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Re: [ARSCLIST] Hall specific tempi and reorchestrations (was The waltz)



I think this concept of tempi suitable to the hall is made clear by considering the need for organists, say, to adjust the tempo of the Widor Toccata to the acoustical environment so the middle voices don't become muddlevoices.

On the other extreme, I've yet to discover a way to rationalize Toscanini's tempo for the Entrance of the Meistersingers in his live recording, which is taken at trot tempo.

I'm also convinced that Mahler's reorchestrations were made for specific halls. I betcha those for the Concertgebouw differ from those made for other locations. That would make an interesting study.

Steve Smolian


----- Original Message ----- From: "Karl Miller" <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 8:52 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] The waltz (was Which U.S. orchestra recorded first and Arthur Fiedler)



On Tue, 4 Apr 2006, Don Cox wrote:

So would Beethoven's metronome marks work only in Studio 8H?

While I don't know if you were being serious or not with your question...


I do wonder about the process of determining tempo markings. I am reminded
of my old days as a composer. I must admit that I never thought about the
notion of what the acoustic might be since you could never anticipate the
acoustic of the hall. One work was performed several
times and I have tapes of the various performances...all given in
different halls. While there were slight differences in tempi, for the
most part, all of the conductors pretty much paid attention to what I
wrote...and each time, the particular hall changed the sound, sometimes
blurring the line.

I guess a Beethoven 5th done with fast tempi, recorded in a reverberant
hall, just wouldn't work...which raises in my mind, a curious
question...are some pieces better suited to a particular acoustic
environment? Certainly there are more obvious considerations like most
chamber music working best a dry acoustic environment...but I do wonder if
some large ensemble pieces work better in a dry acoustic...

Karl


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