I know, that's a nonsense. Period instruments are used for maximum authenticity – or, at least, for what we imagine was authentic at a time. On the contrary, sampled instruments are the realm of credible inauthenticity. But, since we are simulating the real world, why can't we simulate a simulated real world?
So, I didn't felt ashamed when I tried to make Beethoven with sampled period instrument. What I did was to reduce the members of the strings family (via Dimension Strings, in a 44443 setup). Then, the obvious Natural Horns and Trumpets from the Historical Winds collection.
I didn't have Classic-era (around 1800) woodwinds, so I used what I had. The Transverse Flute is not the equivalent of the bigger, deeper and meatier flute of that era. Yet, it's probably better to give an idea of 'past' than the modern metal flute, and all considered it was not yet the fast-evolving flute of the 30s. The Baroque Oboe should be a bit better, since the difference in sound with the Classic Oboe shouldn't be too much.
No Classic Clarinet in my arsenal, nor a Classic Bassoon. The clarinet was harsher than the modern one, but not too dissimilar. I have no clear idea about the evolution of the bassoon. I have a Baroque Bassoon from Chris Hein, but I feel that the instrument was, in the beginning of the 19th century, sounding more like a modern than an earlier one.
In any case, a new chapter to the Historic Winds collection, including Classic-era instruments, would be great.
So, does it work?
Beethoven - Eroica with sampled period instruments
Paolo
