Author: cjwright
Date: 2006-12-23 02:33
Depends on the level of ensemble you're playing at. I tune at 441 here in Korea, and get yelled at by the flutes, clarinets, and trumpets because they want closer to 443. If I ever tuned at 438, I'd get kicked out.
Regarding the rude other wind players: We all know this situation, and trumpet players seem to have a particular attraction to this offense. Again, if you're in a professional setting, you should be able to complain to the head of the brass section (if the culprits are woodwinds, you ARE the woodwind head, contrary to popular flute belief). If it is the brass, I'd go to the principal trumpet player, assuming that he/she has some leadership in the brass section. If it IS the principal trumpet, I'd either a) make a white lie ("Some violins are complainig that they can't hear the A clearly during tuning. Can you keep your tuning a bit short?"), b) talk to the concertmaster, assuming they have leadership and let him say something, or c) go to the personnel manager of the orchestra (or if it's an amateur band, go to the registrar). If there's nobody in official administration available, only then would I go to the conductor.
Regarding the 2nd oboe. Obviously the 2nd oboist should come early to warm up, perhaps 10-15 minutes minimum (if a high school group). If a professional ensemble, it'd be expected closer to 25-30 minutes minimum. I think a good relationship between the 1st and 2nd is expected, and if one is a supporting 2nd oboist, they would ask for an A before the tuning, perhaps even a couple long tones together to find the best blending reed/figure out the tuning tendancies of the day. As a principal oboist, I'd be thrilled if my 2nd asked me for this. Meanwhile, during the tuning, as principal oboist, you got to be able to play a LOUD A. If you can't do this, then seriously, get out of the way. I usually start my A's at ppp and grow in dynamic and intensity of the air to a full FFF. There's plenty of umbrella for the woodwinds to fit under my A, and most of them do. Meanwhile, the 2nd oboist usually checks her low E, A, middle D, middle E, and high A, at a mp level which doesn't come close to my FFF A, which I find perfectly acceptable. Assuming the 2nd is sitting at your side with the principal flute on your other side, I often find myself hearing more of the flute than the 2nd oboe. And if the 2nd oboe IS playing too loudly, then as principal oboe, you should be fully prepared to say something. This is leadership, not tyranny. It's not for your sake, it's for the orchestra's.
Finally, I don't agree with adjusting the tuning of an ensemble to be lower assuming that they'll warm up. Perhaps it's the mentality of a professional, but give respect where respect is due. Expect that musicians come warmed up, pretuned, and ready to play, and they'll treat you with the same respect. Furthermore, expect that you're not the only musician brilliant enough to regularly practice with a tuner, and who knows how to play in pitch. Most musicians know their tendancies, how to compensate, and how long it takes for them to get their instrument up to playing temperature. Remember: It's a lot easier for a brass instrument to adjust their tunig slide in a fraction of a centimeter than for us to start doing weird things with our embouchures. Dumbing down your expectations lowers the expectations the ensemble upholds upon itself, and each member's personal accountability. It would be condescending for me to assume less from my comembers because one 4th hornist stumbles in unprepared.
As a principal oboist, I find it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a retuning after 20 minutes or so, and very seldom will a conductor turn you down, unless rehearsal time is tight or you ask at a very bad time. I've even been in professional concerts where in between a movement of a Beethoven symphony, the conductor has asked for a retune. It's better to take the 15 seconds to retune than to agonize for 15 minutes about that #$@% clarinet player playing 20 cents sharp.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
Post Edited (2006-12-23 02:54)
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