There's a new series of instrumental anthologies, just published by A-R Editions:-
Music from the Paris Conservatoire
We've ordered a set for the Whittaker Library, and the first copies will hit our new books display next week. Each book contains the best late 19th century contest repertoire for an orchestral instrument accompanied by piano.
Please Meet Placidus Partsch!
We're attacking our cataloguing piles today! Karen assigned herself a big pile of collected editions and rolled her sleeves up. At the bottom of the heap was Liedersammlung fur Kinder und Kinderfreunde am Clavier: Fruhlingslieder and Winterlieder, dating from 1791. The introduction explains that the collection was compiled for children to sing, or for older children and adults to sing to younger ones. So - this is intended as nursery repertoire, 1791-style!
It's fascinating! The very first song is one set by Mozart - not the only one - and you might recognise the names of Vanhal and Hoffmann. (The others are no longer exactly mainstream.) The compiler, a man with the enviable name of Placidus Partsch, set himself the task of assembling 30 songs for each season, but only the spring and winter volumes survive.
You can find them in our catalogue HERE, and they're shelved as part of the Recent Researches in the Music of the Classical Era series, vol.95, published by A-R Editions.
Are you a trad musician? Here's a question for you:-
What goes through your mind as you choose tunes?
It's not a trick question - I'm just curious to know what kind of thing you're looking for, and what you're thinking about.
For example, if you're looking for songs, my trad muso friends tell me they're looking for poignant tales, strong women, difficult subject matter. A good story, 'stark visual imagery' and strong emotions. Even murder!
So that tells me the theme of the song is very important to you - which makes sense, especially if you're planning the programme for a gig.
Looking for old dialect words in songs can help you work out where they might have originated, if the book itself doesn't give anything away. (That's a helpful hint from one of our contacts!)
What about fiddle tunes? Obviously the tunes are all-important,but I guess also a quirky title, maybe one that suggests the song's origins, might also catch your attention. What about the key, or other features?
If you're browsing a pile of song or tune-books, do you approach new or older collections differently? What are you thinking about when you look at an early 20th century book? 19th century collection? An 18th century one? I'm going to be talking to our trad Scottish musicians about historic songbooks this week, and I'm really keen to know what people look for. I can tell you what goes through my mind, but I'm starting from a slightly different place, so it would be informative to know how other people approach the books I've come to love so much.
Tweet me @karenmca if you'd like to share your approach to repertoire selection.
Thank you!
