[Aaron622]

Especially in orchestral music. Recently bought the some of the Kuijken Haydn symphonies on a whim (and to get free shipping), and while I don't have a problem with period instruments, the incessant, over-miked clinking of the harpsichord made them unlistenable. Even if it's historically accurate (which I think is dubious), does anyone really think it sounds good/adds anything to the music? End rant.

 

[K2Grey]

Harpsichord is great. I believe the variance between different harpsichords is greater than that between different grand pianos, so you may have some harpsichords that sound like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof (forget where that quote came from) and others sound much better.

I think, from what I have heard of it, that the harpsichord in Trevor Pinnock's recording of Bach Partitas is really good.

 

[robm321]

I like it. While I can't pretend it sounds as good as the piano, I like the fact that the composer wrote the music with that sound in mind and clearly the piano changes the composers original intent slightly.

Some recordings make it sound harsh, and it does take time to get used to the sound.

 

[Assorted]

Harpsichord, imo, is much better harmonized with the string than the piano. I dislike pianos replacing harpsichords in some of the early Mozart Symphonies.

But I kind of understand your position, sometimes the harpsichord can't compete with the orchestra and it turns into clanks. Same with the organ.

 

[JadeEast]

Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass did an album of Porgy and Bess where Oscar played the clavichord, that's as close as I've gotten to liking one.

 

[PiccoloNamek]

I LOVE the harpsichord. It is absolutely beautiful, especially with strings.

 

[gjustice]

I have to say I am especially found of the harpsichord.

 

[scompton]

I've heard some really awful harpsichord and some wonderful harpsichord. I bought a couple of solo albums based on the Bach Keyboard thread and love them. One was a Rousset 4 CD boxed set and the others were Igor Kipnis playing the Bach Partitas. I don't have the info with me now, so I may have misspelled the names.

 

[Leporello]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2Grey /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... so you may have some harpsichords that sound like two skeletons copulating on a tin roof (forget where that quote came from)...

Beecham?

Regards,

L.

 

[mbhaub]

Well I agree with this topic: I cannot stand the sound of the harpsichord. It sounds cheap, almost slutty to me. I don't know why. I've never liked it -- and it's not the make or player either. Part of it no doubt is the era of music when it was mostly used. I really don't like baroque music either. There was a reason it was replaced and the piano has remained king for 200 years -- the piano sounds better, has more depth, more power, more sustain. There's one time when I found harpsichord very useful, though. We were doing Strauss' Tales from the Vienna Woods. At the beginning there is a slow introductory part written for zither, but usually taken by a string quartet or omitted. Well, guess what sounds and awful lot like a zither? Worked great. But other than that, I'll leave the Scarlatti and such ilk to specialists.

 

[Aaron622]

But even if you like the sound of harpsichord as a solo instrument, is it really adding anything to late classical orchestral music? It's just doubling the other instruments. About the only time it doesn't bother me is secco recitatives, and I actually do like it ok in the Rake's Progress, but that's basically the same thing. Anyway, to each his own I guess.

 

[Assorted]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbhaub /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well I agree with this topic: I cannot stand the sound of the harpsichord. It sounds cheap, almost slutty to me. I don't know why. I've never liked it -- and it's not the make or player either. Part of it no doubt is the era of music when it was mostly used. I really don't like baroque music either. There was a reason it was replaced and the piano has remained king for 200 years -- the piano sounds better, has more depth, more power, more sustain. There's one time when I found harpsichord very useful, though. We were doing Strauss' Tales from the Vienna Woods. At the beginning there is a slow introductory part written for zither, but usually taken by a string quartet or omitted. Well, guess what sounds and awful lot like a zither? Worked great. But other than that, I'll leave the Scarlatti and such ilk to specialists.

But you see, the piano and the harpsichords play two different roles. It's largely the style that obsoleted it, not the instrument itself.

It adds alot to classical orchestra/symphony. It makes the sound more elegant, and you don't get quite the same thing with the piano replacing the harpsichord part.

 

[FalconP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron622 /img/forum/go_quote.gif But even if you like the sound of harpsichord as a solo instrument, is it really adding anything to late classical orchestral music?

Part of the reason why the harpsichord is rarely found in late/modern music is that there are few harpsichord virtuosi around, and almost invariably they are Baroque specialists who are not keen on commissioning new works. Poulenc's harpsichord concerto, Concert Champetre, was written with Wanda Landowska in mind -- and Poulenc could only afford to write the piece after the heiress of Singer sewing machines gave him the financial green light.

 

[calaf]

last two Mozart opera productions I saw, used a fortepiano instead of the traditional harpsichord and I have to say it sounded sooooo much more pleasant to my ears

 

[Aaron622]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assorted /img/forum/go_quote.gif But you see, the piano and the harpsichords play two different roles. It's largely the style that obsoleted it, not the instrument itself. It adds alot to classical orchestra/symphony. It makes the sound more elegant, and you don't get quite the same thing with the piano replacing the harpsichord part.

I would agree that the style made the part of the continuo obsolete, whether it be harpsichord or piano.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconP /img/forum/go_quote.gif Part of the reason why the harpsichord is rarely found in late/modern music is that there are few harpsichord virtuosi around, and almost invariably they are Baroque specialists who are not keen on commissioning new works. Poulenc's harpsichord concerto, Concert Champetre, was written with Wanda Landowska in mind -- and Poulenc could only afford to write the piece after the heiress of Singer sewing machines gave him the financial green light.

Interesting. I think I have some Penderecki recordings that have harpsichord in them, but I could be way off on that. I don't think I really mind it if it's being used as a very specific tone color, but as a continuo in a classical symphony, something about it just really rubs me the wrong way. I don't I realized this until I literally could not listen to this Haydn recording.