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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 2007/10

From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Play loud ...and louder!
Date: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:05:14 -0400

As for democracy I referred to the compromise that each of our instruments
represents. There is also the fact that an orchestra is not a tempered
instrument (huzzah) and we must change our itch to play in tune. Insisting
that one has the "right" pitch is counterproductive. In the overall, of
course it is true. A = A, even though A as the root is one pitch and as the
third of an F major chord, it is yet another pitch, and as the minor seventh
in a B chord it is yet another. As the leading tone in Bb it is even
stranger; no?
Herb

On 10/4/07 10:12 AM, "David Lurie" <klingsor@-----.com> wrote:

> At 12:26 PM 10/4/2007, you wrote:
>> One very important aspect of tuning is to play only the A.
>
> Of course it is. But in the real world that is practically impossible
> to achieve. No one in any orchestra that I have a ever played in will
> stick to nothing but an A during the tune-up period.
>
>> The varied
>> harmonics of other notes interfere with hearing any beat, which after all
>> the ultimate criterion of being "in tune" with the reference pitch.
>> The moving intonation as notes change function in the harmony etc. is best
>> attended to by the attitude among players of "be here NOW" so the needed
>> small adjustments are always in their awareness. Democracy is important even
>> in orchestral pitch. Leave the dictator on the podium where he cannot mess
>> up the pitch too much.
>
> I have found that conductors prefer to stay far away from such
> details, unless the orchestra can not do it properly without their
> intervention. In general, they don't wanna be bothered with such trivia.
>
> I just can't see it as a matter of "democracy" either. Once the pitch
> level has been decided upon - A=440 or whatever - that's it. After
> that, the pitch is not anything that can be argued over. A note is
> either in tune or it's not. That's only for the A, of course. Once
> you start playing other notes, different problems happen.
>
> David
>
>> Herb
>>
>>
>> On 10/4/07 8:52 AM, "David Lurie" <klingsor@-----.com> wrote:
>>
>>> At 11:02 AM 10/4/2007, you wrote:
>>>> Read about the loudest tuning note in oboe history on my blog:
>>>> http://oneflute1oboe.livejournal.com/
>>>>
>>>> ~Angela
>>>
>>> I read what you wrote there, which I will quote as follows:
>>>
>>>
>>> For the Orange County Symphony, I refuse to give A while people are
>>> practicing/warming up/talking/wandering around/etc. The concertmaster
>>> stands up, things settle down, and *then* I play.
>>>
>>> At tonight's random gig, however, I was expected to give A while
>>> people were practicing. I waited... and waited... and the
>>> concertmaster grew impatient. With ME. So I proceeded to give the
>>> loudest freaking A that you have ever heard.
>>>
>>> That seems to me to be silly as well as amateurish in the extreme.
>>> This concertmaster obviously does not know how to perform the tuning
>>> job. In a professional orchestra, the concertmaster stands up if
>>> everyone does not quiet down immediately, taps his bow on the stand
>>> until everyone stops playing. then you play the tuning A. Also you
>>> should play the A softly, not loud, so that everyone will have to
>>> exert themselves just a little to hear it, and then not play too loud.
>>>
>>> Yes, I realize that tuning is pointless. Everyone is just going to
>>> play sharp no matter what. But if we're going to pretend to do it,
>>> then we should pretend to have a go at doing it right, with everyone
>>> pretending to listen to the reference pitch.
>>>
>>> I can perhaps be called a snob, like you, but tuning is not pointless
>>> if the group is serious. Obviously, the group you play in is NOT
>>> serious about it, so I can understand your attitude. But a serious
>>> group, will take tuning seriously. That the pitch rises is
>>> inevitable, no matter what group it is. But then there is no problem
>>> as long as it is held under control and the orchestra re-tunes often
>>> enough. That is a job for the conductor and/or the concertmaster. If
>>> they goof folks don't; know enough about how to do it, then perhaps
>>> you should start to educate them by initiating discussions concerning
>>> these matters.
>>>
>>> David
>>> /oboe snob
>>> <http://oneflute1oboe.livejournal.com/187465.html>Link
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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