Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Tools, Materials and Personnel
Post Subject: Gear with purpose?Posted by rowuk on: 5/24/2026
In the case of these accomplished performers, any choice of gear is guided by a well defined intent. The instruments are chosen on purpose. The goal and the result are also predictable to the performer. Playing "safely" can still be with a purpose developed through great effort even if the most musical result is lacking. I would be ashamed of the modern Gabrieli that is no better than the performance from the 1960s. At that time, it was the best that we had and is a sign of the times. Today, after 60 years no advance? What miserable interest on musical investment.
When I call accomplished musicians "idiots", I am not criticizing their technique or even choice of instrument. My problem is that they are "on purpose" ignoring decades of research in music performance applying to the pieces they choose to play. Willfully ignoring musical fact is insulting. It is truly an attitude (ignorance) found mostly with classical players. The accomplished jazz musicians usually tend to grow with time (there are exceptions...).
In the beginning of this generation of historic performing practices (late 1950s), nobody had the "knowledge". They had to sort out so many things. There were so many mistakes and assumptions that have now been corrected and documented. The early performances are not good but they did learn quickly.
Getting an orchestra job in Europe usually means that you have to play some of these historic instruments, so preparation has a much different state than in the US.Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site