how do we understand the sound

[jojojojoanne]

and musical ability of performers before the age of recording?

[Kos]

Ehhhhh ?

[VHG]

I know what he means.

Paganini was considered a wonderful violinist, but no recording of his work exists, so how can we put him in historical context as a "great" musician.

I guess we have to base it on reports of their work, what other musicians and critics said about them.

Same with some early Jazz musicians.

Some early New Orleans muscians were never recorded so we only have the word of people who were in New Orleans at the time to say how good they were and how they compared with people like King Oliver and Louis Armstrong who WERE recorded.

[VHG]

One other thing.

I believe Paganini wrote some violin pieces that were very difficult to play.

He could play them at the time, and it takes a very good violinist to play them today.

So that gives us an idea of how good he was.

Same may go for other people who wrote (and could play) complex piano or other instrumental music for example.