[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< But you talk
about a glissando etc - that's just not there in the original music as
written>>
Well, no, that wouldn't be there (or maybe not. Some of the 1792 harper's
glissandos were written out by Bunting...the "great stream").
Certainly the early harpers, and other musicians as well, did more than just
play the melody. And all written melodies are a bit suspect....who wrote them
down? Did the musician who played the tune get to "proof" the collector's
work? How much time passed between hearing the tune and writing it down? You
know all the questions, I'm sure, you don't need to hear it from me!
Someone with an instrument like the harp would indeed add chords and runs and
our unique ornaments. And pipers add all those incredible grips and birls and
what have you! I've never yet heard a fiddler play a tune directly off the
sheet music without adding something (usually extra notes and speed). :-D
With a source of just a melody, we can still look at the line of the melody
for ideas on performance. And then, we look into our hearts to find what we
need to express...and in a lament, anger is there needing an expression, a
way out.
My ignorance is showing here: Is it true that 6ths were not used in early
music? Just 300 years ago? A 6th being an inverted 3rd...I'm not sure about
that. I don't claim to know. I'd appreciate learning the truth if my impulse
is wrong, but I just think that by that time we would have both 3rd and 6ths.
I'll agree with you in an instant that 2nd's and 9th's were out.
But there are other ways, outside of "un-authentic" intervals, to pull out
the anger. Descending bass....more complicated ornaments....what do the rest
of us on the list do to show emotions in our laments, besides the sad
feelings after a loss? That one's easy. But how do we express the other
emotions to our listeners, the fear, anger, disbelief?
--Cynthia Cathcart
http://www.cynthiacathcart.net/
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