Tonality of Instruments

Posted by: mikeeschman on 19 December 2008

Reflections on David Munrow's "instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance"

For the past 500 years or so, musical instruments has been converging on a singular harmonic model. Because of this, instruments sound a lot more alike than they used to.

In achieving a more balanced intonation, a lot of tonal color has vanished.

it's all here :-)

the playing is absolute aces, and the recording really brings out the overtones on every instrument.

each track highlights a different instrument.
sometimes two instruments.

the small booklet names the instruments on each track, so you can look them up on the internet.

to really enjoy this stuff, follow the melodies and let harmony follow. pay particular attention to the articulation. and enjoy the freaky haze of intonation that hangs around some of the tracks.

it really wakes up your ears :-)
Posted on: 19 December 2008 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by munch:
Mike,
Sorry to be a pain,
But how many threads do you want to start on almost the same thing?
Munch


this is something different.

the dropped composers thread is running down,
the hindemith thread is going to be around for a long time,
this is about instruments.

if no one else posts to this one i'll let it die.

just out of curiosity, why does it matter to you?
Posted on: 19 December 2008 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
Reflections on David Munrow's "instruments of the Middle Ages and Renaissance"

For the past 500 years or so, musical instruments has been converging on a singular harmonic model. Because of this, instruments sound a lot more alike than they used to.

In achieving a more balanced intonation, a lot of tonal color has vanished.

it's all here :-)

the playing is absolute aces, and the recording really brings out the overtones on every instrument.

each track highlights a different instrument.
sometimes two instruments.

the small booklet names the instruments on each track, so you can look them up on the internet.

to really enjoy this stuff, follow the melodies and let harmony follow. pay particular attention to the articulation. and enjoy the freaky haze of intonation that hangs around some of the tracks.

it really wakes up your ears :-)


i think we should start over ...
Posted on: 19 December 2008 by Adam Meredith
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
if no one else posts to this one I'll let it die.

just out of curiosity, why does it matter to you?


I think munch may have omitted to point out the unwritten forum rule that if a thread contains one poster replying mainly to himself then it might be construed as of arguable general interest.
Posted on: 19 December 2008 by mikeeschman
ok, i'll let this one die off. do you want me to kill the hindemith too?