Is he talking to me?

March 6, 2008 at 4:32 AM

I am cranky. Three hours straight is too long to rehearse. Before the main orchestra rehearsal, I had a rehearsal with a small instrumental group that is supposed to be accompanying the chorale. The instrumentation is supposed to be string quartet plus guitar. But the 2nd violin, viola, and cello didn't come. So, this rehearsal was me and a guitar. It was helpful to have the conductor's undivided attention. Sort of. I know more about tempos, rhythms, and what's expected. And he said he will send me some midi files, since this is a modern piece, the world premiere, and therefore no recordings exist.

With the full orchestra, the conductor kept telling the first violin section to do things I was already doing. Play softly. Play light and short. Play in the middle of the bow. Or towards the tip. Or wherever it was that I was already playing. He'd stop us again and again and again and make us play the same thing again. Softer. Lighter. I get it. But all the stopping and repeating is kind of driving me nuts. Haydnus interruptus.

In spite of my general crankiness, I think there's a serious question here. When is it appropriate to just decide that the conductor must be talking to someone else in the section, and just not play any softer/shorter/lighter/whatever?

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 6, 2008 at 2:33 PM

Karen - I think you have to try to listen to your section (sometimes easier said than done) and see if they seem to be more in sync with you or the conductor's comments. Then adjust, if necessary, accordingly. A lot of times it's not easy to figure out, but you've got to try. I agree that three hours is a long rehearsal. I would have to be carried out on a stretcher after a rehearsal that long.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on March 6, 2008 at 3:57 PM

I have a hard time listening to "the section" as a whole. I can hear my stand partner and a little of the stand in front of me and that's about it. We've got a whole posse of violin I for this concert, so I'm in the back again.

It's also a delicate issue if one thinks that the conductor is talking to one's stand partner and one's stand partner may or may not be responding to the conductor in the way that one would, oneself (if you get my drift--how rude would it be to make constructive suggestions to my stand partner about his playing?)

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 6, 2008 at 4:37 PM

Perhaps the most sensible thing is not to worry and try to do the best you can. If you think you are doing your job correctly, that may be as good as it gets.

BTW, you should not hesitate to make suggestions to your stand partner. I do it from time to time even she is a much better player than I am. One thing you might try if you are hesitant is to phrase the issue in terms of a question along the lines of: "Do you think the conductor is asking us to play more softly?" or "Do you think we are playing softly enough?" Good luck!

From Terez Mertes
Posted on March 7, 2008 at 9:33 PM

>Haydnus interruptus

Brilliant! I'm laughing out loud here. : )

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