 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Dutchy
Date: 2012-09-17 16:35
Yesterday morning at church, in the middle of our Flute/Oboe/Clarinet offertory, an extremely large, buzzy, and very determined fly decided that my bare right arm would be the perfect place for an extended Sunday morning stroll. I withstood the feeling of tiny feet walking on my arm as long as I could (eek eek eek EEEEK), and then tried to shake him off, but twitching my arm did not serve to discourage him. I had to intermittently stop playing for quite a few measures before I was able to convince him to go away.
So, I wondered what the pros do, when an insect decides to join the party. Channel the Spartan boy with the fox chewing at his vitals, and continue playing? Or frankly down tools and deal with the invader?
And I bet there are some much better war stories out there... :D
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-09-17 18:30
I guess because I lived in AFrica and the bugs were MUCH larger than here, I can weigh in on this.
Large bugs usually are not going to bite, the exception being black flies whose bite is very painful because their jaws literally rip your skin open. So I would advise that you train yourself to just ignore any crawley things while you play. You could have someone use a feather or similar device to tickle your arm/face during a practice session.
I guess I would call this 'detachment', ignoring funny sensations while you do a task. I suffer from a neurologic illness and have regular 'sensations' in parts of my body while I play, everything from dizziness to crawly feelings in my feet or arm. MOST of the time I'm successful in ignoring it until I have enough of a break to brush away any real bugs.
Let us know how you succeed with this.
GoodWinds
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-09-17 21:16
I guess it all depends on the situation, and probably more importantly, the paycheck involved. For me personally, anything under $75 a service I concern myself most with my own comfort. If I land the dream $250 a service job, I'll reconsider my priorities. Of course be reasonable, and don't demand a recliner seat and cocktails delivered to you on a silver platter. I can imagine things of this nature happen so little, that your fellow musicians would be understanding when it does.
About a month ago I opened a new theater with their musical "Grand Night for Singing". Apparently they hadn't worked out all the kinks, cause mid performance it rained (as in precipitation/water) on the orchestra, and more importantly, directly on me. This was a $75 a night event, so I did try my best to bear it, but 30 seconds without change, I signaled the problem to the music director, and walked off the stage. (Did I mention the orchestra was onstage?). To be fair, the situation became too dangerous for the non-stationary performers, and there was a 15 minute break to fix the problem. Everyone was supportive, and the cast even game me a standing ovation at the bar that night. Luckily, no instruments were harmed in the making of this anecdote.
Drew S.
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Author: oboesax
Date: 2012-09-18 15:55
I'd wear long sleeves to any performance. But, most of the time, the bug is something you can ignore.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-09-18 21:28
If the bug looks like a quarter note, play some quarter notes!
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2012-09-21 04:37
Playing Bach's Magnificat some years ago, during the soprano/d'Amore duet I managed to suck in a fly during a breath. Luckily I didn't inhale him, but during the next phrase he was struggling around, wet, inside my mouth. My major concern for the next few moments was keeping him out of my reed. At the next phrase break I did a WHOOOF and blew him onto the page but still managed to get enough air to continue. My nearby colleagues noticed but I heard no comments from anyone else.
The sublime beauty of that aria was missing for me that night, though...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-09-21 23:19
Dutchy,
Your problem must be common to many oboe performers. It certainly has hit me.
In my case, I kinda thought it might be God objecting to an agnostic performing there on Sunday. (Think carefully about that, and it will define agnostic...:))
A large green cicada or preying mantis swooped down from the rafters during a church performance in Va. years ago and landed on my right cheek. Right in the middle of an oboe solo with organ piece.
Then the little green monster started crawling slowly up my face. It was all I could do to hold it together and certainly added some shakiness to my vibrato and phrasing.
The antiphonal choir across the room could see it and had looks of horror on their faces as I struggled to complete the piece. A break sweat happened, the only one I can remember, and I was soaking wet, through and through within 30 seconds.
It is an amazing memory.
Afterwards, the church organist/conductor asked why I did not simply stop and swipe the bug away. We could have easily restarted he said, and also it was only a piece of music, not life and death.
I have never forgotten how that felt and not yet had the chance to test his theory.
Perhaps ala a Forrest Gump scenario....'bugs happen'.
Post Edited (2012-09-23 19:44)
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Author: huboboe
Date: 2012-09-21 23:56
Funny story, Craig. Y'know there's a book in here someplace...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
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Author: Loree BF51
Date: 2012-10-09 00:37
To oboe Craig: perhaps it was actually a "praying Mantis" and God was using it as a messenger! Regards.
R. Still former student
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-10-09 01:38
A praying mantis.... yes, it was, and for some reason irony never struck a chord with me.
That makes it extra special. I love it when the cosmos throws a bunch of fun in my face.
All good food for thought.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-10-10 05:02
Craig, perhaps the most 'spiritual' part of your story is the grace shown by the choir director's comments afterward!! In any case, I'm SURE you made an impact on that group, while they watched you sweat and vibrato like crazy.
Just be thankful it wasn't a scorpion or black widow or...
And I can't imagine God inflicting a huge green creature on such a splendid player, not even as a joke. Creatures go where they @#%! well want. Sometimes we get in their way.
GoodWinds
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Author: Loree BF51
Date: 2012-10-10 23:38
To huboboe: One might be tempted to call that a "Magnifispat" and I was. Isn't that aria entitled "Qui tollis something? That is a heavy toll! Best regards, Loree BF51
R. Still former student
Post Edited (2012-10-11 00:56)
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