Parthenia
Friday night's Parthenia recital brought a clutch of firsts: Parthenia itself, the ensemble of viole da gamba; Corpus Christi Church - the most New Englandy Catholic church that I've ever set foot in; lutenist Andy Rutherford; the music of Tobias Hume (1569-1645); and, not least, the sound of baritone Thomas Meglioranza's speaking voice. Overcoming my ingrained reluctance to horn in on performers after concerts, I stood at the edge of a small crowd until Tom directed his attention at me. We shook hands. "Hi, Tom, I'm RJ," said I. "I know," said he. Now I can say that I have met a fellow blogger.
So much for "disinterested observer" status.
Tobias Hume, as you can see from his dates, might be considered Elizabethan, but I root him in the seventeenth century. He published two books of music, in 1605 and 1607, in furtherance of his enthusiasm for the viola da gamba. This instrument, which at first glance resembles a miniature cello, is also played upright, but its base is nestled between the players thighs. There are three registers: treble, tenor, and bass. The instrument's sound is warm and not quite as focused as that of a modern stringed instrument. Perhaps because of its deep chest, the viola da gamba not only looks like a little cello but sound like one, too. It does not sound like the instrument that Ms G used to play.
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Comments
Which did Ms G play, the gamba or the cello?
Like many obsolete instruments, I find the gamba to be charming, but it doesn't stimulate me the way the enduring bowed string instruments such as the violin and the cello do. The lack of true dynamics, the odd tuning, and the frets all make it seem like a charming artifact, but not something one would spend one's entire life playing. (I'm sure Jordi Savall would wring my neck.)
Posted by: Max N![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.portifex.com/DailyBlague/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 25, 2005 10:37 AM
Miss G was a canny lass. She chose the unglamorous viola, and got into Houston's High School for Visual and Performing Arts on the strength of it. Private-school education at public-school prices.
She did, however, have certain Suzuki issues, and she no longer plays.
Posted by: R J Keefe | October 25, 2005 10:56 AM
Unglamorous it is, and the butt of endless jokes. Poor violists; and yet I tend to find the jokes pretty funny, if excessively cruel.
What were the "Suzuki issues"? Feeling like a note-making machine instead of an artist?
Posted by: Max N | October 25, 2005 12:20 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for Tomness .
Posted by: George | October 26, 2005 06:59 AM