Solo violinist for Wedding....Sit or Stand?
I've typically sat for weddings, but wonder---any feedback is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Replies (17)
If I were the groom I would prefer the violinist to stand unless he is Itzhak Perlman or grossly overweight. In my opinion a violin soloist should always stand, it just looks more professional in front of a microphone too.
I like sitting in that I'm not ever the center of attention at the ceremony, but I always ask the bride and groom beforehand. Sitting is also nice in that you can sit for the entire time rather than either standing to play the prelude/bride/etc, sitting during ceremony, standing for a unity candle lighting, sitting again, then standing at the recessional or just standing there the whole time in rest position feeling a bit awkward.
You will be a soloist. Soloists stand. Ever seen a violin concerto performed by a major orchestra with the soloist sitting? (Perlman performs seated, but for physical reasons.)
If it's for the ceremony, I lean towards standing. Of course, make sure that there's a chair nearby so that you can sit when you're not playing, but it will also help you project better in a situation where, although the focus shouldn't be on you, you do need to be heard.
If you're doing the cocktail hour, or some kind of background music, I like to sit on a stool so that I've still got a little height, but then I don't have to try to stand the whole time.
I would stand, or be seated on a high stool / chair to bring the violin to the same height. A few reasons - respect for one (someone is paying you to do this, so give your best, and that includes presentation and appearance as well as your playing). Also a little psychology too - it's more rewarding to literally be looked up at, than looked down on :)
Good advice, all.
I was asked to play for my niece's wedding next year. I'm just going to play something brief (like Gershwin's "Our Love is Here To Stay") and the Wedding March.
But I was thinking of being suspended by wires and floating down from the ceiling (like the angel that I am). What do you think?
Sandy
I think you have a good sense of humour :)
Flying into the wedding playing a violin - sounds great! Don't forget your angel wings. If you can get someone bowing the suspension wires you can add a bass line, although you'll have to vary your height to change notes.
Three of us are playing for a wedding in a month, but it'll be background music and I think we'll just sit - especially my wife, who's playing cello.
Well, it seems like most are split on this...and I still haven't made up my mind as to what to do. Perhaps sitting for music before the actual ceremony while people are gathering-and the same for after the ceremony. This particular wedding does not involve any music for the ceremony/service -strictly before and after so I would have to say that I am leaning towards sitting. But now to figure out where best to situate myself...up front still? Hmmmmm.
Ask the people who are hiring you. Their answer will undoubtedly be more applicable and useful for this instance than asking people on the internet.
@ Lisa
It depends on what you are playing. If you are in a string quartet, you should sit with the quartet. If you have a pianist and you are playing some concerto, then stand. If you are paying back ground music then sit. If the people are dancing, and you are the MC, then you should stand. Depends on the type of music you are playing. After a while, you learn to feel how to work gigs.
Well, I suppose asking on the internet is not something some of you would choose to do. However, the couple that hired me for their wedding are not famliar in any way even with music selections muchless where I should or should not sit/stand. I am solo violin....no piano, no quartet. Strictly before and and after ceremony. Yes, I am considering this more of background music -so at this point I will do as I have in the past and sit. I simply thought it would be interesting to get viewpoints from other musicians. I am not in contact with anyone personally that plays for weddings, thus this group is really my only knowledgeable resource.
I stand to play, and keep a chair handy for when I'm not.
Also, I'm pretty sure Sandy doesn't need any wires. (Smile)
Well, I'm a fiddler, so I have a different perspective. I usually stand for the first couple pints, then I sit until the postlude; by then, I'm a few quarts in, so even sitting isn't a regular thing.
I have only done this a couple of times, both times I stood up. Once was for a trombonist friend of mine who wanted an excerpt from 'the Lark Ascending' and he sat down to listen to it.
It seems that when you're a duo or quartet, sitting down is natural and doesn't command attention in the same way that a solo performer does. Once you get down to one player, whatever the situation, it becomes a solo performance, so I suppose it does feel more natural to stand!
@ Lisa
You have a great web site.
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August 18, 2010 at 09:15 PM ·
If I were playing solo I would stand.