Appoggiaturas? Grace Notes?

I’ve always wondered why lots of players – and not only bass players – seem to play appoggiaturas or grace notes without thinking about why they are there, what they mean, and how they are supposed to be played. Here’s an example.

Let’s take a look at the bass (or violone) solo in the Trio of the Menuett of Haydn’s Symphony No. 8, “Le Soir.”  Read More