"Today, with a recording, he can hear the thing enough times until he really gets acquainted with the language, and then he can begin to make an estimate of the intrinsic, aesthetic value of that piece of music"

Leo Ornstein's quote reflects on the profound shift in ease of access and understanding of music produced by recording technology. Before the advent of recordings, experiencing music was limited largely to live efficiencies, which presented difficulties for much deeper understanding and appreciation. Listeners had to depend on memory and frequently fleeting impressions, as opportunities to hear a particular piece consistently were rare.

Ornstein highlights the transformative nature of recordings-- by allowing repeated, practical access to music, recordings empower listeners to engage with structures more deeply. This repeated listening fosters a familiarity with the nuances and intricacies of the music, akin to learning a brand-new language. The example recommends that simply as one does not comprehend a language from a single hearing, real comprehension and gratitude of music need numerous encounters.

With duplicated exposure, listeners can move beyond preliminary impressions and start to discern the complex layers and subtleties of a piece. This continual engagement permits them to form a more informed judgment of its intrinsic, aesthetic worth. Intrinsic value, in the context of music, describes qualities inherent to the work-- its structure, tune, consistency, rhythm, and emotional effect-- independent of external elements like performance setting or historic context.

Ornstein underscores an essential aspect of musical engagement: the transition from passive listening to active, informed understanding. By repeatedly engaging with a piece, one can appreciate its visual depth, much as studying a painting or rereading a book exposes layers not immediately apparent. This process of familiarization, made it possible for by recordings, democratizes music appreciation, making it available to anyone with the curiosity and determination to explore.

In essence, Ornstein celebrates recordings as a tool that not just widens access to music however also improves the listener's experience, enabling a much deeper, more personal connection with the art form.