CELLO

ACOUSTICS IN THE ANECHOIC CHAMBER

Hanno Simons plays three versions of the Courante from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G minor. Here we notice a sharp difference in tone, sonority and phrasing between the pre-recorded acoustics and the dry surroundings. In the second example, many endings of notes and phrases sound as smooth as if played with ambient sound. Yet he merely rounds off the phrases and lets the notes resound to suit the imaginary acoustics.

 

In turn, the recording from Hercules Hall clearly has the freest delivery and the greatest jeu d’esprit – a musical “home game”.