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From: robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Beware: Old Instruments aren't performed traditionally
Message-ID: <872@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-May-84 12:58:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: eosp1.872
Posted: Thu May 10 12:58:06 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 12-May-84 08:45:26 EDT
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton, NJ
Lines: 31

References:

It is pleasurable and instructive to listen to performances of
old instruments.  But beware of the many ways that they are probably
not being played or heard in the traditional manner.

Ancient wind instruments usually sound out of tune.  It is possible they
were played as in tune (but to different scales!) as modern instruments.
Most modern virtuosi spend years playing one instrument to get really good
at intonation.  Most players of ancient instruments do not know their
instrument so well.  (The same argument goes for technique in general.)

Methods of making reeds may have changed.  Shawms always seem to have a
shwoopsy attack below pitch for every note.  I have heard the alto and
tenor shawm played with a clean attack on every note.  It can be
done, but WAS it traditionally done?

String technique has changed enormously.  Even changes in styles of accenting
notes and slurring have an enormous effect on the sound of string
instruments.

The worst problem of all --  we moderns HEAR instruments differently from
our ancestors.  It's hard to account for this difference, but it is an
immense factor.  A recent example of what I mean -- those of you who are
old enough will remember that Rock music in the 1950's was considered to
be incredibly heavy and pounding in its rhythms.   The heavy, pounding
rock recordings of the 50's sound light and delicate today.
					- Toby Robison (not Robinson!)
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