This whole thread is amusing in what it reveals of the poster's attitudes and I won't attempt to compound or rebut any specific post other than to echo Debbie by saying we've all "been there, done that" on some level when things just did not come together the way they were supposed to for whatever reason.
To add on and redirect the thread a bit - I had the odd experience of first hearing the Dvorak finale over the local NPR station and then seeing it a few minutes later on TV. I don't know why they weren't simulcast but instead the video had a 10 or 15 minute lag from the radio. What was interesting was that, as the "big moment" in the last movement approached, my wife (a hornplayer, too) and stopped chatting and focussed on the music coming from the radio - da, dah, dat-deeee, dah da doo daah - flawless, plain as day and just as I've seen it in Pottag and on the stand in the orchestra for 40 plus years, note for note. My wife said "easy for him to say!" and then I decided to see what was happening on TV. A few minutes elapsed and I get to see what was clearly a total misfire; visible and audible. Nice editing job by NPR and kudos to the television crew for "keeping it real". At the end of the broadcast, I saw a fund-raising promo offering a commemorative DVD of the concert. I wonder which version will prevail. As far as who was where in the section, I was a little confused. I have to say that I only saw the Dvorak and not the rest of the performance which might have made things clearer as to who was filling in as associate and who were on third and assistant. What was clear was that Phil played lead, Allen Spanjer and Howard Wall were the low horns. I don't think it was Eric Ralske assisting (though I could be wrong on this) and I have no idea if the tall, lantern-jawed third horn was the new assistant - Thomas Jöstlein (I just checked the orchestra's web-site and it definitely appears to be him, so I take what I just wrote back). My guess, since I didn't see the rest, is that Ralske played principal on at least some of the other works and the bearded assistant (I only counted 5 horns, though there may have been six involved over the course of the concert) a sub since they have been down a player since Jerry Ashby died in December. Maybe another NY area freelancer (how about it, Debbie?) knows the identity of the mystery man. Cheers to all, Peter Hirsch _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music2.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
