Summary
This work discusses the practice of adding accompaniments to Handel's music, asserting that while such additions are often necessary to adapt compositions for modern orchestras and maintain tonal balance, they must not alter the composer's original ideas or modify the form and character of passages. The central argument is that additional accompaniments should be judged on their own merits and must bring out, rather than obscure or alter, the composer's intent, remaining in unison with the spirit and letter of the original work.
The passages analyze specific instances where arrangers, like Mendelssohn and Mozart, altered Handel's scores. It highlights that changes to instrumentation or the addition of parts can be acceptable if they enhance the original ideas, but increasing noise for its own sake or fundamentally changing a passage is condemned. A key takeaway is that the composer's original thoughts should be preserved, with additions serving to clarify or adapt the music for contemporary performance without compromising its essence.
Key concepts
- Additional accompaniments — Modifications or additions to an original musical score, often necessary for modern performance or tonal balance.
- Altering ideas — Changes to a musical passage that modify its fundamental form, character, or intent, as opposed to merely changing its presentation.
- Balance of tone — The proportional relationship of different instrumental sections in an orchestra, which may require adjustments in older music for modern ensembles.
- Modern requirements — The adaptations needed to make music originally written for smaller, older ensembles performable and effective with contemporary, larger orchestras.
From the book
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works . Public domain Public domain false false
← Volume 1 A Dictionary of Music and Musicians edited by George Grove A to Air Airy to Andreoni → 1500747 A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — A to Air George Grove← Burden to Carafa A Dictionary of Music and Musicians edited by George Grove Cardarelli to Chapeau Chinois Chapelle to Claudine von Villabella → 1500897 A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — Cardarelli to Chapeau Chinois George Grove
← Cardarelli to Chapeau Chinois A Dictionary of Music and Musicians edited by George Grove Chapelle to Claudine von Villabella Clauss to Conforti → 1500899 A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — Chapelle to Claudine von Villabella George Grove
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