Mr. Snake,
Thank you for your reply. Please feel free to call me Scott; I have no need
for an honorific, esp. since I would consider myself merely a horn player,
competent. If it is acceptable, I will answer with annotation.
"I believe that Mr. Young misses the "Solo Horn" implications of being the Solo
horn in a major symphony or opera orchestra. "
Undoubtedly I do miss the implication, having never held a position in a Major
ensemble. I look forward to being corrected because my meager experience has
not demonstrated such a thing. I have, however, performed under the batons of
conductors ranging from Robert Shaw to the local Baptist music minister down
the street (BTW, the local Baptist Church has a multi-film release agreement
with Sony Pictures for world-wide distribution) and all types of conductors in
between.
"Mr. Young probably would not be present when the conductor calls in the Solo
Horn to discuss the _ horn player. The conversation usually goes like this.
Conductor: What are you going to do about the _ horn at D. Solo Horn: I will
take care of it."
I rarely get the opportunity when playing Horn 1 to discuss such things with
the Music Director because those types of players do not make it through the
hiring process. If a sub, on the other hand, performs that way they are never
invited back again. Problem solved. I have, however, had those conversations
when I did contracting. It is not pleasant.
"For those who don't know about collective bargaining Agreements(CBO), to call
in the horn player in question would trigger legal requirements better left to
the Solo Horn."
This I did not know. I live in a very large* "Right to Work" state in the US,
and although the Major Symphony and a few others are union (one has been on the
unfair list for years), most of the rest of the orchestras are governed by
Articles of Agreement between management and Musicians. We even have a few
Co-op orchestras in the Major cities. If Horn 1 has additional management-type
responsibilities, I concede that that would increase the stress of the position.
"Keep in mind that not all conductors of Symphony/Opera Orchestras are the
music director. Also Conductors have a way of asking for things in the music
that are not entirely understood because of English as a second language
leading to much confusion."
Amen! In addition, I would add that some (not all) conductors have a way for
asking for things in the music that are not entirely understood because they
(the conductor) are idiots.
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott Young
* My state is covered by a single Local Chapter of the AFM. I live three hours
(on open interstate highway) away from the city where the Local is based. I do
not live near the edge of my state. The sad truth is that due to the
non-existent presence of the Local in my area and the "Right to Work" laws of
my state, joining the AFM would take money from my family and return no
measurable benefit to me. I am not, however, opposed to the AFM.
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