>SURVEY OF ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS >As a result of Mr. Hunt's recent article titled "Please Turn Down
>the Orchestra" a survey of orchestral players was undertaken. The >object was to determine whether or not, in the opinion of the players, >orchestras have become too loud. >This question was asked: "Do you, as a professional orchestral >musician think that orchestras have become too loud, and if so, how has >this >affected you personally?" Following , in score order, are some typical >responses. >1. Flutist: "Yes, most decidedly. In fact the situation has >deteriorated to the point that I am actually looking forward to being >demoted >to 3rd flute and piccolo where I will be able to make myself heard, at >least on >the picc.." >2. Oboist: "I think so. I have trouble keeping up as far as volume >is concerned. I have finally resorted to two pieces of cedar shakes tied >together to make a reed and the conductor still keeps asking for >more." >3. Clarinetist: "Perhaps. The conductor has asked me to stand up on >all solos so that the audience will notice me. I am also using one of those >new >titanium reeds. The tone is a bit metallic, but it does cut through the >mass of string sound. I suppose the strings could play softer. I don't >know; >they have never been asked to." >4. Bassoonist: "I really don't know. I didn't show up for the last >three concerts and nobody seemed to notice." >5. Hornist: "If he wants it louder, he should hire more horn >players!" >6. Trumpet player: "I think we should play louder, faster, and put >it up an octave." >7. Trombonist: "I really don't care. Just wake me up when we get to >the last movement. By the way, where is the party after the concert?" > 8. Tuba player: "I never thought about it. What I want to know is >why I'm not allowed to wear my lederhosen at concerts. After all, I am >principal of the section!" >9. Percussionist: "What?" >10. First violinist. "No, I don't think so. When the brass come in >we don't have to worry about intonation in the fiddle section. I don't know >what's going on in the seconds. There are times when I can't hear them >at all." >11. Second violinist: "Perhaps Things have become a bit more >complicated. I now use two bows, one for the soft spots and another for >when the >brass come in. I use soap on that one instead of rosin." > 12. Violist: "Duh?" >13. 'Cellist: "Well I guess so. At least we have had to play louder >since the bassoons stopped showing up." >14. Double bassist: "I don't know about the rest of the orchestra >but all we can hear back here is that damn tuba. We all chipped in and >bought >that big guy a tuba with the bell aimed the other direction, but he won't >use >it. If we allowed him to wear his lederhosen would he play >softer?" _______________________________________________ Horn mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/listinfo/horn
