the in tune continuo...

[Don Mannino]

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Richard,

"Basso Continuo" is a term used for what was originally a simple bass 
line written out in the score, sometimes with numeric 'chord 
indicators' (my term) above the line which indicated the chord 
position. This was a shorthand system similar to a current "Fake Book" 
which will have the melody and chords only.

In the Baroque period performers would fill out and improvise on the 
continuo line as the piece was performed using harpsichord, cello, or 
whatever instrument they played (organ? Clavichord?). Now days these 
parts have usually been written out by someone for the performer, 
although some skilled musicians can still read and improvise these 
lines.

Don Mannino

----------
From: 	Richard Moody
Sent: 	Friday, July 11, 1997 10:32 PM
To: 	pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: 	Re:the in tune continuo...

Very interesting
	Now I must find out what  "continuo" is as in the announcements on
classical radio, "and now a Vivaldi concerto for strings and
continuo". Never mind what I thought it was but if you must know
"email me privately".
	But a question I would like to ask is did the (baroque keyboard
players for instance) tune their instruments according to what key
the piece was written in?  In that Vivaldi concerto we hear the
harpsichord sounding like a twangy raspy metallic tone generating
instrument that gets 3/4 buried in the "mix" as recordng engineers
might say.
	And another question that might be interesting to pursue, is how
actually are guitars and lutes tuned, especially how the frets are
layed out.  I have heard some people advocating this might be the
earliest example of Equal Temperemant.  On that I am skeptical as
string pressure also has a lot to do with making chords sound in
tune, or when does the player complain about the spacing of the
frets? What does determine the spacing of the frets?

Richard Moody
	"Sir, these frets are buzzing,.
	"Ma'am, it is your fingering.  If I may demonstrate.....
----------
> From: Steve Pearson <SPearson@yamaha.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Hawkeye Harriet -Reply -Reply -Reply
> Date: Friday, July 11, 1997 11:58 AM
>
> actually, violinists often push the thirds even sharper than the
piano,
> depending on the key, and where the note is leading.  In early
music
> "period instrument" groups, efforts are made to play purer thirds,
(flat)
> adjusting to the tuning system used by the continuo instrument.
That will
> also be different if a lute is used for continuo - in which case
something
> nearer to equal temp is the norm, or harpsichord/organ which will
be
> tuned to a "system" like Marpurg, etc.,  and it really takes some
careful
> listening.  Violinists playing with a piano will usually tune their
"G" string
> to the piano (sharp), making a mild wolf between "D" & "G" so they
don't
> sound flat on the "G" string.   Instumentalists in general use a
sort of
> "sliding scale", which is why it can be so difficult to get pianos
in tune
> with orchestras.  This also has some intruguing implications on the
> already overdiscussed discussion of perfect pitch.
> Steve



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