The Golden Ear

Newsletter of the Chicago Audio Society January 2000

Sunday, January 16th - 2:00pm

Cedille Records may not be a familiar name to you, yet it is very familiar and esteemed among classical musicians in the Chicago area. As mentioned in a previous Golden Ear, the September / October article of Fanfare featured an article about Cedille, mentioning its recently celebrated tenth anniversary. We invite you and your friends to attend this month's meeting to audition selections of Cedille's recordings, to learn more about Cedille and its history, and to appreciate the fine musicianship and how and why Cedille chooses pieces to record.

While a 23-year-old law student at University of Chicago, Jim Ginsburg founded Cedille, wanting to produce the kind of CDs he would like to buy himself. Using local talented musicians who would stand on their own merits against well known international artists, Ginsburg has recorded nearly 50 releases, including pianists Dmitri Paperno and David Schrader; violinist Rachel Barton; light-soprano Patrice Michaels Bedi; the Chicago Baroque Ensemble; pianist-composer Easley Blackwood; and the Chicago Chamber Musicians.

At the beginning of 1994, Cedille was converted to a nonprofit organization, the Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, enabling fund raising and grants from the Illinois Arts Council and Channel 11, as well as donations from private foundations and individuals.

We will also have literature and photographs from the Consumer Electronics Show just held in Las Vegas.

In addition, Society officer nominations and elections will be held.

Jerzy Dratewski demonstrated Marsh Sound Design electronics, including a hybrid preamplifier and solid state amplifiers, used to drive speakers of his own design which use ATI drivers from Canada.

Concurrently we had more than our usual variety of refreshments, along with plenty of holiday good cheer.

A flyer with the mailing address is enclosed for your convenience. Please take care of dues at once, either at this month's meeting or by mail. We are keeping dues at $30 per year and are considering holding an audio fair in the spring, which, in addition to being fun for those who attend. would help raise funds.

February 20th - Jim Ricketts (tmh audio), representing Wavac, Kochel, PSC silver cables, Miyabi. If you're interested in SE triodes, efficient speakers, etc. be sure to attend! The sound achieved at CES was superb.

Others: Ron Welborne (Welborne Labs), Jud Barber (Joule Electra) and Bobby Palkovic (Merlin Music Systems), Paul McGowan (PS Audio), Tash Goka (Reference 3A and Antique Sound Lab), Marantz (Super Audio CD, etc.), Ralph Karsten (Atma-Sphere), and more!

Be sure to renew your membership!

Despite the decision by some companies to delay the introduction of DVD-Audio playback equipment by up to six months due to computer hackers figuring out how to beat the encryption system, Pioneer has gone ahead. We applaud Pioneer's decision.

President Vice President Treasurer

Brian Walsh Rich Sacks Dennis Anderson

(847) 382-8433 (847) 843-2554 (630) 830-9142

bpwalsh@xnet.com rich2@mediaone.net