 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-02-22 05:56
I had a long streak of around 450 consecutive standing ovations, but at today's concert it came to an end. It sort of stings! What killed the orchestra was Daphnis and Chloe. So I guess we start over in March!
On a very positive point we touched the hearts of 1000's of people so that's what really counts. Music is such a powerful FORCE giving people special moments of happiness.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2016-02-22 06:03)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-02-22 07:24
Don't ask me why but I am reminded of an old musician's joke:
"On the whole it sounded great........on the stage it was terrible!"
I'm not claiming it's funny. It's just old.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-02-22 07:56
I'm laughing here! Thanks! I have to remember that joke!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-02-22 18:40
It's relative. Judging from the webcasts, Berlin doesn't get too many standing ovations. John Barrows was fond of telling students that it's never as bad as you were afraid it would be, nor as good as you'd hoped, but he was wrong. Occasionally, it can be worse.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-02-23 00:04
dorjepismo - good point taken, maybe here in the US it's too easy to get ovations. Thanks for sharing this.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2016-02-26 04:43
It does seem that the standing ovation is "de rigueur" in the U.S. While not diminishing Bob's long record of standing "O"s, it appears that audiences from major concert halls, to Broadway, to the Elementary School Band concert immediately jump to their feet at the end of every performance. It no longer seems to be a "critical acclaim" of the performance.
On the brighter side, it does indicate that the audience was involved and in some way was touched/inspired/excited by it, which may be just as important as a "great" performance. I just hate to see the standing ovation become the "default" at the end of a concert. Then, it becomes meaningless. (Yes, I do feel a bit sheepish when I know my band hasn't had a good night, but the audience is on its feet.)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-02-26 13:37
It wasn't just orchestras, but also jazz and classic rock groups. However I prefer orchestra playing by far and this is what broke the streak. I also totally agree that audiences in the US can get way over zealous! I also believe that getting standing O's in orchestra settings is much harder. I never gave out autographs when sitting in orchestra, but I did in the jazz and rock settings. Almost all of them were teens and one old lady around 75 or so. She kissed me on the cheek! Boy did that group ever tease me the heck out of me. I won't get into the nicknames I was called. Fun times though. I loved every minute of performing these concerts and I'm far from done! The following morning at breakfast someone ordered prune juice for me. Band members have no mercy. The old lady did need glasses. She said I was a GREAT drummer! (Yes this is a joke. Couldn't help myself! Have a great weekend)
I knew the streak couldn't last but I had to express to the Bboard how it kind of stung. It's also a lesson that we always need to play our best and the hours of practice time even if we've played the music before. The audience knows!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2016-02-26 21:57)
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Author: Luuk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-26 17:41
Regarding the probable 'inflation' of standing ovations (which I also see in The Netherlands), I would like to share an observation related to that.
Last year I was visiting a concert evening of the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, playing 18th century music. We got an introduction in which Mr. Schneemann (1st oboe and artistic director) explained in what kind of social atmosphere wind music was played at that time: it was perfectly normal when people entered the hall during the concert, walked around, discussed the latest gossip and started arguments, left the hall at any moment, ate and drank during the concert and, what he espacially pointed out, the audience commented loudly on what they heard and saw on stage. Mr. Schneemann invited us to do the same, also asking for 'feedback' between movements. He invited us to shout out our feelings about the music, and at least to show this through our use or absence of applause.
During the concert the audience did almost nothing with the invitation, in spite of several encouragements of Mr. Schneemann during the evening. There was some polite applause between movements and even that petered out. In the end there was the standing ovation, of course.
That evening the ensemble appeared after the concert in the bar, and they played about three quarters of an hour of extra music, just standing between the visitors, and in different formations. And then, several visitors started communicating with the musicians about the concert. So, people did want to give feedback, however another setting (more personal?) was needed before they really spoke out.
I think it is very difficult for people to behave different from what is generally accepted as 'normal', especially in a highly 'socially structured' environment such as a classical concert. Thus, I think most standing ovations are the result of social pressure and do not mean the concert was really memorable per se. Of course, it can be seen as a sign of respect to the musicians, but nothing more.
The real question now is, what should the audience do when the concert WAS extraordinary? The only thing I can think of is making the ovation longer.
Small exercise: try not to stand up while everybody rises after the final chord. You will be staring at less attractive parts of the people standing before you, and you will feel the eyes of those behind and beside you staring down at you. You will not be part of the crowd and stick out like a sore thumb.
Regards,
Luuk
Philips Symphonic Band
The Netherlands
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2016-02-26 19:58
The conditions Mr. Schneemann describes are essentially those of the finale of Don Giovanni, and in the Netherlands, it is even possible to receive a visit from a Stone Guest!
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