HPSCHD-L Archives

Harpsichords and Related Topics

HPSCHD-L@LIST.UIOWA.EDU

Options: Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
From:
Michael Brazile <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Harpsichords and Related Topics <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 7 Jan 2016 11:13:35 -0500
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (105 lines)
I have to reply with respectful but tremendous disagreement with your
general
argument, Claudio. It's very disappointing to hear you bristling at a
player because they dare to perform
in an "inauthentic" way that isn't justifiable with historical sources.

In my view. the judgment of someone's playing shouldn't be based on how
"historically correct"
their playing is, but whether it touches you, gives you something new to
think about
or allows you to see the music in a completely new way, even if it's in a
way that the composer
might have never heard it.

This business of "historically correct" or "authentic" performance is an
aesthetic that I wish
would completely die out in the early music world. I am so tired of the
"authentic performances"
that are churned out over and over, of the same old music, that could just
as well have been played by
Person X or Person B.

In my view, if you're going to bother playing at all, be fresh! Be
original! Do something new! Play something new!
This applies doubly if you're playing any of the "standard" fare of Bach,
Handel, Scarlatti, Rameau etc...

As Wanda Landowska once told Paul Wolfe, with whom I studied: "If it sounds
right, it IS right, nevermind what the books and the treatises say."






On Thu, Jan 7, 2016 at 10:44 AM, J. Claudio Di Veroli <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> We all know about acclaimed harpsichordists from different countries (a few
> are reading this post) who have produced excellent and stylish performances
> of French Baroque music, with the well-known notes inégales.
>
>
>
> So it comes to a surprise to find that authentic performance is by no means
> the rule. I have just been signalled, by a distinguished member of this
> list, a recording by a supposedly outstanding young French harpsichordist.
> Let us not make names. The webpage allows to hear a few recorded pieces,
> some in videos. It is mostly Rameau. What I see and hear is:
>
>
>
> - An Allemande in "C" in semiquavers played absolutely égale and legato
> throughout ("pace" Hotteterre and others sources from which we know that
> these pieces were played inégales and therefore non-legato.)
>
>
>
> - Les Tendres Plaintes played as if it was an unmeasured prelude.
>
>
>
> - A webpage showing a French harpsichordist playing six French Baroque
> pieces, with no inégales anywhere.
>
>
>
> There is certainly no scarcity of excellent French harpsichordists who know
> better, yet this is not the first time I encounter young French
> harpsichordists giving recitals and recording French Baroque music with not
> a single note inégale.
>
>
>
> A real pity.
>
>
>
> CDV
>
>
>
> http://play.braybaroque.ie/
>
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
> Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
> tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
> versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
> [log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
> ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
>

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Note:  opinions  expressed on HPSCHD-L are those of the  individual con-
tributors and not necessarily  those of the list owners  nor of the Uni-
versity of Iowa.  For a brief  summary of list  commands, send mail to
[log in to unmask]  saying  HELP .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ATOM RSS1 RSS2