26 Apr 13
I love the harpsichord but many dislike, some so intensely as to say the following: : The harpsichord sounds like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof." Sir Thomas Beecham. I for one love the harpsichord and could not conceive of music evolving the way it did without the plucky sounding instrument. It died a quiet death of sorts, although it is still so widespread in replaying music of the era. Hearing it live is so very lovely and sweet.
26 Apr 13
Originally posted by scacchipazzoI love harpsichord, there is a folk musician, I forget his name now, but he plays Irish tunes on Harpsichord really well.
I love the harpsichord but many dislike, some so intensely as to say the following: : The harpsichord sounds like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof." Sir Thomas Beecham. I for one love the harpsichord and could not conceive of music evolving the way it did without the plucky sounding instrument. It died a quiet death of sorts, although it is still so widespread in replaying music of the era. Hearing it live is so very lovely and sweet.
26 Apr 13
Originally posted by scacchipazzoI don't dislike, and certainly as an instrument played with others, it is a fine instrument.
I love the harpsichord but many dislike, some so intensely as to say the following: : The harpsichord sounds like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof." Sir Thomas Beecham. I for one love the harpsichord and could not conceive of music evolving the way it did without the plucky sounding instrument. It died a quiet death of sorts, although it is still so widespread in replaying music of the era. Hearing it live is so very lovely and sweet.
As a solo instrument, I struggle more. I have no solo harpsichord pieces in my collection. You may recall I said one of my New Year's resolutions was to plug the more obvious gaps in my collection. A few days ago, I looked at Scarlatti and thought 'I really should' and then jumped over him.
I think it is the fact that it is not touch sensitive that puts me off. It comes out a bit 'samey' compared to the piano.
I am, of course, a complete philistine.
26 Apr 13
Originally posted by Rank outsiderHow'd you read my mind? Indeed I hate movie music even more than most movies and sound like Sir Thomas Beecham is a man after my own heart. But back to the harpsichord. Only knock certainly is the lack of dynamic range. That's why the piano overtook it entirely and eventually music moved on and abandoned the very concept of a continuo. I do love it in baroque opera during recitativo.
I apologise in advance.
Movie music is noise... even more painful than my sciatica.
Thomas Beecham
A man after your own heart, eh scacchipazzo?
Joking!!!!!!!!
26 Apr 13
Originally posted by TeinosukeHe's a notable exception as is Korngold. I detest John Williams and the Williams wannabe's. I love his "Psycho Suite". I absolutely detest Disneyesque music oo any kind!
Thomas Beecham was great - but what about the movie music of Bernard Herrmann?
27 Apr 13
Originally posted by scacchipazzoCan you explain 'abandoned the very concept of a continuo'?
But back to the harpsichord. Only knock certainly is the lack of dynamic range. That's why the piano overtook it entirely and eventually music moved on and abandoned the very concept of a continuo. I do love it in baroque opera during recitativo.
27 Apr 13
Originally posted by Bosse de Nage"Basso continuo, though an essential structural and identifying element of the Baroque period, continued to be used in many works, especially sacred choral works, of the classical period (up to around 1800). An example is C. P. E. Bach's Concerto in D minor for flute, strings and basso continuo. Examples of its use in the 19th century are rarer, but they do exist: masses by Anton Bruckner, Beethoven, and Franz Schubert, for example, have a basso continuo part for an organist to play." I think that by the late nineteenth century a basso continuo played on keyboard, especially harpsichord had been abandoned as a background device; chord-harmonic functions have been taken up by instrument groupings instead excepting neo-Baroque music. I doubt it will ever come back in its original form.
Can you explain 'abandoned the very concept of a continuo'?
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27 Apr 13
Originally posted by scacchipazzoits not for me. it reminds me of when the chipmunks cover proper songs.
I love the harpsichord but many dislike, some so intensely as to say the following: : The harpsichord sounds like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof." Sir Thomas Beecham. I for one love the harpsichord and could not conceive of music evolving the way it did without the plucky sounding instrument. It died a quiet death of sorts, although it is still so widespread in replaying music of the era. Hearing it live is so very lovely and sweet.