 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-10-18 00:49
There was (recently) a broadcast on Classic FM (our national classical music FM radio station) featuring an orchestra which called itself Orchestra Anima Eterna--Jos van Immerseel, conductor.
Anyways - they are a dutch "period instrument" band who specalise in mid-romantic music performance practice (think Johan Strauss or Brahms). Now - I'm a sort of big fan of the period instrument movement, although I do have serious issues with their blanket use of A430Hz - as this is far from authentic and basically makes things EASY for them ... kind of missing the whole point of being authentic.
In their research on the way Strauss Waltzes are played they found some early recordings of the Vienna Philharmonic (around 1920s) playing a Strauss Waltz - they style was so different from what that same orchestra uses today as to be almost absurd. No heavy elongations on the 2nd beat of the bar, much smoother tempos and not so much rhythmic diversity.
On the whole - I thought "wow" we now are getting into an era (at long last) where historic performance practice is getting their act together and not just putting gut strings on fiddles, tunning down their clarinets and using no vibrato ... please.
The sound of the mid-19th century clarinets was very curious indeed, sweet and very bright (even though it was a variety of A and Bb and C clarinets being used in the recording).
It was eye-opening and very curious.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-10-20 19:27
Yes Diz, interesting stuff. I was wondering while reading this, when did folks discover the frequencies of standard pitches? In other words Mozart may have had his groups tune to an A that the oboe gave and he may even have scowled at him and said "you're sharp", but I suspect he didn't say "you're at 435, I want 430". I am also sure he didn't say "you're two cents sharp" as our college director does.
So when did our experimental physics measure the frenquency of an A at standard temperature and pressure thus setting the stage for universal pitch standards? Until this happened then the only way to really compare what the various areas in the world were using would have been to ask a traveller how an orchestra compared to his tuning fork (I assume).
Terry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-10-20 23:44
Terry - good point, it is well documented that Mozart had an accute sense of pitch (he had perfect pitch by the way). He would certainly have ensured that his orchestra tuned (usually to the keyboard or first violin - the oboe, as the tuning instrument is a late 19th century invention).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
