Period instruments

Theclavichordis an example of a period instrument.

Theperiod instrumentsaremusical instrumentswhich have been made in the same way they were made hundreds of years ago. This is done so that earliermusicwill sound like it did when it was firstcomposed.

Musical instruments have changed a lot during the last fewcenturies.ComposerslikeJohann Sebastian Bach(1685-1750) wrote music for instruments which sounded differently from the way they do today. Although most of the orchestral instruments we use nowadays were already in use in Bach’s day, instrument makers have made changes to them. These changes often gave the instruments a bigger sound so that they could be heard well in large concert halls.Orchestrasalso have increased in size.

During the 20th century musicians started to realize that the way we play the music ofBachand other composers was making the music sound different from how it would have been first heard. People became interested in hearing what the music would have sounded like back in the 17th and early 18th centuries (theBaroqueperiod). Few of the old instruments still existed and many that had survived had been “modernized”. So instrument makers started to make instruments in the old ways. Some musicians and orchestras started to play these instruments. The instruments are often called “period instruments” (or "authentic instruments" or "historical instruments" ) because they are made so that they are like instruments of earlier periods.

Development of the instruments

Today's instruments of thestring family(violin,viola,celloanddouble bass) may look almost the same as the old ones, but there are differences: the old fingerboards were shorter and the strings used to be made ofgut,notmetal.Thebowswere shaped differently, and the technique of playing was also different.

Woodwind instrumentshave changed a lot since the old times.Flutes,oboesandbassoonshardly had any keys (the metal keys which help to cover the holes). Thekeyswere added in the 18th century and it made it much easier to play difficult music with lots ofsharps and flats.Clarinetswere not invented until the late 18th century, but even they have developed a lot sinceMozart’s time (1756-1791).

Brass instrumentslike thetrumpetandFrench hornnow havevalveswhich make it easier to play in different keys. Thetromboneis the only instrument which has not changed. Thetubawas invented in the early 19th century.

Percussioninstruments include thetimpaniwhich have changed a lot. In Baroque times they had calf-skin heads but now the heads are made ofplastic.This makes a very different sound.

Baroque keyboard instruments included theharpsichordandclavichord.Thepianowas invented during the 18th century. It still sounded very different when Mozart wrote for it. Theframewas made ofwood,not of castiron,and thehammershadleatherheads instead offelt.A modern piano sounds quite different.

Modern interest in period instruments

The interest in period instruments started in the mid 20th century. People likeWanda Landowskaplayed Baroque keyboard music on the harpsichord instead of the piano.ConductorslikeNikolas Harnoncourthave trained small orchestras to play on period instruments usingtechniqueswhich were used in Baroque times. Gradually musicians also started using period instruments for music from theClassical music period(the time of Mozart andBeethoven). Even in the mid 18th century the modern orchestra had not yet evolved. In recent years conductors likeJohn Elliot Gardinerhave performed music byHector Berliozon period instruments. There are now many small instrumental groups and orchestras who regularly perform on period instruments e.g.The English Concertand theEnglish Baroque Soloists.

Evaluation

Does old music sound better on period instruments? Musicians do not all agree about this question and they still argue a lot about the way that some of the music should be played. However, it is important to listen to the way that period instruments are played. Musicians such as the violinistAndrew Manzehave done a lot of research in old books and old music and have done a lot to make people rethink the way in which music from former centuries should be performed.