01/11/2025
Endangered Instruments
瀕危的樂器
Host: Leung Wai-Kit
Sundays 11am
In the early 20th century, orchestras from different countries sounded rather different from one another. Often there were regional differences within a country. The advent of jet-setting conductors and high-fidelity LP records in the late 1940s heralded the globalisation of sound and playing style, and a loss of regional colours. At the same time, there was an increased demand for accuracy and security in playing. Many musical instruments were marginalised or phased out altogether, because they were too difficult to play, not loud enough or otherwise did not fit in the new international style of playing. The French bassoon, once played around the world, can now be found only in orchestras in France, Monaco and Luxembourg, while the French piston horn has disappeared entirely. The Vienna Philharmonic, however, has steadfastly clung on to their tradition. The instruments they used, in particular the Vienna horn and the Viennese oboe, are essential to their unique sonic identity. In order to keep their tradition alive, they reached out to instrument manufacturers from afar and asked them to produce these Viennese instruments.
In this nine-part special series, Leung Wai-Kit will share with you the fruits of his multi-year research on the Vienna horn, the Viennese oboe, the French bassoon and the French piston horn. Numerous interesting stories are complemented by over 90 recordings, many of which will be heard on Radio 4 for the first time.
Listen online:
https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio4/programme/endangeredinstruments
#香港電台 #第四台
