 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GMac
Date: 2005-05-03 00:18
Hi everyone,
I am actually an oboeist, but I need your opinion on something. I am doing a movement of a concerto with orchestra in 2 weeks and I wondered what you thought would be appropriate. It's the last movement of the Richard Strauss Oboe concerto, and it's a pretty big orchestra (the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the are fully professional so I want to make a good impression). I haven't seen enough live concertos, so what do you think is appropriate?
I just bought an olive-brown type suit (it does look really nice) with a burgundy shirt and a yellow-red type tie to match or a white shirt and a silvery kind of tie. Do you think that's appropriate? Would it be more appropriate to mix the jacket with black pants? (you can see how little I know about this...).
Let me know your opinions!
Graham
Graham
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2005-05-03 00:22
I would like to know too. I am doing the same, except weber 2 for clarinet, this sunday. I am guessing that the tux that we wear wouldn't be appropriate, but I really wouldn't know.
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Author: Tara
Date: 2005-05-03 00:22
I would wear a tuxedo (well, if I were a guy)...
I imagine if you play well no one will remember your attire.
Good luck!
Tara
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Author: GMac
Date: 2005-05-03 00:29
I have seen people wear tuxes before, and I know that would be acceptable. I'm very curious to see what some people's opinions are on this. I know that it's the playing people remember, but a good outfit is really important as well from an audience's perspective, I've noticed this myself. If you can make a good playing impression and a good visual as well, it's really effective...
Graham
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-05-03 00:38
It's always best to dress simple and nothing too stylish. Just remember if it's the movement is long and you know you're gonna get sweaty and hot then dress comfortably.
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2005-05-03 00:51
Well is it typical to not wear what the rest of the orchestra is wearing, os is it ok if what we are all wearing are tuxes?
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Author: GMac
Date: 2005-05-03 00:55
I know that musicians often don't dress like the rest of the orchestra. Any girl, for instance, usually wears a very elaborate dress that's usually far from the usual black. I know that a violinist last year did the Red Violin concerto and he wore a dark red, untucked shirt so I think for some modern pieces there is more leeway...but for something like Mozart it may not be as appropriate.
Graham
Post Edited (2005-05-03 00:56)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-03 01:29
There's almost never a time when wearing a Tux will not be appropriate for doing a solo.
Dress up!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-05-03 02:21
Yeah well, David...I don't think I'd look quite right in a tux...LOL!
:)
Katrina
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Author: Shorthand
Date: 2005-05-03 02:31
Check with the music director and see how much freedom he/she/it wants.
If something other than concert black is acceptable - remember that the rest of the orchestra IS wearing concert black, so use that as your launching point. Also remember that your instrument isn't brown like a violin or cello, or gold like a brass instrument, its black and silver. (At least I hope it is.)
Given the above, I can't see olive-brown really working too well, even with a black shirt under it. And if you just wear the pants, then they'll look like khakis. With the black and silver, its pretty advisable to keep it dark and stick to blue or red for any splashes of color - you don't want any yellow. You want your instrument to jump out from the background if you're playing this game.
Black pants, maroon shirt would be an example. Dark grey suit (or nailhead, but avoid pinstripes) w/ black shirt would work as well.
You could wear your tux with a black shirt and normal black tie.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-03 02:41
Katrina, that was for the guys. For the ladies they should probably dress up too - wear a dress, not pants.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2005-05-03 04:12
Dress matters!
Yesterday I heard the Mozart Requiem with orchestra, solo quartet and chorus. The alto soloist wore a floor legnth skirt in hot pink, her red shoes protruded from the edge of it. On top of that was a 3/4 legnth burgandy jacket with gold arm bands. The soprano wore a black skirt and top, everyone else was in black and white.
I first heard her 35 years ago and have always enjoyed her singing, and yesterday was no exception. But... I'm remembering her appearance much more than her music!
