Period or Modern Instruments

[jochanaan]

Musical playing and style is the #1 criterion. If it doesn't have that, in whatever form, then it doesn't matter if it is played on "period instruments" or not...

Very much agree.  This was also the point of Celibidache's remark that "you can have false phrasing on gut strings too."

[Mark]

Where's the option for, 'Whatever's in the best interests of the music'?

[Moldyoldie]

Generally, I prefer period instruments for Baroque music; but as has been stated, the manner of playing makes a world of difference.  Also, sour intonation as inherently heard with many period instruments, especially on adagios, is a real turn-off!

[Don]

Where's the option for, 'Whatever's in the best interests of the music'?

There is none.  If you want it, you'll have to start your own poll.

[Don]

Generally, I prefer period instruments for Baroque music; but as has been stated, the manner of playing makes a world of difference.  Also, sour intonation as inherently heard with many period instruments, especially on adagios, is a real turn-off!

On the contrary, I often find that modern strings sound sour in baroque music.

[scarpia]

Depends, with music which is relatively abstract, such as The Art of the Fugue, The Well Tempered Klavier, I prefer arrangements for modern instruments or performance on a modern keyboard instrument, mainly because of my aversion to the sound of the harpsichord.  For orchestral music which depends on the colors of the orchestra I prefer original instrument performance.  The reason for this preference is that I think that skilled composers wrote these pieces to take advantage of the sonorities that they were familiar with, and that balances get distorted when transferred to a modern orchestra.  This opinion is probably facilitated by the fact that I mostly hear this music in recordings.  In a concert hall, I suspect an original instrument ensemble would be underwhelming.

[Mark]

There is none.  If you want it, you'll have to start your own poll.

Then I don't get it.

Surely, many of us like period instruments in some instances, and modern ones in others. So how can anyone (apart from Rod Corkin, perhaps) vote so decisively in this poll?

[Gurn Blanston]

Then I don't get it.

Surely, many of us like period instruments in some instances, and modern ones in others. So how can anyone (apart from Rod Corkin, perhaps) vote so decisively in this poll?

I had no problem with it. The question is clear: for Baroque music, do you prefer period or modern instrument? Since there is no instance (aside from crappy playing, which isn't part of the question) where I prefer modern instruments, the answer was simplicity itself.



----------------
Listening to:
Royal Concertgebouworkest \ Jochum - Op 125 Symphony #9 in d 4th mvmt - Presto - Allegro assai

[Mark]

Like DavidW, I didn't read the poll question properly. (Sorry, Don.)

I'm going to say 'Period'. Especially harpsichord for Bach keyboard works.

[Superhorn]

     I  used  to  dislike  period  instruments,  but  have  grown  much  more  tolerant  of  them.
Many  just sound  better  than  the  earlier  recordings  and  performances, and  even  sound  more
like  modern  instruments. 
    The  gut  strings  have  often  sounded  awful ;   a  nasal, pinched  wheezing  sound.
   But  I  still  enjoy  modern  instrument  performances,  and  it's  actually  refreshing  to  hear   the  recordings  by  Marriner  and  Leppard   etc  again. 
    But  the  movement  has  gone  way  too  far.  Do  we  really  need "authentic" Wagner,  Brahms,
and Mahler? And how  authentic  are  they  actually?

[eyeresist]

Your formatting looks weird.

[greg]

Your formatting looks weird.

the way you said that made me burst out laughing 

[Bulldog]

     I  used  to  dislike  period  instruments,  but  have  grown  much  more  tolerant  of  them.
Many  just sound  better  than  the  earlier  recordings  and  performances, and  even  sound  more
like  modern  instruments. 

I can't say I would want period instruments to sound more like modern ones.  For me, this type of merging effect tends to negate the distinctive nature of period instruments.

BTW, my username is not an indication of how I will conduct myself.  It's just the description of the next dog I intend to adopt soon.

[Lethevich]

(As I am replying to this thread, I may as well give an opinion, not that mine means much at all) HIP neatly coincides with the type of performance I like - speedy and with nice transparency. Fortunately many non HIP performances also fulfil this criteria as well. I have a faint perference for HIP over non HIP if both performances in question are of the same quality, due to a preference in hearing the works with smaller forces.

BTW, my username is not an indication of how I will conduct myself.  It's just the description of the next dog I intend to adopt soon.

I hope that it won't have the breathing problems that seem to be common in that breed nowadays

[karlhenning]

BTW, my username is not an indication of how I will conduct myself.  It's just the description of the next dog I intend to adopt soon.

It was our high school mascot.

[Bulldog]

It was our high school mascot.

And an excellent choice, especially for contact sports.

[karlhenning]

(As I am replying to this thread, I may as well give an opinion, not that mine means much at all) HIP neatly coincides with the type of performance I like - speedy and with nice transparency.

Hey, I think your opinion counts.

Especially as I agree on light-footedness and transparency as virtues . . . .

[Keemun]

I prefer period instruments for most Baroque music.  The one exception I've found so far is Bach's Cello Suites.  Having listened to good performances on period and modern cellos, I definitely prefer the sound of the modern cello for these works. 

It was our high school mascot.

Mine too. 

[BachQ]

BTW, my username is not an indication of how I will conduct myself.  It's just the description of the next dog I intend to adopt soon.

We're curious as to what you'll name your new bulldog.

[Bulldog]

We're curious as to what you'll name your new bulldog.

Max is the name we're currently aligned with; if a female, I like Maxine.  My wife doesn't though; that's her mom's name.