Klarinet Archive - Posting 000806.txt from 1998/03

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Baroque pizzacato? ;-)
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 11:43:54 -0500

(Caution - attempt at humor ahead!)

On Thu, 12 Mar 1998, CARRIE L EISHER wrote:

> Does anyone know how Baroque pizzacato differs from contemperary? Did
> Baroque violinists use something besides their fingers to acheive
> pizzacato?

Some of them produced pizzicato by plucking the strings with their
tongues. Violinists liked it because the sound it produced wasn't so
"dry." However, so many string players died of rosin poisoning that the
practice had to be outlawed.

Please note the correct spelling, "pizzicato." "Pizzacato" was the name
of an early brand of pizza, which was made in a pizzaria owned by an
Italian violinist, composer and pizza maker named "Cato." The only
musical works he ever composed were "Rounds."

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu

P.S.: Young students, please ignore all the above.