Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 2009/07

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: More doublers - help info
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:53:02 -0400

On Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:29:34 -0400 (EDT), Richard Gordley
<rgordley@-----.net> wrote:
> Let me clarify a couple of things before laying this to rest. First, I'm
> not suggesting that we need time to "run cadenzas and Mozart concertos" in
> fact I find this suggestion somewhat insulting.

I don't think you need to take this personally. The simple fact is that
many pit orchestra and symphony orchestra players do seem to feel the
need to do exactly that. I expressed my (negative) opinion of this
practice earlier in the year, and it triggered quite a spirited discussion.

> I am asking for a reasonable
> warmup period where we can verify that all mechanisms work and that reeds
> are compliant. I am also asking for 2 or 3 minutes just before curtain for
> tuning purposes. And, as Walter notes, doing this in another room and
> staggering into the pit and running the gauntlet of equipment there with an arm
> full of instruments is asking for trouble.
>

I have had the pleasure of playing pit orchestra for one of the local
school districts here. They do a BIG musical every year, with all of
the 7th and 8th graders from all of the district middle schools. They
take all comers -- if they want in, and they put in the time, they'll at
least get a position in the chorus. They typically have 150 kids,
divided into two complete casts. Personally, I think both the choral
director and the musical director deserve to be sainted for putting up
with this every year for some 15 years now.

The director's practice is to have the orchestra gather 40 minutes prior
to curtain, which is 20 minutes prior to opening the house. We can tune
and noodle away to our heart's content. 30 minutes prior to curtain,
she goes over any new changes or cuts, shares notes, and perhaps goes
over trouble spots from the previous night. 20 minutes prior to
curtain, when the house opens, the orchestra goes silent.

Could an instrument drift out of tune in 20 minutes? Possibly, but the
fact is an instrument in an orchestra pit often sits idle for 20 minutes
anyway, even in the middle of the performance.

Her practice has always seemed eminently professional to me. I'm
looking forward to Beauty and the Beast next year...

--
Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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