[Trombone-l] When to use what instrumentation

[Al MacDonald]

Alex Iles writes:

AI> I just don't see much point in being "musically inaccurate" at the
AI> cost of being  "historically accurate"!!

Absolutely.  The only time "historical accuracy" makes sense is when
the entire orchestra is playing on "historically accurate"
instruments, using "historically accurate" articulations, intonation,
etc.

And modern players who try to do that usually sound awful.  Only a
very few groups can actually do Historically Informed Performances
well.

If you want to go that route, Howard Weiner and others have done a
great deal of good research on what should be played when.  For the
rest of us, playing what sounds and feels best in context makes sense.

Al MacDonald