tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980672.post5902267117778367965..comments2023-10-08T08:38:09.714-04:00Comments on Musical Perceptions: The Speed of TimbreScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01286095156825716887noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980672.post-24794944361982156192012-02-08T06:19:35.428-05:002012-02-08T06:19:35.428-05:00I think that there needs to be a realization of wh...I think that there needs to be a realization of what instruments were created for in the first place. That is to imitate the human voice and perform skills that a voice can't. Instruments have become more powerful and can achieve technically feats that our musical ancestors could only dream of. I am quite a young classical music and I think that if a violin can be made in our age that can imitate the human voice and allows for greater technical proficiency than a Strady than why not? Who is to say that the Stradivarius is always going to be the benchmark. I think the bench mark in the human voice not a brand name. <br /><br />P.S This is a spectacular blog and I'll definitely subscribe and link this to my blog (I'd love if you did the same)<br /><br />Email: vspen3@gmail.com<br />Blog:<br /><br />http://thedyingartofmusic.blogspot.com.au/Vilihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12619721950072511872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980672.post-20200407004561407302012-01-22T12:23:14.842-05:002012-01-22T12:23:14.842-05:00Interesting discussion -- I wonder how much succes...Interesting discussion -- I wonder how much success is due to the popularity of the performer? If you could do a "blind taste test", do you think you'd find the same results?Free Sheet Musichttp://www.freesheetmusic.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980672.post-38392443483462974572011-10-01T10:16:38.939-04:002011-10-01T10:16:38.939-04:00I think you're both probably right to various ...I think you're both probably right to various degrees.<br /><br />Also important is the idealization/idolization (not necessarily bad) of standard timbres that comes naturally through a classically-based conservatory model - one that looks to the past for perfection. The easiest answer for why no one can improve on 300-yr old Italian violins is that the sound of a Stradivarius IS the standard (for many people) for what a violin should sound like. What will ever sound more like a Strad than a Strad? The piano is maybe even a better example because it is an instrument riddled with flaws and compromises, and yet the sound of a 1900 or so Steinway has been so idealized (including its very flaws) that most pianists (including myself) want their pianos to sound like THAT. A modern synthesized keyboard could easily improve on all sorts of problems of register balance, legato, sustain in high registers, clarity in low registers, etc. but most people looking for "digital pianos" don't want those wrinkles ironed out. They want the "digital" to sound analog. (I include myself in this group; I'd always rather play a badly out-of-tune old upright than a state-of-the-art digital piano.) Compare to the evolution of the fortepiano for its first 150 years or so! People were constantly looking for ways to improve it.<br /><br />If Historically Informed Performance Practice had come in sooner (much sooner), you might never have gotten valves for your trumpet!<br /><br />By the way, at the same time I opened your article in one tab I'd opened this article in another:<br /><br />http://www.nici.kun.nl/mmm/papers/dhat-2/dhat-2.html<br /><br />Nice to have you writing again!MICHAEL MONROEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16392848296427560715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6980672.post-12942352907958761692011-09-30T14:24:03.191-04:002011-09-30T14:24:03.191-04:00I think there's a lot simpler explanation. In ...I think there's a lot simpler explanation. In the rock world, most songs are performed exclusively by their composers. It only takes one person to master the Chapman Stick and create a hit single to propel that instrument to the forefront, inspiring other musicians to take it up.<br /><br />Conversely, if you write a symphony which has a part for theremin, in order for it to become popular it has to be played by dozens of orchestras with theremin players. This involves a significant logistical problem.<br /><br />Of course, it's happened in the past. Wagner introduced new instruments since he had the same kind of rock-star appeal at Bayreuth that Green Day enjoys now. But there's no one in classical music now with a widespread-enough appeal to introduce a new instrument single-handedly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com