Josef Hofmann plays Wagner-Brassin Magic Fire Music (special audio restoration)

[@sambafamba]

His technique had no limits

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

One of my favorites. There is also an 1895 recording of 18-year old Hofmann playing.

[@alkanliszt]

It really is incredible playing. I am surprised at just how well the noise reduction came out tbh, but I doubt it would be up to the task of cleaning the 1895 recording!

[@ValzainLumivix]

Beautiful

[@mrtchaikovsky]

Absolutely incredible playing, damn.

[@trollmallow924]

Woah!

[@jamesmiller4184]

Yikes! You could knock me over with a feather! Tell us, dear Andrew, what might you NOT be expert-at? Restoration of shellac discs is much more than mere noise suppres- sion, de-clicking, equalization, &c. It is near-art. It is a step forward I think, that a musician/improvisatur/pianist now applies such proved talents to this discipline. I believe it qualifies as a unique instance of it. You've aced it here Andrew, Jozio coming forward bowing this way- and-that! If this master were here today, auditioning with us, I am positive he would utter such a thing as "NOT too terrible!" (A quote of his applied previously to some thing-other, but here likely apropos, as for him it was then meant truly complimentarily.) It really is a shame that Brunswick made their acoustic recording en- vironment so very sec; for there practically is no 'room' to be heard in their takes, unlike say the Columbias, which feature plenty of it, and too, that same re bass. So . . . what gem is to be next?

[@alkanliszt]

It wasn't actually my transfer, but the one I worked from still had A LOT of hiss. I felt it was a touch cleaner than than the recording which we're used to, so I had a go with the denoising / audio repair tool I have (and I've had a fair amount of experience using it). It is very powerful software if used well, but with something as understandably hissy as the original there was always the risk I'd damage the sonorities. I did think of adding a little reverb but that might have been too sacrilegious a level of tampering..

[@jamesmiller4184]

@@alkanliszt Thank you. I understand. Might we hope to hear one day not too far off, your own try at it? Most have yet to hear the entire thing, this Brunswick 12" side having suffered necessitated shortening. Some time ago I actually had the Welte-Mignon reproducing-record of this number of Hoffman's, and there was a fair amount more to it.

[@alkanliszt]

@@jamesmiller4184 sooner than perhaps anticipated (while I hesitate to place my recording in the context of THIS above video, which is imo one of the greatest piano recordings ever made) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmO4loOvr91pndk