Evolution of the Metronome
Because my violin teacher is awesome and this is what we discuss during class.
1687: Jean-Baptiste Lully, court composer of Louis XIV, attempted to conduct by banging a heavy staff on the ground. He wasn't very good at it, because he missed and smashed his toe. Our dear Monsieur Lully eventually died of gangrene because he refused to have the toe amputated.
1696: a primitive pendulum-metronome is developed. Metronome markings are measured in increments of length rather than beats per minute.
1812: mechanical metronome appears on the scene!
1817: Beethoven is the first one to notate metronome markings on his scores! :D He liked the system so much that he went back to add metronome markings to all his pieces.
However, since all his metronome markings were all quite fast, people today wonder if Beethoven might have owned a faulty metronome - or just a really badass sense of tempo.
Modern day!
Dr. Beat: The Marching Band's Oxygen. The stuff of nightmares but also fond nostalgia. Mainly fond nostalgia because I had way too much fun with the option that made the machine count aloud for you.
Metronome.com: pretty handy! and free! If you have a good speaker system it's a lot better than dinky but expensive metronomes.
Metronome app!: one less piece of equipment to carry around to the practice rooms
VIBRATING Metronome App: COOLEST THING EVER. Not even kidding. You put it in your pocket and you don't even need to worry about how loud it is because there is no way you can ignore that jolting against your leg. It works so well! Fixed my tempo problems in a tricky passage just like that. *bzzt* Technology rocks.
1687: Jean-Baptiste Lully, court composer of Louis XIV, attempted to conduct by banging a heavy staff on the ground. He wasn't very good at it, because he missed and smashed his toe. Our dear Monsieur Lully eventually died of gangrene because he refused to have the toe amputated.
1696: a primitive pendulum-metronome is developed. Metronome markings are measured in increments of length rather than beats per minute.
1812: mechanical metronome appears on the scene!
1817: Beethoven is the first one to notate metronome markings on his scores! :D He liked the system so much that he went back to add metronome markings to all his pieces.
However, since all his metronome markings were all quite fast, people today wonder if Beethoven might have owned a faulty metronome - or just a really badass sense of tempo.
Modern day!
Dr. Beat: The Marching Band's Oxygen. The stuff of nightmares but also fond nostalgia. Mainly fond nostalgia because I had way too much fun with the option that made the machine count aloud for you.
Metronome.com: pretty handy! and free! If you have a good speaker system it's a lot better than dinky but expensive metronomes.
Metronome app!: one less piece of equipment to carry around to the practice rooms
VIBRATING Metronome App: COOLEST THING EVER. Not even kidding. You put it in your pocket and you don't even need to worry about how loud it is because there is no way you can ignore that jolting against your leg. It works so well! Fixed my tempo problems in a tricky passage just like that. *bzzt* Technology rocks.