So, we're performing a chamber music concert with only two pieces on the program. The second half is the Vivaldi Four Seasons, with our concertmaster as
soloist. The first half is a work for accordian and strings called, "Fantasie on Themes of the Past" by Buczynski with Joseph Macerollo on
accordian. He's very good!
The work by Buczynski is in 5 or 6 movements, and is interesting enough. (What's more interesting is hearing the accordian played musically, sensitively, and well. But, that is beside the point.) Here's where I'd be interested in soliciting opinions: one movement of the accordian work calls for the orchestra to sing while playing. We are to sing, "Let us take it to the stage!", then, to a series of eighth notes, "Do it! Do it! Do it!" and finally, the piece ends with us singing and fading out (while playing) "Let go of me...let go of me....let go of me.....etc." until it (the playing and the singing) is inaudible.
Our conductor chided us in rehearsal, saying something like, "This won't work, ladies and gentlemen, unless you really commit to singing these words loudly and clearly for the audience. Otherwise, it will fall flat and they just won't get it. If you do it right, they'll go crazy and they'll just love it."
There are several aspects to this situation: First of all, we are a greatly reduced chamber orchestra for this concert. 1 bass, 3 celli, 3 violas, and 11 violins. That's not a lot of voices to be heard over full volume playing. Second, it is not really that easy to clearly and loudly articulate while playing, especially for the chin instruments which are the majority in this case. Thirdly, one really feels stupid and uncomfortable doing this schlocky type of thing, no? I realize it's with an ACCORDIAN concerto, which is not on the top of the serious list ... but this is not the first time a piece has called for us to chant / sing while playing. It seems like composers are just looking for gimmicks and are trying whatever they can to 'be different'?
I asked a few other musicians if they felt the same way, because I realize I am ultra-ultra conservative. It could have been just me and everyone else thinks it's really 'innovative' and 'cool' and 'fun'. But the general consensus seems to be that we do feel awkward and silly.
So, in the dress rehearsal the conductor said, "I'll tell you the story behind the singing in this piece." and I'm thinking, "Oh, good! Maybe there is something to it that can help me embrace the situation in a more positive way." Here's the story: "The composer, who I spoke with on the phone, said he knows musicians hate doing this sort of thing, so he wanted to put it in the piece and make you do it since he thinks you all need to get over it." (Maybe it was worded more elegantly, but that's the substance of his reasoning.)
That feels kind of insulting, to me.
In the dress rehearsal, I was being a team player, and was literally shouting out my words. I've always been able to talk, sing while playing. Can sing one line while playing another. I'm sure many of you can do the same, so I didn't mind trying. Our sound man at the dress said the only way he could tell the orchestra was singing was by seeing mouths moving. He couldn't hear it. So, it wasn't projecting and I wasn't about to shout any louder. It was actually hard to gauge the morendo while also speak /singing. I found I couldn't control my playing as well as I would if I weren't trying to singspiel at the same time.
I'd be interested to hear opinions about this sort of demand being made of the musicians? Acceptable new innovation? Gimmicky trick? Reasonable to feel awkward? Or suck it up and get over yourself already?
The work by Buczynski is in 5 or 6 movements, and is interesting enough. (What's more interesting is hearing the accordian played musically, sensitively, and well. But, that is beside the point.) Here's where I'd be interested in soliciting opinions: one movement of the accordian work calls for the orchestra to sing while playing. We are to sing, "Let us take it to the stage!", then, to a series of eighth notes, "Do it! Do it! Do it!" and finally, the piece ends with us singing and fading out (while playing) "Let go of me...let go of me....let go of me.....etc." until it (the playing and the singing) is inaudible.
Our conductor chided us in rehearsal, saying something like, "This won't work, ladies and gentlemen, unless you really commit to singing these words loudly and clearly for the audience. Otherwise, it will fall flat and they just won't get it. If you do it right, they'll go crazy and they'll just love it."
There are several aspects to this situation: First of all, we are a greatly reduced chamber orchestra for this concert. 1 bass, 3 celli, 3 violas, and 11 violins. That's not a lot of voices to be heard over full volume playing. Second, it is not really that easy to clearly and loudly articulate while playing, especially for the chin instruments which are the majority in this case. Thirdly, one really feels stupid and uncomfortable doing this schlocky type of thing, no? I realize it's with an ACCORDIAN concerto, which is not on the top of the serious list ... but this is not the first time a piece has called for us to chant / sing while playing. It seems like composers are just looking for gimmicks and are trying whatever they can to 'be different'?
I asked a few other musicians if they felt the same way, because I realize I am ultra-ultra conservative. It could have been just me and everyone else thinks it's really 'innovative' and 'cool' and 'fun'. But the general consensus seems to be that we do feel awkward and silly.
So, in the dress rehearsal the conductor said, "I'll tell you the story behind the singing in this piece." and I'm thinking, "Oh, good! Maybe there is something to it that can help me embrace the situation in a more positive way." Here's the story: "The composer, who I spoke with on the phone, said he knows musicians hate doing this sort of thing, so he wanted to put it in the piece and make you do it since he thinks you all need to get over it." (Maybe it was worded more elegantly, but that's the substance of his reasoning.)
That feels kind of insulting, to me.
In the dress rehearsal, I was being a team player, and was literally shouting out my words. I've always been able to talk, sing while playing. Can sing one line while playing another. I'm sure many of you can do the same, so I didn't mind trying. Our sound man at the dress said the only way he could tell the orchestra was singing was by seeing mouths moving. He couldn't hear it. So, it wasn't projecting and I wasn't about to shout any louder. It was actually hard to gauge the morendo while also speak /singing. I found I couldn't control my playing as well as I would if I weren't trying to singspiel at the same time.
I'd be interested to hear opinions about this sort of demand being made of the musicians? Acceptable new innovation? Gimmicky trick? Reasonable to feel awkward? Or suck it up and get over yourself already?
