All Questions
Tagged with instruments history
26 questions
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Frederick the Great - Left handed Flautist
Just reading about Frederick the Great, who was supposedly a quite good flautist, but left-handed — I have a picture showing this.*
Would that have been a problem, as all the flautists I know of play ...
- 197k
5
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2
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217
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Difference between Renaissance and Baroque Lutes in Relation to BWV 999
Bach's "Little Prelude" in C Minor, BWV 999, frequently played on keyboard, was originally written for lute. I asked a lutenist to play the piece, and he said he couldn't, because he played ...
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2
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How were the hole positions determined on a recorder, and how were the fingerings invented?
I recently obtained an inexpensive plastic recorder and am amazed that it’s possible to play a chromatic scale on it across two octaves. Many of the fingerings seem magical to me - as in, how did ...
- 119
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3
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Black and white keyboard keys
I've often wondered why there needs to be a different colour in the keys on pianos, organs and keyboards. After all, their location and shape differentiates them regardless. I can understand the need ...
- 197k
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2
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430
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What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed?
What is the earliest we know wire-strung instruments to have existed? I was reading about gut strings, nylon strings, wire strings used on guitar, and wanted to know, but couldn't find the answer ...
- 277
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1
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What's the earliest known example of music written for an electronic instrument?
The other day I stumbled upon Joseph Schillinger's First Airphonic Suite, a 1929 orchestral suite that includes a part for theremin. Since this was written 10 years after the invention of the theremin,...
- 161
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Did percussion instruments communicate spoken words in click languages?
There are a number of click languages in Africa where 'clicks' function as part of their language. It seems like it would be possible to communicate some words with percussion instruments (maybe a ...
- 403
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1
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877
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Why are band instruments built in flat keys?
Instruments in a military bands (and similar) are usually built in the keys of B-flat or E-flat.
(Whether these instruments are treated as transposing instruments or not is irrelevant. The key that ...
- 14.8k
1
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3
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Why are western double-reed instruments smoother than double-reed instruments outside Europe?
When one thinks of the timbre of double reed instruments, we tend to divide them as two groups:
Oboe, English horn, bassoon. (Western instruments.) The sound is very smooth and pure.
Other double-...
- 1,200
13
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2
answers
3k
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What is the oldest instrument ever?
What is the oldest musical instrument played other than the human voice, but body parts are acceptable? Did Neanderthals use instruments to play music?
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How did Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) influence the mass production of musical instruments?
Rameau's Treatise on Harmony (1722) initiated a revolution in music theory but in what ways did that translate into popularizing music ... particularly the mass production of musical instruments?
...
- 2,199
6
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2
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418
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Did the rain stick originate independently in multiple continents?
There is a traditional rain stick (percussion instrument) in Africa, Latin America, and I believe in Australia as well. Was it invented separately, or did one culture influence another?
Here is a ...
- 4,598
11
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3
answers
1k
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How did the harmonium and violin become an integral part of Hindustani and Carnatic music respectively?
The Harmonium hails from Germany and it is not an Indian instrument. Also, it is an equal tempered instrument. But the harmonium is a very common accompanying instrument in Hindustani Classical (...
- 918
6
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2
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841
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History of the baby grand piano
The first pianos were made in around 1700. Researching a little online, I've been able to find lots of info on the history of the piano. But when was the "baby grand" piano first created and/or ...
- 11.3k
12
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3
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How did baroque music sound at the time?
Historical context
Let's for example consider Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (click here to enjoy). It was composed at the very beginning of the 18th century in Germany. At that time:
...
- 223
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1
answer
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What are common western saloon instruments?
This is a question that popped in my mind, but the funny thing is, I couldn't think of a lot of instruments that played during the Western Saloon period.
Here's all I can think of:
Upright Piano (out ...
- 11
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3
answers
298
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Hindustani music: Evolution of instruments
So, I was thinking about the evolution of instruments in Indian classical (Hindustani, to be precise).
We know Sa and Pa are achala swaras, and don't have any tivra or komal forms. Sa and Pa form the ...
12
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1
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4k
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Why are the black keys on some ancient fortepianos now white on modern pianos?
I am wondering what happened in the fortepiano's history that made the keyboard colors switch (why black keys on some ancient pianofortes are now white on modern pianos).
Here is a picture of a ...
- 521
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2
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239
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who were the first known people to play a reed instrument
I would like to know who the first people to come up with the idea of reed instruments of any kind
- 27
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4
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358
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How do archaic instruments affect contemporary music?
Many once-common instruments are now rare or obsolete. For example, some transposing instruments have fewer variants than they used to – the B♭ soprano clarinet has largely supplanted the A and C ...
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6
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1
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330
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Record Label Instrumentals
Does anyone know if record labels keep a copy of every instrumental of every song produced by their producers? I know that there are places online that have regenerated or reproduced instrumentals of ...
- 61
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4
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4k
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Is a violin's shape (particularly the f-holes) necessary or is it just for aesthetics?
Violins have a rather beautiful design.
... is such design necessary? Is a violin's natural sound only achieved when it has this specific shape?
I have a particular interest in the f-holes. Are they ...
- 1,409
5
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1
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477
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Whose idea was it to put three pedals on a piano?
Whoever decided to put foot pedals on a piano? Do we know who did it, or do we only know the general period that this happened? I would like to know who did this and when did it happen?
- 161
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3
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English Horn Etymology
Why is the English Horn called a horn when it is a woodwind instrument, basically a lower oboe?
When compared to other horns, such as the French Horn and the Flugelhorn, it seems to be a misnomer.
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47
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6
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What are the practical reasons for still having transposing instruments?
I understand that historically there was a need for transposing instruments. e.g. Brass instruments would use lead pipes to change their key and players in brass bands would like to stick to the same ...
- 728
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Where/When did the modern guitar originate?
I keep thinking of Greeks playing Lyres - there had to be a point where someone added strings and the modern shape...
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