Downtune Mandolin for Baroque (?)

[an uncalloused fingertip]

Does anyone downtune their strings when playing Baroque music? I understood that the baroque violin was tuned down slightly (E to Eb).

Rook

[onthefiddle]

Hi Rook!

No, I admit that I don't change pitch for baroque pieces. If I was going to to do that, then I should really use a mandolin with a suitable setup and strings - which would be very different from those found on modern instruments. This shouldn't stop anyone (or indeed me) from enjoying this music on a modern instrument though!

Jon

[Embergher]

If you want to play a baroque piece at the original pitch (often this is 415Hz (today's G#) for an A, but it also depends on the period and country) you can tune it down a semi tone. It shouldn't be too much of a problem for the setup of the mandolin, but tension wise it is not what a modern mandolin was designed for. However, it's fun to try ... I've done it once or twice, but I don't do it anymore as I see no real advantage in it. This is an example of a recording I made in 2000: Bach's Fugue BWV 855 (http://www.mandolin.be/mp3/#bachfuga855). The tuning certainly makes it sound different, but - in my opinion - not better. If I would record this again, I would use modern pitch and probably leave the tremolo out.
I personally don't have any problem with baroque music played on modern instruments, I actually find them better sounding - on condition that the music is played in the right style so you don't get a 'romantic' interpretation.

[RSW]

Pitch in the 18th century was anywhere from 396-460+ hz (A). I tune my neapolitan copy for the late 18th century music either at A=420 or A=430. If you are playing with modern instruments, I don't see the point. If you are trying to use the modern mandolin (Embergher) with historical copies/original harpsichords tuned at A=415 (pseudo defacto modern baroque pitch), then go ahead but it is kind of strange to mix such different instruments (might as well use electric bass guitar for continuo purposes).

[Embergher]

Pitch in the 18th century was anywhere from 396-460+ hz (A). I tune my neapolitan copy for the late 18th century music either at A=420 or A=430. If you are playing with modern instruments, I don't see the point. If you are trying to use the modern mandolin (Embergher) with historical copies/original harpsichords tuned at A=415 (pseudo defacto modern baroque pitch), then go ahead but it is kind of strange to mix such different instruments (might as well use electric bass guitar for continuo purposes).
The point is that "pitch" and the "choice of a modern or (copy of a) period mandolin" are two separate things.
The pitch is more related to the music than to the instrument. Music sounds different at another pitch, whatever instrument it is played on. (When a modern symphonic orchestra tunes to 442/443Hz instead of 440Hz you already hear the difference in sound.)
So if one finds that a baroque piece sounds better at the original pitch, why not tune the (modern) mandolin down ... though it may not be very convenient if you have to play other pieces on the same instrument as well. When playing with a harpsichord, the harpsichord player may (understandably) prefer not to alter the tuning of his instrument. In that case I'd also tune the mandolin down.

The choice of the instrument is something different, which I don't want to argue about. I personally prefer a modern instrument, but I don't have any problem with (copies of) period instruments, as long as they both sound good!
And of course I prefer a good player with a period mandolin to a bad player with a modern instrument or vice versa. I just refuse to prefer a period instrument only "because that is the kind of instrument they had at the time of the composer"... I'm only interested in the sound and the interpretation and I believe that is what the composer would have been interested in. (The problem nowadays is that people often use their eyes to listen instead of their ears, or their preference is influenced by what they know about the instruments or the player.)