| Robins 10 Cents:
Period instruments have a completely different sound than modern ones. It is useful to explore this sound when trying to understand what composers may have wanted. Having experienced the new old sound, one is free to decide whether it is worth the effort to climb on that bandwagon. I have tried it and feel it is more than worth the effort. Most conductors that I have worked with are also interested (this helps to keep the competition away!).
Playing period instruments requires learning some new skills (lip trills, massive lipping up or down, balance in an ensemble, accepting cracked notes.....).
Period instruments are generally harder to play in tune when the rest of the ensemble has modern instruments. Here is where the "baroque" trumpet comes in with its vent holes. Here you have 95% of the sound with only 50% more work.
Good pieces to experience the difference:
Mozart Requiem, Beethoven Symphonies, Haydn choral works
bad piece to get started with:
Bach Brandenburg Concerto #2
Period does not only mean natural trumpet. The 19th century had deep F trumpets too. They also have a different sound than modern horns. Turn of the century cornets are also interesting and different! |