Careful Who You Put Down

Paul4703 · #1 07-24-2009, 08:40 AM

The Scottish National Orchestra were rehearsing the Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss, a 20th century German composer. Things weren't going too well and the conductor, Sir Alexander Gibson, was getting a bit tetchy.

The horn player was an elderly character called Tommy who had worked all over and knew a thing or two. When the solo came Tommy didn't perform it the way it was written but played it his way. Sir Alex stopped the orchestra and everyone held their breath. After fuming for a bit he tore a strip off Tommy and told him to 'learn to read music', a bit of an insult for an orchestral musician.

Nonplussed Tom leaned back and replied, 'When I played in the Vienna Philharmonic, Strauss said to me, "Tommy I want you to play the solo of my Alpine Symphony like this." He showed me and I've played it that way ever since.'

Gibson never said another word for the rest of the rehearsal and Tommy played it his way.

N.F.A. · #2 07-24-2009, 08:43 AM

Bravo...

lousybassplayer · #3 07-24-2009, 11:15 AM

No pics, no Horn player who knew strauss and played in the Vienna Philharmonic.

Mr. Mig · #4 07-24-2009, 11:18 AM

Good for Tommy.

kickstand22 · #5 07-24-2009, 08:50 PM

A wise friend once told me, "the toes you step on today may be attached to the a$$ you need to kiss tomorrow." I've always tried to remember that.

J. Crawford · #6 07-24-2009, 08:52 PM

Any chance Tommy was blind and played pinball?

warnergt · #7 07-24-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

No pics, no Horn player...

I think he looked like this.

Rocker949 · #8 07-25-2009, 11:27 AM

That's a really good story; I liked that.

castleshade13 · #9 07-25-2009, 11:38 AM

I was there.....

i was allowed in that rehearsal!

I was playing 3rd trombone

My friends mom plays violin for the orchestra

and i was aiding as they were a trombone short

I was amazed! I would never DREAM of doing that to my conductor!

castleshade13 · #10 07-25-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warnergt

I think he looked like this.

oh also that is a trumpet,

The only horn used in an orchestra is a tenor horn or a French horn and tenor horns were not used in any of Strauss,s pieces

Dogbertday · #11 07-25-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castleshade13

oh also that is a trumpet,

The only horn used in an orchestra is a tenor horn or a French horn and tenor horns were not used in any of Strauss,s pieces

What about English horns... not that's it's technically a horn... but just sayin

castleshade13 · #12 07-25-2009, 12:10 PM

The "english horn" is not english or a horn

its a german oboe

i think

JohnMCA72 · #13 07-25-2009, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castleshade13

The "english horn" is not english or a horn

its a german oboe

i think

More of an "alto oboe", but in the same family.

"Horn" in the orchestral sense, usually refers to French Horn. There are plenty of orchestral parts for Trumpets, though. Strauss' Alpine Symphony calls for 4 Trumpets.

JM

castleshade13 · #14 07-26-2009, 04:56 AM

yup

but it originates in germany

Yeah i'm in the junior orchetra and we wee playing a version of Holst The Planets Jupiter,

We had 6 Trumpets 4 Trombones 3 Euphoniums 2 Tubas And 10 French Horns

cnltb · #15 07-26-2009, 05:18 AM

Tommy must be pretty old by now, to have been playing with R. Strauss (who died 08.09.1949, no?).
Sure has had enough time to know what he's talking about!

spigmu · #16 07-26-2009, 10:47 AM

Conductors can be so dicky.

Kevmove · #17 07-26-2009, 11:17 AM

I know you all find this very amusing, but don't bass players get accused of doing exactly what this guy did? Play the notes you were given to play. Especially in an orchestra. Why? Because the point is getting many voices (instruments) to make one sound. If you want to make your own sound, start a solo career.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, until you sit in on a live recording that last 2 hours too long, because everybody is doing their own thing.

saxmachine777 · #18 07-26-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevmove

I know you all find this very amusing, but don't bass players get accused of doing exactly what this guy did? Play the notes you were given to play. Especially in an orchestra. Why? Because the point is getting many voices (instruments) to make one sound. If you want to make your own sound, start a solo career.

Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, until you sit in on a live recording that last 2 hours too long, because everybody is doing their own thing.

I can't speak to the validity of the story, but I think you get a pass when it's a solo. Orchestral solo doesn't exactly make you part of the rhythm section, where it's a bit more important to hold down your piece of the funk. As long as the conductor's cool with it, I think solos are subject to individual interpretation.

Kevmove · #19 07-26-2009, 12:23 PM

I beg to differ. Orchestral music is totally about unity. Not even the soloist has the right to change the conductors vision. The "solo" brings a particular instrument to the forefront, not the performer. So as clever as a story this may be, the soloist would have known it was not his place to overrule the conductor. Point of fact, the conductor would have known who "Tommy" was and have given him the latitude, if it were warranted. Contrary to the "seinfeld theory of music", the title of "Sir" isn't granted just because you own a baton.

Auriaprottu · #20 07-26-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevmove

I know you all find this very amusing, but don't bass players get accused of doing exactly what this guy did?

For slab gigs? Yes, I'm sure it happens. By guys who didn't write anything for us to play and guys who don't know crap about music OR ensembles. The aforementioned orchestra conductor is probably not a hair-flinging Les Paul/Marshall devotee who wants to "write" all the parts to fit around his Hendrix/Page fantasy.

Your analogy isn't the best one you could have chosen.