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Lamasseux

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    JW is writing a new violin concerto for Anne-Sophie Mutter - "Violin Concerto No. 2"

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    On 3/14/2020 at 1:17 AM, karelm said:

     

    This is not about playing the triangle at all.  This is about a brilliant conductor who is obsessed with every minute detail.  He will do the same with trumpets 1, 2, 3 not staying together or a violin section.  This is an example of his obsessive demand of perfection in all details and we benefit from it in the final performance.  This is what its like at the highest caliber of musicianship and frankly that orchestra/performers weren't up to his caliber.  In a masterclass I witnessed where the teacher was a member of the trumpet section of a world class orchestra, their proficiency is so damn high.  The teacher randomly asked a trumpeter to improvise the tempo and dynamics of a passage from the standard repertoire like Pictures at an Exhibition and he totally matched it by listening to her.  He was trumpet 2 of the section and had to match his principal and was obsessed with that as a goal.  We have the same videos of Bernstein laying in to the trumpet section for not blending.  Each section MUST be a cohesive whole and he had every right to demand it of the best orchestras.  In your video's case, the orchestra didn't match his level and he demanded it of everyone even if they hated it.

    I don't know if you all follow the importance of what is happening here but the principal player dictates the sound the others must match.  In this case, Bernstein prefers the 3rd trumpets sound not the principal and is telling the section to match the 3rds sound.  This is horribly insulting but demonstrates his attention to nuance which truly sets him apart.  2nd trumpet (the middle guy) freaking can't stand it and says so which is extremely rude.  The 1st trumpet might speak but the 2nd speaks to the 1st and not the conductor. So much to gleam from this brief exchange of what its like to work in such a complex performance setting.  This is the recording that resulted and its my favorite version of this very famous work. 

    https://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Enigma-Variations-Pomp-Circumstance/dp/B0000012UG/ref=sr_1_1

    Furthermore, Bernstein is an obnoxiously American conductor talking to a VERY English orchestra about playing VERY English music.  It must have truly drove them crazy but shows you alot about Bernstein because his version of this work is very unique and excellent. 

    I see your point and all I can say is : you're totally right.

    BUT, what I said is still true.

    Many think playing the triangle is easy because you just have to hit the triangle. But what we can see in this video (thanks to the obssession of Bernstein for every details), is that there are diffrents ways of playing it and hitting the triangle. You can't just hit it like you want but you have to give the right intention at the right time.

    And the video is titled "Triangle lessons with Leonard Bernstein", so this IS about playing the triangle. In a certain way, of course. And because Bernstein is a perfectionist.

    Williams in Tanglewood in 2020

    in JOHN WILLIAMS

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Miguel Andrade said:

     

    Cancelling of Tanglewood on Parade was probably due to the ongoing session recordings of The Rise of Skywalker.

     

    Williams isn't listed on the Pops 2020 brochure which leads me to believe he won't be around for some guest conducting.

     

    It seems complicated. I don't want to buy tickets to a John Williams concert if he is not directing, or if he cancel at the last minute.

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