Music As the Composer Meant It

[dkm32]

Awhile back, on the Open Road (radio, not BB), someone asked about the difference between how the Composer meant a piece to be played (or, how it was played in his/her time) and how it is played today. Nicole Marie had a very good reply to the question. <P>First, I'd like to ask Nicole Marie to post her reply, then I'd like to get other people's ideas.<p>[This message has been edited by dkm32 (edited 01-12-2001).]

[Nicole Marie]

Hi dkm32!<P>Well the best answer to this question deals with pitch. <P>The orchestra and ensembles around the time of Mozart tuned to a different pitch then ensembles do today.<P>Today orchestras tune to a pitch frequency of 440. We know the pitch has increased over the years but the debate lies in how much of an increase? Most people agree that the pitch has risen about 20 degrees. That is a lot! So if Mozart was to jump into a time machine and travel into today...it's very possible he would not recognize his own piece!<P>Part of the reason the pitch has risen is due to instruments changing. The body, style and build of instruments is different. For example since I am a double bass player! Double Basses built in the 1700's and 1800's are smaller and hand crafted. Double basses of today seem to be larger and built of different wood, mostly machine made. This aids to the change of pitch.<P>Also composers would give performers a "draft" of what to play. Key, melody form and then leave much to the performers talents. The basso continuo knew to play a style based on their role in the ensemble, the soloist knew to play a style due to their role. Given this, composers would not fully write out music but give a draft. <P>Now ensembles are given full scores. This adds to differences. <P>Hope that helps. I could go more into the compositional aspect but then I need a chalkboard! <P>Nicole Marie

[WindysSewGreat]

"Historically accurate" music is something that interests me. I do not have a strong musical background; the only extra music education I can claim is playing clarinet four years in school. <BR> My family and I went on a vacation to Australia in April of 2000. In Sydney, I saw a banner in front of St. Andrew's Cathedral that they were performing Handel's Messiah on Easter Sunday. I decided to take my daughters to this performance, based on the cathedral's age; I believe it is the oldest in Sydney, if not all Australia.<BR> It was a wonderful experience, even the children liked it. I did a little research when we returned from "holiday" about Handel's time period, though I can't remember very much about it right now. It seems like there was about a century between the time the music was written and when the church was completed, though. Would that church still have had a snowball's chance of being an "intended" performance area? <BR> How hard is it to find performances of as-it-was-intended music? <P>Thanks,<BR>Windy

[shostakovich]

Hi Windy. I think it was about a century after Handel's Messiah that the English established Australia as a penal colony. It's safe to say that nothing of Handel was intended for Australia.

[Nicole Marie]

True Shost.<P>Composers often wrote pieces intended for a soloist, singer and even churches or performance venues. <P>Although Handel wrote the Messiah for many reasons, one being so he could get out of debt. But back to Windy's question it is pretty easy to find music performances "as it was intended". The best way to find them is find the performance groups which perform with period instruments and with the period style. <P>The Baltimore Consort is a great example of period performances. Do a little research and you'll be suprised what you'll find! If you need help let me know: nicole@beethoven.com