"you think the recordings of so-called source singers are somehow lousy"

I think that the 'recordings' are fine for the technology of the day.

Some of the singers, recorded well past their best, really DO sound lousy. They may have sounded great in their younger days, same as some of the old instruments players, suffering the outragesous stings of old age, lack of practice, arthritus, etc too...

"Coarse Music" has nothing to do with a coarse sound, once again WAV reveals that he just doesn't get it - I am beginning to agree with mandotim... BTW, if you haven't READ Michael Green, you have no idea what 'Coarse Performance' means either...

But as I said, it is not their voice or instrument sound, what WHAT they are performing (the CONTENT, not the 'style') that is what the scholars which to preserve. Since WAV says he definitely TRIES to make his voice sound terribly lousy (just imitiate the recorded noise), he should be congratulated, perhaps, for having achieved his aim... but scholars will never remember him for the reasons that he intends...

Does anyone remember the name of the litle old lady who used to hire some place like Albert Hall each year and give a personal concert of warbly tunes all lousily sung?

Now THAT's a REAL Coarse Musician! Just like The Portsmouth Sinfonia!

:-)