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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Tools, Materials and Personnel
Post Subject: Every music ever composed is "period music"Posted by rowuk on: 5/23/2026
It helps the performer to know what the original expectations of the composer were, extract the musical essence, and then play to serve the music. With the high level of training possibilities, the vast research published in the last 60 years, availability of high quality live performances and recordings, there is simply no excuse to play like an idiot (my definition) anymore.
In the 1960s, there was a recording of the Philadelphia, Chicago and Cleveland brass sections playing Gabrielli. It was GLORIOUS if not a very informed performance and was the standard for 30 years or so about how a brass ensemble was supposed to sound. In the mean time, there has been a lot of research and performances with instruments from Gabriellis time and we learned an awful lot about how the original sheet music was just a basis for improvisation. The rules of improvisation (called diminuation) are well documented and there are plenty of fine performances and recordings that make this music fun. A couple of years ago, there was a Gabrielli project that also used the brass players from the "best" rated american orchestras and the recording is proof how a top position in the industry and availability of experts does not create a worthy result. This recording made all of the same performance mistakes as the 1960s recording. 60 years and they have not learned ANYTHING. Then a bit later the Met Opera did a Gabrielli project with the same miserable results.
I would be really hard pressed to name a current brass ensemble that specializes in "worthy play". The only one that I can think of is the Stockholm Chamber Brass.Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site