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

Hofmann's 1923 Brunswick recording is a legendary performance. But of course, it is about 100 years old, and such old audio comes with its own problems. I have used specialist denoising and enhancement tools to improve the sound quality on what I think is one of the greatest piano recordings ever made. Enjoy!

[@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) ruclips.net/video/d2UePyzx6gw/видео.html