From Syntagma Musicum by Praetorius, published in 1618
Historically Informed Performance
or how we play
String instruments of the baroque era had strings made of gut rather than metal or modern synthetic substitutes. Gut strings, made usually from the intestines of sheep or cows, give a mellower sound and have a different ‘feel’ under the bow. Contact between bow and string is at the heart of baroque string playing.
The bow itself was significantly different from the modern ‘Tourte’ bow, particularly in the balance and strength in different parts of the bow. The modern bow is designed to give an even sound throughout its length and can easily be ‘bounced’ off the string. The baroque bow is typically shorter, with an elegant pointed end. The sound is stronger in the middle, and tails off as it reaches the point. It is much easier to alter the articulation – indeed the articulation makes the music come alive. It is more subtle than the modern notion of detached bowing: there is a whole range between legato bowing and totally detached.
We always play at a semi-tone below modern pitch (a = 415 Hz). Pitch in the baroque period varied from country to country – even from town to town. However, as a broad generalisation, pitch has become higher and it has become common for baroque groups to play at 415 – not least because wind instruments are fixed in pitch.
Our members play a mix of instruments. A good number of us have specialist baroque instruments, some dating from the period (the earliest from 1720) and others modern instruments made in the baroque style. Others have modern instruments but have put gut strings on. However, more important to the style of playing is the bow. Most of our players now play with a baroque bow. (Some have found bargains to be had from China via eBay.)
or how we play
String instruments of the baroque era had strings made of gut rather than metal or modern synthetic substitutes. Gut strings, made usually from the intestines of sheep or cows, give a mellower sound and have a different ‘feel’ under the bow. Contact between bow and string is at the heart of baroque string playing.
The bow itself was significantly different from the modern ‘Tourte’ bow, particularly in the balance and strength in different parts of the bow. The modern bow is designed to give an even sound throughout its length and can easily be ‘bounced’ off the string. The baroque bow is typically shorter, with an elegant pointed end. The sound is stronger in the middle, and tails off as it reaches the point. It is much easier to alter the articulation – indeed the articulation makes the music come alive. It is more subtle than the modern notion of detached bowing: there is a whole range between legato bowing and totally detached.
We always play at a semi-tone below modern pitch (a = 415 Hz). Pitch in the baroque period varied from country to country – even from town to town. However, as a broad generalisation, pitch has become higher and it has become common for baroque groups to play at 415 – not least because wind instruments are fixed in pitch.
Our members play a mix of instruments. A good number of us have specialist baroque instruments, some dating from the period (the earliest from 1720) and others modern instruments made in the baroque style. Others have modern instruments but have put gut strings on. However, more important to the style of playing is the bow. Most of our players now play with a baroque bow. (Some have found bargains to be had from China via eBay.)