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shamus posted an update 7 years, 11 months ago
Early Baroque (Late Renaissance?) passacaglia for lute. As for the lute being eclipsed by the classical guitar, I share much of JPF’s thoughts about the harpsichord being neglected for the piano. The lute has a mellow yet crisp timbre, and upon attack and sustain sounds much cleaner than guitar (which can sound rather clumsy by comparison). I imagine lutes would play well in an ensemble much like the harpsichord (though you don’t seem to encounter it).
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I wish the above video had better sound quality. This is another good performance of it with better sound:
I agree… I’d rather hear things composed for lute ON the lute, and I do prefer the sound to the guitar.
Dr Farrell, I am not sure, but I think the reason why original instruments were/are not used that much has more to do with finding talented/virtuoso players of such instruments (and those instruments can be extremely expensive). The tuning of the instruments of that era is also a very delicate thing that must be done right (and may not please all ears). Please correct if am wrong.
It is true that such instruments are more expensive, and hence, more difficult to learn, because they are hand crafted. And it is also true that the tempering systems for tuning them are known to a few people. But still, I think part of it is the mass production effect… and the resulting lazy ears….
We are still waiting for a little taster of the new Pipe Organ!
Or is China buying them all up?
It is not here yet. If if ever DOES get you I will let everyone know.
Playing a period instrument like the violin with a different temperament or tuning than the contemporary one is a real challenge regardless of whether the instrument is hand-crafted or not, because the violin does not have frets.
P.S. In middle-eastern music (Turkey, Iran, Arab world) the violin is one of the few instruments that can be used without modifications because there are no frets. Downside is that because of the larger number of notes per octave (quarter tone) the violinist’s finger touch must be very precise. That is why the violin is so popular in arab music while the piano is not (except in Iran where some have retuned the piano, while omitting quarter tones — the result is incomplete but at least it can be heard by Western ears used to the sound of the piano). While the West gained in harmony with its tuning system, and notation system, it lost rhythmic spontaneity and complexity.
A simple but charming example of Persian-tuned piano composition:
(In Iran, the santur or dulcimer has always been very popular, and it sound a bit like the harpsichord, which explains the Iranian interest in piano)