Steve Schwartz wrote: >Actually, I go to a concert to both see and hear. As Yogi Berra said, >"You can observe a lot by watching." I've found out some very interesting >things about music and musicians that probably wouldn't have occurred >to me through listening, even with a score. For example, as much as I >love and admire Leonard Bernstein's music, I've discovered that the >musical interest in his work tends to lie in the upper parts. His bass >parts are usually far easier -- often pedal points. In short, not every >player has something interesting to do. I've also discovered this really >fabulous babe amongst the violas. Possibly the ultimate "visual composer" in my experience is Ives. I have a number of CDs of his works which might as well support the leg of my wobbly table; they just don't work. I have to see the multiple groupings within the orchestra, multiple conductors and so on; all these bows going at different speeds and in different directions are an intrinsic part of the performance! (Interestingly, and apropos previous comments, TV closeups would destroy this). Alastair