Almost OT: Selective Virus. . .

Whistle
1

I was in a pensive mood last night, and thought of the following hypothetical situation:

There is a new, insidious virus going around the world that affects only musicians. There is no cure. The virus manifests itself by negating all musical tones, with the exception of one instrument, and this instrument is different for every musician.

If you could only hear ONE musical instrument for the rest of your life, and you had a choice, what would it be, and why?

My answer at a later time. . .

2

“Hear” as separate from ‘play’?

For me, then, the cello. In the hands of a moderately good musician, it’s tones evoke a special response in my heart - like it somehow brings forth the voice of the earth itself. In the hand of a master, it’s like I’m hearing the voice of the Universe.

OTOH, I can’t even begin to imagine the sadness of a place where the voices of all instruments save one were stilled.

3

That was just my feeling too! I sat here moping at the thought, and feeling unutterably sorry for Beethoven, even though he could “hear” such glory in his head.

Carol

4

Sorry, can’t decide from among the following:

piano - because it has the fullest range

saxophone - because it’s somehow always dug deepest into me emotionally

fiddle - because it makes want to move

flute - because it’s just beautiful

PhilO

5
  1. To hear?

A piano. I mean, lots of piano records by masters.

  1. To play?
    A BIG italian accordion, bayan-type, with 5 voices per hand (two in cassotto), 120 bass with helicon-superbass (complete with the acoustic horns!) and of course “converter” free-fingering regiser.
    I hate their sound, but I’d get used to it if it was the only thing around, and I’d be sure I’d never end learning the crazy staplebox. :laughing:

2B) Or maybe a low whistle…

6

A synthesizer! Then I could keep my choices. :smiley:

7

Flute. I would hate to have to give up hearing the others, but without question, flute.

–James

8

A real coin toss between the flute and the Great Highland Bagpipes.

MarkB

9

a blackbird, this time of year, singing into the night. Listen and be humbled…

D x

10

If it falls within your definition of instrument, VOICE without a doubt.

Kiri Te Kanawa could make up for missing all the rest.

11

Only one instrument…I would pick a cello also – the instrument with the human voice.

Phil, when I was thinking of this question, I knew that there would be people who would give multiple responses, but for me the question wasn’t ‘what is your favorite instrument?’ it was a somber choice in the loss of all music but one. What sound in your music would you give up all the others to still be able to hear?

I confess that I took the scenario a little further in my head, and wondered what the world would be like if all people who made music would suddenly be restricted as described. Can you imagine competitions between fiddlers who couldn’t hear what they played, judged by people who had no musical inclinations? Could you imagine the challenge in playing in a group of musicians like this? These are the questions I pose to myself at 3:30 in the morning when I’m exhausted and still not able to sleep. My version of counting sheep.