Klarinet Archive - Posting 000006.txt from 2002/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Period instruments --- were any of them "better" ?
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 09:38:46 -0400

At 12:10 AM 9/1/2002 -0700, William Wright wrote:
>While period instruments have disappeared for good reason (didn't play
>well, were too expensive or cumbersome, couldn't be maintained easily,
>etc), did any of these instruments have advantages that modern
>instruments lack?
>
>On balance, I'm sure that modern instruments are 'better'; but have we
>lost anything at all during the many transitions? ...

I know the larger sarrousophones had an advantage over saxophones in being
smaller and lighter. It can also be said that early pianos had more
interesting sound. Todays pianos are very even throughout the range, but
pianofortes tend to have different sounds in different parts of the
range. Early music types will tout this as an advantage, of course,
although the piano manufacturers, who have put so much effort into solving
that "problem" might well argue the opposite.

Bill Hausmann bhausmann1@-----.net
451 Old Orchard Drive
Essexville, MI 48732 ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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