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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2 |
From a friend of mine, a former Professor of Music at Tufts, upon reviewing that bannister link:
"... a Radcliffe girl, on a Music 1 exam way back in the '50's, gave the following definition:
BASSO OSTINATO: A mechanical contrivance worn by the Italian castrati. "
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Being musically ignoraant, among other ways, I searched for "basso obstinato". Perhaps others may forgive me for posting:
Ground Bass(It. Basso ostinato,`obstinate bass')
Short thematic motif in bass which is constantly repeated with changing harmonies while upper parts proceed and vary. Originated in Cantus firmus of choral mus. and became popular in 17th cent., particularly in Eng., as a ground for variations in str. mus. Hence the no. of `Divisions on a ground'. Examples exist by Byrd, Purcell, Frescobaldi, Carissimi, and Cavalli. See Chaconne.
I wonder what that girl thought "castrati" were, And what kind of mechanical devices she had in mind.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,713 Likes: 2 |
I suspect she was focusing on the high pitch of the voice, so that if there were any element of bass, even humorously, it must come from an something artificial...
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Wouldn't this lead to bass violins?
TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Dear TEd: creating a Vatican soprano requires bass violins.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear TEd: It was my uncle Sam Hunt who originated carrying tools of the trade first in violin case, then in golf bag. He left me no souvenirs, Sob,sob!
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