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Humidity, temperature, cracking - Historic Musicians

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-11-14 22:20

Recently, I've been wondering more about the topic of wood instruments, cracking, warping, etc. in the context of history...going back a few hundred years.

We live in pretty plush times as far as humidity and temperature control go. Even 100 years ago, it would have been somewhat difficult to make a trip of more than a half hour or so without fairly substantial swings in heating/cooling/humidity.

How, then, did folks manage during those times, and earlier?

Then, once a player had arrived at the venue - perhaps a large cathedral, it might be downright chilly compared to what we consider suitable playing temperatures today.

Were cracks just more accepted/less feared back then? It makes me wonder how beautiful/awful an orchestra/band sounded back then.

I am beginning to see museums offer up AI-generated images (based on foggy old tin-types). Folks are oooo-ing and ahhhh-ing about the insights provided by the now clear photos. However, there's no more historic data than there ever was...there's just new manufactured data added to fit what our modern sensibilities desire. Have we done the same thing (pre-AI) with our "photo" of early music as well?

I'd be interested in any books/articles/whatever that speak to such issues.

Thanks in advance,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>

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