Author: Loliver
Date: 2012-09-12 11:12
I think part of the problem, at least in the UK, is that people are in amateur orchestras during school, but then many move away to university, to new towns/cities, and don't know what there is out there. The only orchestra I know of in existence within 30-40 miles of where I live is the one at my University... (If anyone knows where to look to find info for the UK, that would be much appreciated :D)
Part of it could come down to finding the time, as for some reason everything seems to happen on certain days...also that some orchestras struggle as there are large gaps in parts, i.e much easier to find 2 clarinetists than it is to find 2 bassoonists or up to 8 french horn players... resulting in a very limited repetoire. I know that in an orchestra I was in at high school stopped playing anything written post 1850 as there was so few brass players, so just ended up doing chamber music.
Also, amateur bands will probably be more popular as they play much more well known tunes, even though many come from adapted classical repetoire, and so will appeal to people more. Personally I much prefer playing Beethoven symphonies to American Patrol, Moon River or the theme to Harry Potter, but I'm probably in the minority.
I would love to be part of an amateur orchestra, but I haven't heard of any in my area, so have had to settle for the University wind band, playing Oboe, Cor Anglais (a substitute for the lack of French Horns) and Eb clarinet. I think advertising at a local university would be a good source of willing players. At mine, at least 30 people auditioned for 2 clarinet positions, around 4 or 5 oboes for 2, and about 40+ flutes for 3 positions, but oviously they may not be there over the summer.
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