Prom 63: 1.09.16 - Bach: Mass in B minor

[doversoul1]

I don't know what evidence there is to encourage toothpaste dynamics in baroque music. We had plenty in this performance of the B minor Mass from the orchestra. The final item on Sunday morning's Breakfast was from Couperin's Quatre Verset. The solo singer was squeezing toothpaste on virtually every note.

It must have taken years of practice to sound so mannered.

Apologies for my ignorance but what is toothpaste dynamics?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Apologies for my ignorance but what is toothpaste dynamics?

An Alpie-ism for the "Baroque swell" (cresc and dim) on a sustained note. As an expressive device, it is wonderful - but can be overused, as with all such "ornamentation" (and, as with all such ornamentation, it does indeed take years of practice).

[doversoul1]

An Alpie-ism for the "Baroque swell" (cresc and dim) on a sustained note. As an expressive device, it is wonderful - but can be overused, as with all such "ornamentation" (and, as with all such ornamentation, it does indeed take years of practice).

Thank you!

[ardcarp]

Lozenge dynamics?

[Bumfluff]

I was in the hall and felt this was smoothed over, bland, and with little drama or 'pointing', which I think is necessary to some of the didactic quality of the music. It seemed far more suited to baroque French repertoire (which I'm not trying to insult!). Ultimately it felt bloodless, although some passion crept in following the Credo, the resurrection etc . But by then I had somewhat lost interest and patience with the performance.