Nielsen's 4th... Holy xxxx

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mikko Moilanen

KEN? How is it going with Nielsen's symphony? I think it is just one of the most difficult pieces around as a section. This time, as a principal myself too, I would like to know how did you manage your section to play it up to perfection?

I myself did not do anything else than hear "DO IT!".
And we did. Anything else would be nice to hear!

I just got home from the Dress Rehearsal. The Concert is tomorrow night. We are also doing Beethoven's Triple Concerto. In the Triple' the first movement has a Bass Solo with Cello for most of it under the Soloists and Orch. with only a few Bass Tutti's. The rest of the piece is all Tutti. The Nielsen also has that one 6-bar solo at Reh.34. That one is fun but so soft and slow, it's hard to milk it as much as I would like. I am using my Martini Bass for this as it's currently my main Orchestra Bass. The Hart and Gilkes are out for sale and the other 'goodies' are all in restoration or waiting in line for one.

How are we doing.. well, our Orchestra is a contract Orchestra and not a full time Orchestra. It is one of the best in the area but still, not the Philly or NY Phil by any means. I have 2 new basses in the section now (maybe for all or maybe subs, depends). Sometimes when counting rests, we have a few sleepers not coming in when they should. I yelled out 'Tick Tock'!! (meaning COUNT!!). They got the message. All in all, it is not that bad. You were right though about the Unisons in the 1st movement and throughout for that matter. With 5 Basses and 7 Cellos, Yikes.. Where's the Beat!!

Thank's for the two Tymps.. They drown out most of the mistakes, just not all.

I will let you know after tomorrow's concert how it all went. I told one of the section players he could leave is stool on stage (we all bring our own stools usually). He said he needed it to practice.. That's a good sign. I left mine on stage but mainly because I don't need it to practice, if I have the time before. Usually I get to the Stage an hour or so early and go over a few sections. Then a quick break, put on my Bow Tie and get back on stage just in time to Tune!

Any last minute Tips??

[Mikko Moilanen]

Just go with the music man! I myself did found out the music behind Nielsens symphony. It is very difficult but at the same time (knowing your work) very satisfying!

But the thing is that you just have to know your part (as in any symphony) and mix it better with the orchestra. And the orchestra knows the part better than you. And that is it. If you have some other principles then please let me know!

OH BTW!
Knowing the Triple by Beethoven I can assure you. Play it as close to the bridge you can. You will be alone and very sad ( ) but you have to bring it up as a chamber musician. There are no solos. With Nielsen the same thing. Just nearer the bridge and more sound as a soloist. It takes 8 seconds to play it through with Nielsen but nevertheless.. You have to Prove yourself everytime. I played this passage with Mittenwaldian bass (5-string) http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2721.htm . Not the same but with the very name!
-M

[Ken Smith]

Ok, it's done. We did it. Thanks to the Tymp's behind me it covered a lot of the faster note mistakes. We only had about 4 hours of rehearsal over 3 days. I think it was way too little and there is a 6 bar (one bass) solo as I mentioned before.

In the Beeth. Triple, there is one Bass/one Cello through most of the first movement after the first page. The conductor had 2 Celli/1 Bass though. That was the easy part of the night in comparision to the Nielsen.

I think it's a very hard piece to perform and with a part time orchestra, not the piece to play, ever.....!

I would like to play it again a few more times and get at least a second chance. If one or two basses are off it makes it difficult. As a section, Basses and Cellos it was.. Ok at best or maybe passable for the audience but if this was an audition, we would have all failed it. I would have failed even myself!

So, there it is. The first Concert if the season and I would have rather watched re-runs on TV!

[Mikko Moilanen]

yo man,

it must have been a very good profiled thing to everybody with your orchestra. i think just hearing 4th of nilesen done by ANY orhchestra would be difficult but you as a principal playing those beethovens weirdness by let us sat orestre it would have caused a lot of trouble in any occasion.

all the best,
you have done it,
i think it is just amazing!

-m

Oh, with what bass you played with?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mikko Moilanen

yo man,

it must have been a very good profiled thing to everybody with your orchestra. i think just hearing 4th of nilesen done by ANY orhchestra would be difficult but you as a principal playing those beethovens weirdness by let us sat orestre it would have caused a lot of trouble in any occasion.

all the best,
you have done it,
i think it is just amazing!

-m

Oh, with what bass you played with?

I used my sweet smooth olive oil sounding Martini. Mainly because I needed the C-Extension for the Beethoven. Maybe a few 'Olive Martini's' before the Concert would have helped..lol

[Mikko Moilanen]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Maybe a few 'Olive Martini's' before the Concert would have helped..lol

Well why didnt you? You should go European or better yet, London style.

Just before concert:

-"What are you playing?"
-"Some olive Martinis.."
- *Applause*
- *Best gig ever*
- *Fantastic colleagues*
-Some more olive Martinis
-Good Review

Did you get any reviews BTW?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mikko Moilanen

Well why didnt you? You should go European or better yet, London style.

Just before concert:

-"What are you playing?"
-"Some olive Martinis.."
- *Applause*
- *Best gig ever*
- *Fantastic colleagues*
-Some more olive Martinis
-Good Review

Did you get any reviews BTW?

Reviews? I packed up. Went out for a late snack with another guy in the section. Went home. Slept. And then yesterday, cashed my Check.. Cycle complete... lol

Oh, ok.. I know the problem now.. geezzz.. I don't Drink!!

Maybe, I should consider starting...