How do period instruments work?

[jut1972]

Dumb question here but when people talk about period instruments vs modern do they mean the instruments are of the period?  I.e.hundreds of years old?

If so how can thay be more authentic when the sound of an instrument would change over time?   Would an authentic performance not use modern instruments manufactured in the style of those of the period?

Thanks all!

[Opus106]

[W]hen people talk about period instruments vs modern do they mean the instruments are of the period?  I.e.hundreds of years old?

Sometimes, yes. [Read further]

If so how can thay be more authentic when the sound of an instrument would change over time?

I'm not sure I understand this bit. Are you referring to the wearing, so to say, of an instrument over time?

Would an authentic performance not use modern instruments manufactured in the style of those of the period?

That is also done. But there are also well-preserved instruments -- from lutes and violins all the way to church organs. There are those that have required restoration, either because they were in a bad shape or were modified during the intervening years. And as stated earlier, there are specialists working today who build instruments from scratch using the original specifications (whatever little is available and some educated guesswork, in a lot of cases). But you must remember that not all recordings and performances may use instruments of the exact time period of the composition; there are even cases of using slightly later instruments, but the musicians usually have their own reasons for doing so.

[jut1972]

Cheers Nav.  With regard to the changing over time bit I (narrow mindedly) was thinking of string instruments where the wood would age and so presumably alter its sound.   So the likes of a Stradivarius would sound different today to how it did when it was made.   

[Gurn Blanston]

Cheers Nav.  With regard to the changing over time bit I (narrow mindedly) was thinking of string instruments where the wood would age and so presumably alter its sound.   So the likes of a Stradivarius would sound different today to how it did when it was made.

There is no doubt that this effect exists, but not to where it would affect the purpose here. Using your Strad example, Strads weren't a particularly popular fiddle for the first 50 to 75 years of their existence. Like all Cremonese instruments, they were popular because of their beauty and playing characteristics, but they didn't stand out from their brethren right off the workbench. But by the last of the 18th century, when they matured and had been "played in", so to say, their volume increased over time, their tone was sweeter, and they began to build the legend that they are today. If I'm not mistaken, "The Viotti" was the first of these, and his reputation as the premiere violinist of his age was built at least in part on his fiddle as well as what he did with it.

However, all string instruments sound better as they age. There is a far greater effect to be gained from "unrebuilding" it, that is, putting the neck back to the correct length and angle, lowering the bridge, removing the chin rest, possibly replacing the bass bar back to the original size, and above all, junking the steel strings in favor of gut ones. This has become fairly routine with old violins, and despite the fact that even new fiddles are being built by modern builders, they aren't replacing "unrebuilt" old ones yet. Maybe after they are 'played in' they will, one day.

[jochanaan]

And with woodwinds, brass and percussion, there are significant differences in construction.  (There are differences in stringed instruments too, but they are perhaps not quite so significant.  A lot of those old Stradivari and Guarneri instruments have had their necks, fingerboards and bridges replaced with modern-style ones.)

[SonicMan46]

As already stated, period instruments can be used in their original condition (likely a rarity), restored in part (which applies to many of the ones made primarily of wood), or copied (i.e. a new instrument made based on an older one - the keyboards, such as fortepianos or harpsichords are good examples).  Also, keep in mind that 'period performances' on these instruments depends on other factors, e.g. the use of gut strings, special bows of the period, and methods of playing on the strings (e.g. lack of vibrato).  Hopefully others will 'chime in' w/ more comments - ALSO, check out the Old Musical Instruments thread for some interesting discussion & pictures of older instruments or their 'modern' reproductions -

[jut1972]

Thanks guys it seems quite an involved topic! 

[7/4]

It should also mean the appropriate historical tuning...the ancients didn't always use 12 tone equal temperament.

[Opus106]

It should also mean the appropriate historical tuning...the ancients didn't always use 12 tone equal temperament.

To add to that: not all contemporaneous ancients used the same tuning either.

[7/4]

To add to that: not all contemporaneous ancients used the same tuning either.

This is true. Appropriate is the key word.

[arkiv]

If so how can thay be more authentic when the sound of an instrument would change over time?   Would an authentic performance not use modern instruments manufactured in the style of those of the period?

There are texts of antique methods of craftmanship to obtain similar timbres.


http://www.youtube.com/v/Deivz0U7RBk

[Ken B]

The clearest example is the harpsichord. For a long time they were made on a modern piano frame. Then some makers started examining historical ones closely, trying to match measurements and materials. The results were pretty remarkable. There's some interesting stuff on youtube about this.
The same principle applies to other instruments. Valve mechanisms or bores, and gut strings.