PERIOD ORCHESTRA

Compare at least two works played by a period and a modern ensemble. Listen in particular to the difference in instrumental sounds; how is the balance between the parts different? Do any of the instruments have a different tone quality from modern instruments? If so in what ways? Do you notice any differences in the emotional quality or clarity of pitch?

MOZART, W.A.: Horn Concertos (Complete) (R. Montgomery, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Faultless)
Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 417
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F3344159
(accessed 28/01/18)
My initial immediate reaction to this recording is that is sounds a bit rough and ready. More the mix than anything else being off exactly, but then my ears quickly get used to it. The horn seems fairly closely mic’d. The horn sounds like it does not have the same power as a modern instrument – in the upper range specifically. Maybe?
The legato lines of the horn sound very smooth and nice and I’m already anticipating how those are going to sound on a modern instrument. I’m imagining that it won’t be as legato somehow because of the valves…

Horn Concerto No. 1 in D Major, K. 412
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F3347084
(accessed 28/01/18)
Nothing more to add than already stated above.

MOZART, W.A.: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 (Allegrini, Orchestra Mozart, Abbado)
Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat Major, K. 417
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4360964
(accessed 28/01/18)
The recording sounds more polished and ‘fuller’ with more bottom end.
The horn sounds darker and less ‘brassy’. I can hear the clicking of the valves from the horn player. The trills on the horn sound slightly different, the lines sound ‘cleaner’ with more separation of notes, and it’s less breathy. I far prefer the first recording with a period horn as it seems to be more ‘alive’ and has a brighter tone.
I can’t hear any specific differences with the other instruments of the orchestra between the 2 recordings, though as I say, the second recording sounds more ‘polished’. I’d say the winds can be heard more clearly in the Age of Enlightenment orchestra and provide more of an interesting texture whereas they blend in more with the rest of the orchestra in the Abbado recording.
I very much like these horn concertos – it’s difficult not to hum along!

Horn Concerto No. 1 in D Major, K. 412
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4360963
(accessed 28/01/18)

BEETHOVEN, L. van: Symphony No. 5 (Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, Gardiner)
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4461741
(accessed 28/01/18)
Opening movement is WAY TOO FAST 🙂
I would not have been able to say that this was a period orchestra until way into the first movement when there’s a moment when just 2 bassoons are playing and it sounds more like a strangled goose noise than anything else!!!
In the opening of the second movement I would say that the flute is not heard quite so prominently in the upper register as in a modern orchestra.
There’s a kind of prominence to the ‘brassiness’ of the sound in the third movement compared to the modern orchestral version below. It sounds like the horns cut through more, whereas in the modern version they actually have to play louder to get the same effect. Difficult to tell if that’s right or not, more of an impression than anything else.
This happens again in the fourth movement, as already described in the Mozart horn concertos, the brass sounds more ‘alive’. The timbre of winds and the horns do sound different to modern instruments but I can’t really say anything more specifically about quite what the difference is.

Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra|Edlinger, Richard
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F1630
(accessed 28/01/18)
Very nice recording, I could really hear the interplay of the winds in the second movement that I wasn’t even aware of in the Gardiner version. I notice that they have omitted a repeat section in the third movement compared to Gardiner’s version.
Again, the sound is somehow more ‘polished’ than the period orchestra version.