 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: srattle
Date: 2009-08-29 20:13
hi everyone,
I'm about to take my first proper orchestral audition. I would like some opinions if you're willing to give them.
Do you think that it's better to play it safe in an audition a.k.a attempt purely to do everything as 'correctly' as possible, or stay as true as possible to the intentions in the music, regardless?
For instance, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Eb excerpt. Would it be better to try to make it a little calmer but more controlled, or give it the full power that the part deserves, but possibly risk 'imperfection'?
I just don't really know what juries in auditions are looking for. . .
Thanks
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-08-29 20:40
I would always go for it at the risk of imperfection. Don't know if that's the wisest course of action, but at least it allows you the *possibility* of doing something cool and musical.
I think of it this way... if you play it safe, then if everything goes perfectly, the best you can hope for is "that person played it well and accurately" and the worst is "that was quite mediocre". On the other hand, if you risk more for the music's sake, you can hope for "that was FANTASTIC!!!" if your accuracy does hold through as well, though you do run a higher risk of "Wow, that was a nasty botch!"
Would probably depend on the audition. If it's a highly sought-after position, the latter would be the way to go without question, because "that person played it well and accurately" will not even give you a CHANCE at the spot. If the spot seems pretty attainable (or if there are multiple spots), you might play it safe, just to try to avoid a red mark next to your name on the list.
I, personally, would never approach it without putting the integrity, quality, and excitement of the music as the number one priority.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-08-29 22:54
Well, if the recent auditions in Chicago and New York (where no one was chosen to fill the position) are any indication, it seems to me that juries are looking for someone who stands out musically. If all juries cared about was finding the person who made the fewest number of errors, surely they would have picked somebody by now.
It seems to me that it's hard to stand out from the crowd (in anything--not just music) without taking a few risks.
(Not that I really know what I'm talking about, not ever having sat on or for one of these juries--I'm just making an observation.)
Post Edited (2009-08-29 22:56)
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Author: oboeidaho
Date: 2009-08-29 23:55
This is a hard call - and I just took an audition (on oboe, but still) and in the first round, if you made ANY mistakes, you were out. That's it, no questions about interpretation or beautiful tone.
Talking to other auditionees and people on the committee (later), if they wanted you to play a bit faster, they would ask for that; nothing off your "score" as long as you played it at an acceptable tempo (within the realm of possibility). But if you played it with "flair" and missed a note, or tangled on a run, you were done.
So if I were you, I would take it easy at least the first round. Once they have you come back, THEN show them all your snazzy stuff.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-08-30 01:32
It is my opinion, having been on both sides of the audition table, that you really need to do both. It does partly depend on what position you're auditioning for and what the jury is looking for but I have to agree with the above post. You really have to play everything perfect, especially the Berlioz Eb solo but you also need to play with excitement also. Why do you have to make a choice? People that win auditions play everything perfectly, especially rhythmically, but they also play musically with a good solid tone and good intonation. You don't have to sacrifice one to do the other. There are some excerpts, like the Berlioz, that just have to be played as written but played very clean and exciting and than there's excerpts like the slow movement of the Rach. #2 that you have to really show your stuff but not go overboard. Playing musically is not playing wrong, it's using the guideline of what the composer wrote and putting yourself into it. Orchestra committees are usually very conservative over all. It may be a bit different when you're auditioning for a real big principal job but they still want things perfect but then they may also be looking for an orchestral soloist. Playing musically is sometimes subjective. Many years ago I asked one person on a committee, after I didn't get moved on to the final round, what he thought I did wrong and he said I over phrased many things but when I asked another member he said I didn't phrase enough, go figure. Check the Symphony jobs and Audition pages on my website for some more info. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-08-30 18:11)
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Author: grenadilla428
Date: 2009-08-30 03:17
Ed is absolutely right. This is not an academic audition - the panel is looking for someone who can do the job, right now. With the sheer number of people auditioning for a single slot, the committee has the luxury (and truly, the responsibility) of dismissing everyone who slips up on counting or notes or intonation. In short, be you and be accurate.
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2009-08-30 19:00
Exactly. What separates you from the other person who plays it exactly accurate? Your musicality.
I remember one particular audition in high school for a local prestigious orchestra where I went in, played my heart out, completely destroyed the piece, and was flatly rejected. But I left knowing that I didn't leave anything on the table. HAD I nailed it I would have been right there; unfortunately things didn't go my way but I knew that I put every ounce of effort on the plate.
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-08-30 22:23
I would say that you should play true to yourself. If you're a person who normally 'plays it safe' and sticks to things just as written, audition that way. If you usually put everything into it, then go for it here, too. If they accept you based on how you have auditioned, that's what they'll be expecting of you all the time, and if that's not who you are, you're not going to be happy there. Ultimately, that's what matters.
Post Edited (2009-08-30 22:23)
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Author: lazygrl10101
Date: 2009-08-31 05:00
I agree with lrooff, thats some very good advice 
Post Edited (2009-08-31 05:01)
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