Authentic Performance

[ttw]

My impression (which may be incorrect) was that the serialists considered themselves an extension of romanticism, not a counter. Schoenberg did adminre Brahms (and Johann Strauss for that matter.)

Later serialists probably considered themselves revolutionaries.

[Bassoonery]

Interesting.
Also just wondred if anyone knows anything about authentic performances of Elgar's music or how music was performed at that time? For my English C/W I'm writing a preface/performance-notes to his Romance for Bassoon and thought any info about contemporary performance styles would help, although I realise it wasn't really very long ago...
Thanks

[val]

Also just wondred if anyone knows anything about authentic performances of Elgar's music or how music was performed at that time?

You can listen to Elgar himself conducting his Violin Concerto, with the young Yehudi Menuhin.

[Bassoonery]

You can listen to Elgar himself conducting his Violin Concerto, with the young Yehudi Menuhin.

Yes I've heard of that recording - I'll check it out. Apparently there are lots of similarities between the two pieces so that will be helpful. Thanks!

[Rod Corkin]

Originally Posted by MaestroX

Does anyone here specialise here in any form of authentic performance? The sound is much different, and in my opinion, it sounds better.

So... does anyone else play in period ensembles?

I'm not a performer but I agree with your sentiment. For baroque and classical period authentic instruments are an absolute necessity for a serious interpretation. I have an extensive collection of Beethoven and Handel cds on period instruments, once you've heard this you would never consider 'modern' for this music ever again. It's a pity fortepianos are still relatively rare and very expensive indeed to buy.

[Ron Ofir]

It's a pity fortepianos are still relatively rare and very expensive indeed to buy.

I thought fortepiano is the original name of the piano? Did you mean harpsichord?

once you've heard this you would never consider 'modern' for this music ever again.

I think the Baroque recordings I have are original (they use a harpsichord, but I don't know if that's a sign), and I do like them, but I do think that there's always place for interpretation.

[Rod Corkin]

Originally Posted by Ron Ofir

I thought fortepiano is the original name of the piano? Did you mean harpsichord?


I think the Baroque recordings I have are original (they use a harpsichord, but I don't know if that's a sign), and I do like them, but I do think that there's always place for interpretation.

No I mean Fortepiano, this is the term used in the English speaking world to identify the pianos from the time it was invented by Cristofori, around 1700, to around the 1860s, especially the time of Mozart and Beethoven. Quite different instruments to the modern piano.

[ttw]

Last December, I did attend a Bach recital with somewhat inadequate performers, set in a cold, drafty church, lots of snffling kids around, and an audience that would probably have preferred to hear Telemann. Seemed pretty authentic.

[Rod Corkin]

Telemann had some ideas, but overall produced some of the dryest and most drab music I have ever heard. Handel borrowed a few of these ideas but a comparison of the two is a model study in composition, in Handel's favour. Though Telemann's involvement in the Queen of Sheeba music form Solomon is totally over played. The familiar repeated 4 note theme Handel had composed himself many years before Tafelmusic (in an aria from H's abandoned opera 'Silla'), and the oboe part bears no resemblance to anything in the Tafelmusic piece. I would say only T's chord progression was an influence if anything. As far as I am aware I am the only person in the whole world who has noticed this! I've read in many places on the web that Handel simply plagiarised this music from Telemann, complete nonsense.

[VicDiesel]

Originally Posted by Rod Corkin

I'm not a performer but I agree with your sentiment. For baroque and classical period authentic instruments are an absolute necessity for a serious interpretation.

Quite. I recently bought my first couple of renaissance recorders, and a pretty good baroque 415 alto. Playing renaissance music on the baroque instrument or the other way around just sounds wrong.

Looking at the liner notes of some recordings it seems like renaissance instruments in A=466 seem to be becoming the norm, but I'm not buying it. Them. Whatever.

Victor.