Old Musical Instruments & Modern Reproductions!

[SonicMan46]

I do not ever remember seeing carved heads like those....are they common, or was it a fad that had its time?

Carved heads on these instruments seemed fairly common in those days but not sure how often and on which instruments in the string family the heads were used.  Many of the pictures of barytons that I've seen had carved heads - just a few shown below; the more detailed picture is interesting because the back sympathetic strings are seen which could be plucked w/ the player's left thumb -

 

[Szykneij]

I do not ever remember seeing carved heads like those....are they common, or was it a fad that had its time?

Yes, common then and they occasionally pop up now. A recent student of mine had a violin with a beautiful lion's head scroll that he bought new. This viola is currently listed on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Professional-CARVED-VIOLA-W-CARVED-ANGEL-HEAD-PURFLING-Bobelock-Adj-case-/180824172388?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a19f5e764

[Szykneij]

The viola above and these necks with carved scrolls sold to luthiers are all produced in China where more and more quality instruments are being made. When you see instruments now advertised as "German engineered", etc. , chances are good they come from a factory in China where a European company has sent personnel to oversee the production.

[SonicMan46]

Hi Tony - thanks for your recent posts and insights into these old wood instruments - I really enjoyed your earlier comments at the beginning of this thread regarding repairing/restoring string instruments - Dave

[Szykneij]

Hi Tony - thanks for your recent posts and insights into these old wood instruments - I really enjoyed your earlier comments at the beginning of this thread regarding repairing/restoring string instruments - Dave

Thanks, Dave! This is a thread I keep tabs on, although I'm not always able to chime in. It's a fascinating subject.

[Szykneij]

On the same theme, I purchased this album yesterday with carved scrolls featured on the cover. I'm not quite sure how the images relate to Shostakovich because even the pegs on the instruments are Baroque style. Perhaps they're meant to represent the Janacek Quartet players, hovering above the piano keyboard that completes the quintet. At any rate, it's a good example of interesting low-budget artwork.

[Szykneij]

I just finished listening to this recording -- Jean-Philippe Rameau Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts performed by The Boston Museum Trio. My copy is a vinyl LP I picked up some time ago containing the 5 suites (Trio Sonatas?) on the local Cambridge, MA "Titanic Records" label. There is a CD available from "Centaur Records" at Arkiv with a couple of added tracks that appears to be the same recording.

When I removed the record from the cover, I discovered a nice surprise. The album sleeve was actually pages from a 1979 Boston Globe Magazine with a nice article about the performers.

The instruments used are from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts Instruments Collection: A 1680 Johannes Couchet harpsichord, 1778 Augustin Chappuy violin, and a 1708 Claude Pierray bass, seven-stringed Viola da gamba.

[SonicMan46]

I just finished listening to this recording -- Jean-Philippe Rameau Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts performed by The Boston Museum Trio. .......................

The instruments used are from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts Instruments Collection: A 1680 Johannes Couchet harpsichord, 1778 Augustin Chappuy violin, and a 1708 Claude Pierray bass, seven-stringed Viola da gamba.

Hi Tony - well, those instruments peaked my interest; 2 of my favorite museums in the USA are the MFA in Boston & the Met in NYC - just love to visit their 'Musical Instrument' collections (the Library of Congress in D.C. also has a great collection!),  So I went to the MFA website; their instrument collection can be viewed and photos enlarged - found the 3 instruments you mention above & have attached some pics!  Dave

[SonicMan46]

Zuccari, Francesco (1694-1788) - Cello Sonatas researched and performed by Mvsica Perdvta (google the name for their website which is in Italian - I just used page translation).  A variety of historic instruments used, mostly copies but some restored.

The instruments include Baroque Cello after Stradivarius, Baroque five-string cello (pic below from their website), G-Violin, Baroque Double Bass, Organ, Flemish Harpsichord after Ruckers, & Theorbo - outstanding recording for sound & performance - these works are probably from the mid-18th century w/ the instruments used harking back to the Baroque - highly recommended -

 

[Szykneij]

This is a beautiful instrument. I hope the picture was photo-shopped. I shudder to think what those stones could do to the varnish!

