Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-11-04 12:53
Thanks, everyone, for the encouragement.
Howard wonders about the "other oboes" in this ensemble.
Um, I guess they forgot to show up.
Just as further "deep background" on this ensemble, the director is in a constant flail to cover the parts. At the final regular rehearsal, no trombones had yet shown their faces. He flushed a couple out of the brambles for the dress rehearsal.
And that trumpeter? Until last Wednesday, he was the ONLY trumpeter. At least, the only one who would show up.
There are five clarinets (with the director's wife sitting solo), one bass clarinet, four flutes, a couple of tubas. an alto, tenor, and bari sax, two or three percussionists (including the director's uber-talented daughter). Oh, and one string bass with an electronic pickup. Geez.
What can I say? The flutes are very good. Must be the tuners on all their desks.
Director's wife is in charge of the tuner Mafia. She keeps watching hers, and passes it around or brings it over and waves it in the face of the offender-of-the-moment. I'm surprised she ever finds time to play. (And yes, vb, my tuner synchs with hers. And thanks for catching the absurdity of the "pull out" demand.)
My teacher, who is a bassoonist and a colleague of the director, used to play in the group, but quit because of all the nonsense. She warned me.
One of the clarinetists (conservatory degreed in clarinet performance, and very capable) had warned me before I started that there were problems. She's another one who has been told to play more softly. She told me last Wednesday that she feels like she is trying to swallow her tone back up the clarinet.
I suspect that the preoccupation with tuning is a smokescreen to obscure major deficiencies in the director's ability to make music with a group.
He's a trumpeter, btw.
So, this has been a learning experience. Now that it's almost over, I'm beginning to be able to laugh at it. And that is probably the BEST medicine.
Thanks, all.
Susan
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