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Author: GMac
Date: 2005-05-03 04:23
Thanks everyone for your replies! This is very interesting...what does everyone think of mixing black pants with the brown/olivey sort of jacket? I've seen people in other settings mix and match but I don't know if that's a less formal thing or not. I think it might look good...and it's a bit more formal than the all one colour thing.
Graham
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-03 13:43
And remember - no matter how you play they will always be able to say "he looked really good!"
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-05-03 14:24
Professional attire for men has been a Tuxedo, Tails, or Black suit with a white shirt and long dark tie, for many years now.
I've seen:
Black turtlenecks, black pants
Nehru Jackets
Flowery shirts with bright pants
Morning Suits with a gray tie and stripped pants
...and even a "topless" cellist!
Go for the Tux, it's the safest and classyist.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-03 14:55
Yup, when I solo on Cello, I just wear pants and suspenders with no shirt.
Fortunately, I don't play the Cello ........ 
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-05-03 14:56
David,
I know you meant for the guys...LOL...I was just messing with ya!
Katrina
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-05-03 21:06
I actually think average to petite females look wonderful in tuxedos...WITH pants even. I do not think there is as much complaining about women wearing tuxedos today as there used to be.
I think a tuxedo is the "classy" way to go. When I perform as soloist with a group that has a standard black dress code, I use a tux with tails. If I am playing in something less formal, but still attempting to look uniform, I wear the all black with a black shirt or turtle-neck (opting for the turtle-neck if it is not too awfully hot).
Since you are playing with a professional group I would choose toward the classy look. The last thing I would want to do in front of a repsected professional group on performance night is wear something "below" the group.
Break a reed (or two in your case)!
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2005-05-03 21:13
I would affirm the tux. For variation, what about a collarless, very nice white shirt with it?
You don't want to be less dressed than the ensemble.
Sue Tansey
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-05-03 23:48
I think it depends on the time of the concert. This is what I've been told by one of the conductors who works with the St. Louis Symphony:
Before 6: Black suit with a white shirt and long tie.
After 6: Black Tux.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2005-05-04 00:04
That would be cool if i had a collarless Tux, looks oriental correct? I know a conductor who uses that often and it always looks really cool and professional.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2005-05-04 00:34
Well at the concerto competition concert this year I did a double concerto with the other junior clarinetist, and we wore tuxs with burgundy bow-ties. The violist wore a hot pink floor length dress, playing Bloch's Suite Hebraique. The cellist wore a shiny bright green dress playing the Lalo Concerto. The violinist wore an untucked black shirt and black pants playing the Sibelius Concerto. I don't think attire really matters, as long as you look formal and play well. The suit should be fine.
Bradley
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Author: Elizabeth
Date: 2005-05-04 01:51
I just had a solo performance on Sunday and wore a vibrant red silk dress that "tied" around the neck. Was floor length and showed and open back. It was gorgeous!
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Author: MSK
Date: 2005-05-06 00:41
I recently was at a concert where the (male) soloist wore his usual concert black tux, but with a black shirt and white tie rather than white shirt and black tie. I thought it made him look unique without too flashy. Olive and brown don't really sound classy enough. Incidently, I wouldn't worry about tuxes being unflattering on you. I have never seen a man who looked bad in a properly fitting tux, unless his hair &/or beard were too unkempt to pull off formalwear.
Not that this affects you, but at the same concert a female soloist wore a beautiful and flattering evening gown with a train like on a wedding dress. The train was a little much! She had some difficulty managing it as she came to stage front.
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2005-05-06 03:38
I wasn't worried about how i'd look in a tux. What I was slightly concerned about is looking the same as everyone else.
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Author: Steve B.
Date: 2005-05-06 18:54
If the ensemble was wearing black bow ties, you could always wear a
white bow tie.....but then again, you might look like a groom.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-05-07 05:41
Being colourblind, I almost never notice what anyone is wearing, espeically the colours. Since I can't comment on the colours, I can only suggest that you don't wear a tie. Imho it looks much better without a tie.
Good luck.
Post Edited (2005-05-07 06:27)
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