Strange Tuning
Mozart's famous Sinfonia Concertante makes its effect not least through the unusual tuning of one of the solo instruments. Tom Service explains why scordatura is so significant.
Mozart's famous Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola makes its effect not least through the unusual tuning of the strings of one of the solo instruments. Mozart asks the viola player to retune the strings half a tone higher than is usual. A process known by musicians a "scordatura". But what is the reason and what is the story behind this method of tuning instruments? Tom Service explains why "scordatura" is so significant and so effective.
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Music Played
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364: Allegro maestoso
Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Arcangelo.- WARNER.
- 2564627677.
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Trad.
Cluck Old Hen
Performer: Dirk Powell. Performer: John Hermann. Performer: Tim O鈥橞rien.- SUGAR HILL.
- SUG-CD-3952.
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Ray Parker Jr.
GHOSTBUSTERS
Performer: Ray Parker Jr..- ARISTA.
- 580-MP3.
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Joseph Haydn
Symphony no. 60 in C major H.1.60 (Il Distratto): Finale (Prestissimo)
Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.- EMI.
- EMI 0777754297-5.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in D major RV.234 (L'Inquietudine)
Performer: Fabio Biondi. Performer: Europa Galante.- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 0190295869236.
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Benjamin Franklin
String Quartet: Intrada Alla Breve
Performer: Kohon Quartet.- VOX.
- CDX5057.
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Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Mystery (Rosary) sonata no. 11 in G major (The Resurrection of Jesus)
Performer: Andrew Manze. Performer: Richard Egarr.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- HMU 907321.22.
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Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber
Mystery (Rosary) sonata no. 5 in A major (The Finding of Jesus in the temple)
Performer: Andrew Manze. Performer: Richard Egarr.- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- HMU 907321.22.
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Trad.
Fanitullen
Performer: Sven Nyhus.- Heilo.
- HCD 7139.
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Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns
Danse macabre - symphonic poem Op.40
Conductor: Daniel Barenboim. Performer: Luben Yordanoff. Performer: Orchestre de Paris 鈥 Philharmonie.- UNIVERSAL.
- 00028948086504.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird - suite 1910
Conductor: Pierre Boulez. Performer: 91热爆 Concert Orchestra.- SONY CLASSICAL.
- MK45843.
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Richard Strauss
Don Quixote Op.35
Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.- ABC.
- 000289481744898.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364
Performer: Stephen Burnard. -
Rebecca Saunders
Fury II for double bass and ensemble
Performer: Paul Cannon. Performer: Ensemble Modern.- EM MEDIEN.
- EMCD-050.
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James Tenney
Diapason for orchestra
Conductor: Kwam茅 Ryan. Performer: Baden-Baden SWF Symphony Orchestra.- COL LEGNO.
- WWE 3CD 20008.
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John Corigliano
Altered States OST: Main Title
Conductor: Christopher Keene. Performer: Studio Orchestra.- BMG CLASSICS.
- 3983-2.
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Sonic Youth
'Cross the Breeze
- BLAST FIRST.
- BFFP-34CD.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364: Presto
Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Arcangelo.- WARNER.
- 2564627677.
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