At 10:56 PM -0400 8/24/07, David W. Fenton wrote:
On 24 Aug 2007 at 22:29, John Howell wrote:
Yes, I understand exactly what you're saying, and of course it's
possible to delete instruments from a given ensemble, but you'd have
to have a conductor who believes in doing so, and players who accept
that it is a good idea to have a few minutes off.
Yes, but it's mostly not done, right?
Correct. It's mostly not done. One way I can describe the
difference between the orchestra and band worlds is this: the
orchestra exists to serve the music; the music exists to serve the
band.
Aaron's suggestion that it might be time for a HIP approach to
earlier band music might be just the ticket, for those interested in
that kind of thing, but that will always be a small minority.
Seems like a given to me. It could make programming easier, too,
though scheduling of rehearsals would be harder. That is, make up a
performance from different groups of players in different ensembles --
with less music for some of the players, perhaps the groups overall
could play harder music prepared in a shorter time. That's the
approach we take in the NYU Collegium, where hardly anyone performs
in everything (well, I almost always do, but that's because I'm a
continuo and viol player both).
And that's exactly the approach I take with our Early Music Ensemble,
as well, and you're right, it makes scheduling rehearsals a zoo! The
difference might be that I encourage people to do more than one
thing, if they're interested and capable. So that in the course of a
single concert I might have one student singing soprano on one piece,
playing violin on another, recorder in one set, and treble viol in
another. On the other hand I also welcome students who do just one
thing, and pick music to fit their capabilities.
Probably never happen, but I think it would be great fun to play with
you, David.
John
--
John R. Howell
Virginia Tech Department of Music
Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240
Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034
(mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED])
http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
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