Fri, 26 May 2000 08:27:37 +0100
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Kevin Sutton and Don Satz have been taking a negative view regarding cover
art on CDs.
I would like to put in a word for the defence of SOME cover art. The cover
art employed (usually) by companies such as Hyperion and cpo is excellent.
This usually has a painting dating from around the period in which the
music was written. I have seen a lot of paintings I wouldn't otherwise
have seen due to CD cover art.
I realise this is strictly a non-musical argument. However, the art
work helps to put the music in its cultural context. I well recall a
stimulating series of Weber's music on Naxos. The art work consisted of a
series of paintings by the Geramn Romantic, Caspar David Friedrich. Thus
early German Romantic music by Weber was supported via German Romantic art
work. Its a simple formula which doesn't always work, but often I do get
a lot out of such cover art.
I agree with Kevin and Don about mug shots, though for different reasons.
They are off-putting, not so much because the photographs are ugly, but
rather because they are part of a mind-set which places the performer
(rather than the composer) foremost. I recognise that this outlook is
very widespread, but it is to be regretted.
Ian Foster
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