On Oct 7, 2006, at 2:40 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
We've all heard that band but then we have heard an orchestra sound
like that too. I challenge you to find that sound from the Dallas
Wind Symphony, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, or any of the really
fine university ensembles.
Some really good music by some respected composers is being written
for wind ensemble and many composition students are being advised
that the best way to hear one's music performed is to write for
band, not orchestra. I know it was meant as a joke, but, having
spent 30 years working with bands, I really would like to see old
stereotypes and prejudices go away.
I'm an alumni of the Eastman Wind Ensemble (I'm actually on the album
they made with Wynton Marsalis in 1988 that won the Grammy), so you
are preaching to the converted.
I'm sad to say, though, that my band experiences since then have been
lesser ones. The best way to get old stereotypes to go away is to
stop being them, like most of the viola players I know who match or
exceed the violinists in technique and musicality.
My question is what will GPO Wind Ensemble have in it that's not in
GPO Orchestra. Saxophones and some expanded percussion? I would be
content with a civilized classical sax sound. I think everything
else I need is in GPO orchestra.
I suspect that the section numbers and balances will be different,
for one thing, to compensate for the seating and staffing one is used
to hearing in a wind band compared to an orchestra. Balance is one of
the things I think could be better with GPO Orchestra, too.
Christopher
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