Understanding baroque music

Anything about MUSIC but doesn't fit into the forums above.
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How has this thread come this far without mention of Wendy Carlos? The Switched On... stuff is about as far as you can get from authentic instrumentation, sure, but it's more sensitive to the music than many of the dusty old 'purists' - even Glenn Gould raved about Carlos' interpretations at every opportunity.

Maybe it sounds a bit unfashionable now. That would be sad, since there's pioneering Moog work from one of the great masters of the synth, and some of the best performances of some of the greatest music ever written - and all on the same CDs!

They've all been reissued as a bargain-priced box set too... Good stuff, recommended listening.

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Wopelka wrote:a great film, indeed - and Marin Marais' music... 8)
I'll have to check that out.

Oh, just ordered a 7-string bass viola da gamba. Pretty soon I'll be able to play Marais...

V.

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Not so, I have a very reliable source that says he used Z3ta on the Air for Watermusic.

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XDVarenkor wrote:How has this thread come this far without mention of Wendy Carlos?
Amazing, isn't it? Why, someone ought to have mentioned Carlos by the ninth post on the first page! It's a disgrace nobody did. *tailtwitch* And if I ever find out who didn't, I'll... well, I'll be very angry with that person. *nodnod* It was probably some fool who has all Carlos' work in tacky original vinyl.

(Okay, most of it.)

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Meffy wrote:That's right, I'd take my...

*ahem*

... bucks to Hooters.
:hihi:

Heh... Oh sorry. I mean, rather:

:roll:

I knew a man who swore by Buxtehude. Maintained he was 'better than Bach'. A long bow to draw, but an underrated composer.

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blitze wrote:No that's Baptists head (:
No, it is a painting of Perseus turning Phineus and his followers to stone

But back on topic:

Strangely enough, my favorite Bach is the stuff, A Musical Offering, and The Art of Fugue especially, that aren't written for specific media.

If I ever figure out what I am doing, I would love to realize these using electronic media.

I figure that as they were written as intellectual exercises, that musicologically sound performance practice doesn't really apply.

Still, you would want to do it right. That stuff is Bach talking to the Urstoff in its original language.

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herodotus wrote:
blitze wrote:No that's Baptists head (:
No, it is a painting of Perseus turning Phineus and his followers to stone
Gee, those Ancient Greeks have all the fun.
Leave ones footprint in that of the mind not the physical world. We have screwed it over enough.

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tee boy
Kev,

Is it true that Handel used an all software setup?
Okay .. you asked for it ... Handel story coming up.

But first of all I want to state that I consider Handel to be first and foremost an English composer.

When he first arrived in the UK with his command of Italian floribunda and stoic Krautisms he did okay, but not fantastic.

But once he hung around and caught the English groove, he went on to develop a truly new and English style. As a result, the locals and the King came to worship him.

So I consider him an Englishman (just as Americans consider Robert Hope and Charles Chaplin as Amercicans and not Brits)

Handel was in many ways to the successor to Henry Purcell.

But on with the story:

One morning at the Duke of Chandos' big rich pig Baroque palace, Handel was in his four poster bed with his nightcap and gown on (as it was cold in those days), scribbling away with his quill, getting his next masterpiece down on paper.

His servant came in to bring him his morning hot chocolate (only the very best had hot chocolate then) when he remarked to see the Maestro sobbing huge large tears down his face as he wrote his piece.

Handel was in tears of great emotion as he wrote. Astonishing!

(no, he wasn't doing putte impressions)

As it happens, the young kev was mortally impressed by this display.

To sit in bed writing - not actually playing mind you - and be so moved as to come to tears.

This had to be an ultimate musical experience.

Young kev was so inspired by this act of deeply profound musical thought that he there and then made a promise to learn to read and write music, in the hope that one day he could read and write music in bed and cry like Handel.
Member 12, Studio One Pro 7, VPS Avenger, Kontakt 8, Spitfire, Sonible, Baby Audio, CableGuys. Recent best buy - EZ Drummer 3 with Bandmate

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COMPARING BAROQUE/MODERN INTERPRETATIONS

Here are 2 samples of the same Vivaldi's concerto (recordings provided by Amazon). One is performed by a 'modern' orchestra (their CD is considered as one of the best recordings of this Opus on modern instruments) and the other one by a 'barocky' orchestra, on ancient instruments.

You'll hear that pitch, timbres, phrasing are very diffrent. Which one do you prefer?

Sample 1

Sample 2

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The people playing the first bit seem to be in a bit of a hurry.
I really like the second version much better.

Groet, Erik
Pop music delenda est.
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wopelka
Which one do you prefer?

Sample 1

Sample 2

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No contest :lol:
Member 12, Studio One Pro 7, VPS Avenger, Kontakt 8, Spitfire, Sonible, Baby Audio, CableGuys. Recent best buy - EZ Drummer 3 with Bandmate

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kevvvvv wrote:No contest :lol:
do you mean you share tetraplan's opinion?

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Wopelka
do you mean you share tetraplan's opinion?
v2 is syruppy and lethargic, and bears all the sigsn of an expensive and over-large orchestra who'd probably prefer playing Tchaikovsky.

v1 has all the nervous energy of ppl who are excited to be there. The small dissonances in the intonation add to the ravishing feeling of the slower notes over the top.

Plus the harpsi adds a thumping great backbeat to stir the senses.

No contest :lol:

(got a tarnce version, guv?)
Member 12, Studio One Pro 7, VPS Avenger, Kontakt 8, Spitfire, Sonible, Baby Audio, CableGuys. Recent best buy - EZ Drummer 3 with Bandmate

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ahh! way more close to my own opinion! :D

yet i wouldn't be so severe with regard to Sample2. it's a nice, honest version on modern instruments. but yeah, the baroque spirit is lacking big time.

the names:

Sample1: Hogwood - The Academy of Ancient Music

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Sample2: I Musici

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i would also recommend Fabio Biondi's performance (for any Vivaldi opus).

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Wopelka wrote:i would also recommend Fabio Biondi's performance (for any Vivaldi opus).
Ah, Biondi! Any recording by him! Baroque or not! He's a mutant!
Rakkervoksen

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