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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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30 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Oct 2023 16:30

Music Played

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364: Allegro maestoso

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Arcangelo.
    • WARNER.
    • 2564627677.
  • Trad.

    Cluck Old Hen

    Performer: Dirk Powell. Performer: John Hermann. Performer: Tim O鈥橞rien.
    • SUGAR HILL.
    • SUG-CD-3952.
  • Ray Parker Jr.

    GHOSTBUSTERS

    Performer: Ray Parker Jr..
    • ARISTA.
    • 580-MP3.
  • 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.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in D major RV.234 (L'Inquietudine)

    Performer: Fabio Biondi. Performer: Europa Galante.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 0190295869236.
  • Benjamin Franklin

    String Quartet: Intrada Alla Breve

    Performer: Kohon Quartet.
    • VOX.
    • CDX5057.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Trad.

    Fanitullen

    Performer: Sven Nyhus.
    • Heilo.
    • HCD 7139.
  • 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.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Firebird - suite 1910

    Conductor: Pierre Boulez. Performer: 91热爆 Concert Orchestra.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • MK45843.
  • Richard Strauss

    Don Quixote Op.35

    Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
    • ABC.
    • 000289481744898.
  • 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.
  • James Tenney

    Diapason for orchestra

    Conductor: Kwam茅 Ryan. Performer: Baden-Baden SWF Symphony Orchestra.
    • COL LEGNO.
    • WWE 3CD 20008.
  • John Corigliano

    Altered States OST: Main Title

    Conductor: Christopher Keene. Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • BMG CLASSICS.
    • 3983-2.
  • Sonic Youth

    'Cross the Breeze

    • BLAST FIRST.
    • BFFP-34CD.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364: Presto

    Performer: Maxim Rysanov. Performer: Vilde Frang. Performer: Arcangelo.
    • WARNER.
    • 2564627677.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Oct 2023 17:00
  • Fri 6 Oct 2023 16:30

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