Hacker News Reader

Wasn't always this way -- see this historic reconstruction of a Baroque orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNqJ8mED1VE (Handel, Music for the Royal Fireworks on period instruments)

Down on the lowest level of the stage we find a small string orchestra, but then behind it on risers there are something like 18 oboes(!!), 10 bassoons, 9 horns, 9 trumpets.

View on HN

<sings>

Seventy-six trombones led the big parade

With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand

(I have no idea why that's still in my head, I probably haven't heard it for 40 years or more... https://genius.com/Cast-of-the-music-man-seventy-six-trombon... )

That's an amazing performance, thanks for sharing! (Is it just me or the brass instruments are slightly out of tune? Though gives it a special charm since all of them are out of tune the same way)

My understanding is that period instruments from the Baroque go out of tune very easily. When I've seen the Messiah performed with Baroque-style orchestra, I recall them retuning a number of times during the performance.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com