As I mentioned in my first post, it was a quote from Quantz's 1751 treatise "On Playing the Flute" that inspired me to write this blog. In his preface, he wrote that as long as you have conviction and good taste, you are free to try the opposite of anything he has said and to choose what seems best to you.
Treatises in general have been regarded by Early Musicians as the musical bibles of times past. We open them up in order to receive The Word. This makes us feel like we're being historical and authentic. The Word is applied as literally as possible and if we hear someone 'modern' at a concert doing something totally different, we either grimace in disbelief or chuckle with satisfaction, reflecting on how the performer has not been granted The Word.
About Me
- James Andrewes
- I grew up in one of the most beautiful places in the world: Dunedin, New Zealand. Surrounded by music in a family that loved and supported the arts, I began violin lessons at the age of 5 and soon knew that music would be my passion in life. After completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Otago, I spent a wonderful year playing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before completing a Master of Music at the University of Oregon. Soon after a return to New Zealand, I formed with three friends the Tasman String Quartet, with which I had the great fortune of travelling to the University of Colorado to study with one of the all-time greats; the Takács Quartet. For many years I had been drawn towards what I consider to be the extraordinary beauty of historically informed performance. Following my string quartet studies, I began a second Master's degree in Early Music at Indiana University. I am now living in Bloomington, enjoying the chance to play early music with wonderful groups in the area. Photo: © Steve Riskind
Showing posts with label Treatises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Treatises. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
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