Concert recordings

Years ago, I discovered that virtually every concert by our local orchestra is recorded. I assume this is true of most or even all orchestras. What happens to the recordings? Who owns them? 99.99999% of them, I would guess, never see the light of day. What's the point?

There have been a few times over the years where I've longed to get my hands on a recording of a concert I had just heard.

To answer your questions, you'd need to speak with a lawyer familiar with the orchestras' contracts and obligations to their players, etc.

Like getting your hands on a gorgeous woman you've just seen (and not getting your unmentionables shot off, or worse...), you need to research what the legal entanglements surrounding that concert entail...

I think most of those 'officially' recorded by the orchestra or organization probably never see the light of day again. However, there are a great many enterprising individuals (aka 'pirates' out there who make 'live' recordings from the audience, Some of them make their recordings available to interested 'fans' (either as a kindness or for a price). They're not ALL in the business of SELLING 'pirate' recordings (and it would be a pretty slim living, if that were all they did). However, many are willing to trade for recordings they do not have, and most will make copies for you for the cost of the disk and shipping charges. Just post a request for a specific performance, with a valid e-mail address, and you'll probably hear from some of them.

Thi is very much the case. The recordings are kept in the archives of these orchestras. A few orchestras do not allow any professional recording of their concerts whatsoever. It is usually the result of union rules that have been inplace for much too long. If any of these recordings are published for sale or promotion it is with strict limitations of the music unions whci usually requires paying a fee to each musician. Some musicians ususally return the fee check as a donation to such a project. The primary reason for recording these concerts in the first place is to provide the necessary audio materials for NEA and State Arts funding applications. This is ususally the case with the 4 (soon to be 5 and now negotiating with a 6th) ) orchestras I record. One of these orchestras allows sale of CDs of its concerts to musicians and staff only. Another orchestra which has been super strict on this for nearly 30 years is negotiating this very same contract clause for 'in-house sales'. Hopefully the next step will be a promotional CD of the best of the best to be given to season subscribers and big buck donors. It generates interest and new season subscribers,but who am I to insist.....

Pierre Paquin
www.sd-associates.com

'Getting your hands on a concert recording is much like making love to a beautiful woman.' (No, it's not Monty Python.)