[SonicMan46]

Baroque Bassoon & Sergio Azzolini - just obtained the Graupner recording of bassoon concertos played by one of the best Baroque bassoonists (or fagottist) around!  Azzolini is using a copy of a bassoon of the period made by Peter de Koningh in 2007 after an original by J.H. Eichentopf, ca. 1720; the added pic is another performer (the younger guy) playing a Baroque copy made by the same individual  also after one by Eichentopf, ca. 1732 - assume Sergio's is similar!

If you are into late Baroque wind music and love the period bassoon, then this is a MUST recommendation; also, if you like Vivaldi's bassoon works and Azzolini, then the added CDs at the bottom are another strong consideration -

 

 

[Szykneij]

I guess you can't get any older than these!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18196349#

[Bogey]

Well, you may find this story interesting to listen to.  (Looks as if this is fairly close to you, JW.)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2012/08/05/157991138/gathering-of-the-viols-the-50th-annual-viola-da-gamba-conclave



On the link, if you scroll down a bit, there is a 4 pic slide show of other carved heads!

[stingo]

Recently discovered this instrument/recording...

[asin]B0089VCN16[/asin]

[milk]

I wonder if a reference to this recording has made it onto this thread yet. 
This is my first purchase of a recording featuring this instrument:

[SonicMan46]

 

Hi Milk - not sure that we have a post here dedicated to the cornetto ('little horn'), a popular Renaissance instrument; now I have a LOT of music from this era and the cornetto (or a family of different sizes) is often featured, so if you like then sound the best to explore that period of music or look into modern HIP performances, such as the one you now own.

Also, checkout the Cornetto Website for more information; in addition, there are plenty of pictures of the instrument (in numerous forms & sizes) on the web - one shown below.  Thanks for bringing up this topic - Dave

[milk]

Thanks SonicMan! I'll see how this one grows on me. I liked the samples so I went for it. I don't have much
Renaissance music as of yet except for William Byrd and other virginalists. Thanks!

[Que]

Well, in this thread Tony posted an album (LP vs. CD?) below left of Haydn works played on a kind of string-like 'hurdy-gurdy' of Haydn's time (couple of added pics below) - well I had one other CD featuring this instrument and was curious; however, a CD was just not available (probably OOP) - but tonight I downloaded the MP3 recording from Amazon (about $9) - transferred to my iPod and then burned to a CD-R - just takes minutes once you've done the process a few times - technology can be wonderful (or a PITA!) - 

Well, at the moment, I'm listening to the CD-R on my den stereo system and the experience is wonderful - really! This instrument is called a lira organizzata - BOY, I'd love to attend a live performance just to see how it is played; but the sound of the instrument is unique and blends quite well w/ the strings - just a superb acquisition for little cost - recommended to Haydn fans & to the music composed for instruments now considered obsolete - 

   

Fort hose interested in the lira arganizzata - this issue is coming up soon:



Haydn: Notturni H2 nr. 25 & 26;Konzert G-Dur H7h nr. 3 für 2 Lira organizzate
Mozart: Konzert F-Dur für 2 Lira organizzate & Orchester
Oritano: Sinfonia nr. 3 D-Dur
Pleyel: Notturno C-Dur

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

Fort hose interested in the lira arganizzata - this issue is coming up soon:



Haydn: Notturni H2 nr. 25 & 26;Konzert G-Dur H7h nr. 3 für 2 Lira organizzate
Mozart: Konzert F-Dur für 2 Lira organizzate & Orchester
Oritano: Sinfonia nr. 3 D-Dur
Pleyel: Notturno C-Dur

Q

Que,
I am at work, and thus bereft of reference; are those 2 Haydn works different than the ones on 'Delirium'?  If so, this will be a must have.

[Que]

Que,
I am at work, and thus bereft of reference; are those 2 Haydn works different than the ones on 'Delirium'?  If so, this will be a must have.

This is what is on the Delirium disc:

Concerto No. 1 for 2 lire organizzate in C major, H. 7h/1
Divertimento a 8, for baryton, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass & 2 horns in A minor/A major, H. 10/3
Notturno for 2 lire organizzate, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violas & bass in G major, H. 2/27
Divertimento a 8, for baryton, 2 violins, viola, cello, bass & 2 horns in G major, H. 10/12
Notturno for 2 lire organizzate, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, 2 violas & bass in C major, H. 2/32

So I guess there is no doubling!

Q