to have to find shelf room for LP-sized packaging - sorry, Len.

Previous Message

Sleeve notes ~ are they still called that? Any rate, notes accompanying CDs.
I suspect that I am not alone in being of a certain age and with eyesight fading. CD notes are often almost unreadable with pale print on a coloured background (stand up Warner)or in print so small that a magnifying glass is needed . As an example Chandos notes, invariably excellent, are in very small , grey print on a white background. I usually have to photo so I can read them.
Content is variable, Naxos and Chandos stand out from the crowd but some are more interested in the artist than the music , there should be room for both.
Example: DG notes for the Ives symphonies with Dudamel are ridiculously useless, heaven knows what guidance they give to any newcomer to the music,
A mention for Bru Zane, an example to everybody, superb, comprehensive, informative notes in readable print (even if a little small). Their excellent presentation makes the case for CDs over downloads.
I know I can search the internet for information but good notes ought be part of the CD package.
Apologies for the rant but with some CDs I feel I am being short~changed.