We continue to see more views on this issue.
Seating in a section by merit or performance is more than just rewarding the
best players. The principal and assistant principal lead the section in all
musical ways, including volume, dynamics, articulation, intonation, tone, and
artistic style. Many of you play in ensembles where all the horns are playing
pretty well, and perhaps any one can play principal. If this is the case for an
amateur ensemble, I don't think it significantly matters who is principal, and
perhaps using tenure or seniority is just fine. In other ensembles, a
section can vary tremendously in individual performance level. In such a
section if a lower level performer is in a lead position, and say this person
doesn't have an awareness of intonation, and may not even have an artistic
approach to the music, it is very difficult and frustrating to the other
members of the section. It is in this latter situation that I think merit
should play a major role in selecting the
principal and assistant principal.
.... I know, I know, among amateur players, some don't know that they are
supposed to musically follow the principal, and they just play out the way they
want (sigh!).
Regards,
Larry
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