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Post by Zi on Apr 5, 2023 7:25:32 GMT
I started the book last night. The introduction explains what little is known about Quantz - he sounds quite interesting. It also explains what Quantz is about to say. He obviously had a very clear idea of his intentions. It is ostensibly about the flute but the introduction thinks that much of what Quantz says is applicable to a range of instruments and singing. There were a few quotations from Quantz which were interesting and readable but having looked through the sections I have to say that my heart did that misgivings thing so I am not filled with hope especially after some of the sections from Linde which occasionally put me in that place which is near to that thing called despair...
I think all of my reading so far has given me a very clear picture of how important the recorder was once and how it wasn't here's an instrument in C and here's one in F - the range of keys available is quite impressive. Virtually all of the authors so far have insisted that the recorder should be treated like a human voice singing and they have also emphasised how much more flexible instrumentation was in the past. Whether it will make me into a better player, I really don't know.
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Post by pavane on Apr 5, 2023 8:51:08 GMT
I've never been sure why so many good things are deemed to be the preserve of children - I think ladybird books are great! If/when there is a ladybird version of Quantz, I'll consider reading it (I can skip over the tougher sections).
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Post by Zi on Apr 5, 2023 17:00:34 GMT
I wrote a reply to this earlier today but looks like I didn't click properly. It's being one of those days. Anyway, I used to love the Ladybird books when I was a child and I think that writing well, simply is an extremely difficult thing to do.
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Post by Zi on Apr 6, 2023 8:39:35 GMT
I must admit Quantz proper has surprised me in a good way. I struggled through the introduction which was done by his translator/editor but Quantz proper is a breath of fresh air. What he has to say about being a musician is as relevant today as it was then. And the translation (so far) is extremely readable. I'm not sure I'll read all the stuff on playing the flute and I think I'll be selective about some of the rest of the book but I was expecting to give up at Quantz's preface and I haven't.
I'll give the snippet that impressed me the most when I get (longer than) a moment.
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