The musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra have agreed to pay cuts for the remainder of this season and for the next two.
This news has been around for a while, but finally figured I might as well put it up here as well. I doubt very much this will be the only orchestra who has to do this.
I read it here.
I am playing for a Good Friday service. Along with a few already selected hymns and one duet with cello, I was told I could choose something. One of my readers suggested “When I Am Laid In The Earth” which, without words, sounds quite appropriate. It’s slow and mournful, to be sure:
But some of the attendees at this service are knowledgeable, so while I love the music, and no one is singing along, it just won’t work. Because it could distract the ones who do know these words:
When I am laid, am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
So something else had to be chosen.
I played the first movement of the Telemann d minor Fantasia for the music director today and, with her approval, that’s what I’ll do. I’m playing it on English horn; it’s just more mournful.
Now I only have to get over this cough, and figure out how to get this sore back of mine fixed. It is very difficult to play a wind instrument while hacking away, and the sore back is just a nuisance.
Hate the cane.
Love the rain.
Hate the cough.
Ticks me off.
Hurt my back
from cough attack.
Need a nap.
Feel like ….
Oh. Never. Mind. (Apologies to all.)
I think the oboe is an underappreciated instrument.
Vientos Trio performs Lesanju the Elephant (English horn, clarinet & bassoon)
The work is written by the clarinetist,Jennifer Stevenson.
Act 1
Act II
Nicely played and spoken, too. 🙂
Orchestral veterans are crucial to maintaining a sense of musical order within an ensemble and if they’re doing their job why bother them? Sure, I’m sure you could fire half your violin section tomorrow and fill it with a bunch of young hotshots out of Juilliard , but God help you when you come across that situation when your soloist has suddenly gone off the deep end and you have to make adjustments on the fly. Those kids from The Yard ain’t gonna know squat.
I read it here.
I’m not opposed to new, younger players. I appreciate their excitement and their quest for perfection. I love watching them learn new works, and they are usually extremely happy to be doing what they do. (I do miss expression, which seems to be missing … the risk of putting out that bit of “something extra” might be what scares ’em off. I dunno. It seems that perfection is all that matters to many.) I like that they rarely whine too. They learn it quickly, though.
But when push comes to shove, veterans usually know how to deal with the often surprising situations we encounter.
I love that in most orchestras you see a huge age spread. I’d hate to see players get canned before their time.
But I sure do hope I know when it’s time to hang it up. I don’t want to be one of “those” that everyone whispers about. Ya know?
If I start regularly listening to classical music will it help me with my GCSEs?
