Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-11-03 17:36
Thanks, Howard --
And no, I am not "leaning" on my tuner. I generally don't play with a tuner, having satisfied myself ahead of time that my reeds are well-tuned and that my instrument is in adjustment. I have a good ear. I listen. I THINK I am matching pitch, and I am more than willing to go with the flow of the pitch within the ensemble. But apparently I am not succeeding.
The only reason I started with the tuner in this ensemble is that a) I was getting dinged for my intonation and b) all the other woodwinds in this group keep their tuners running while playing.
I couldn't agree with you more: the task is not to play to the tuner, but with the ensemble.
So, here is an example of what happened the first night. I had several reeds that I knew to be well-tuned. I was NOT using a tuner (didn't have it along). But this director has a real pitch fetish. He tunes and tunes and tunes and tunes the group (which is supposedly "semi-professional"). So we all start out by demonstrating our ability to keep the needle in the center, or both lights on, or whatever. Whoopee. And then, everybody is off to the races.
Early in the proceedings, I play a couple bars' solo.
Director glares my direction, "You're sharp! Pull out!"
So, I put on another reed that I know to be just a touch lower pitched -- or at least, emphasizes the lower partials.
Shortly thereafter, I had a little duet with the trumpeter (a god in the local music firmament).
Director glares at me and says, sarcastically, "Well, are you going to play up to him, or will you make him play down to you?"
(Seems that whereas I had previously offended by being sharp, now I am flat.)
Several others in the group exclaim, to no one in particular, "Yes, but you know, [this trumpeter] always plays sharp!"
Which is to say, I am more than likely playing at or near 440, while, despite the obsessive tuning routine we had so recently been put through, the trumpeter is, say, 20 to 40 cents sharp.
And this is MY fault, not his?
At this point, I am thoroughly confused. The director labors extensively to get the ensemble in tune at A=440hz, but in early rehearsals, when two people are playing, one on-pitch, one off, the one who is OFF pitch is right?
In the thick of things, I am hearing off-pitches (from others) that curl my toes, but these go unremarked. I am feeling singled out unfairly, and have become completely reluctant to even venture a sound, for fear it will be wrong (even if it's right).
As far as the Sunday concert goes, I will do my darndest. But I think I will NOT bring a tuner.
And I think I will not continue with this group. No fun at all. Or at least, they're not playing the same game I am.
Susan
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