My Orchestra Debut: Handel's Messiah

gennaevelyn · #1 11-07-2008, 08:43 AM

Hi there folks.

Been awhile since my last post. Just for background information, I've been playing bass for about 8 months now. I've made progress that I'm satisfied with but getting a consistently good tone is still a major issue. But I have loved every step of the way in learning this amazing instrument. My goal in learning it was to eventually be able to play in the little community orchestra I currently play back-up flute in.

Well, I've been working away and working away hoping that when the orchestra starts to rehearse for Handel's Messiah I would get to play bass with them. I usually play flute with this particular orchestra (my first instrument) but for Messiah they only need 2 flutes (Mozart edition) and I'm the 3rd on the list so I got ousted from the section. But I figure two basses for Messiah probably wouldn't be too much? And they didn't seem to mind if I gave it a whirl when I first suggested it...

I was lucky that early in September the Youth Orchestra realised that it didn't have a bass player at all ...so although I haven't been in the age range of 12-17 in quite some time I got to play with them so I've had a little experience playing with an actual Orchestra. But other than that, I'm completely new to orchestra playing on the string side of the coin.

Ok, so the time has now come. Tomorrow the Orchestra is beginning its rehearsals of Messiah. They have not yet heard me play bass. I have been working on the score since September. For the most part its sounding ok... but I REALLY don't want to get kicked out after the first rehearsal. I also don't want them to keep me in out of pity if I'm making the whole thing sound awful... you see the dilemma I'm in. My teacher has been very encouraging and thinks I'll be fine, but I'm not sure if he's serious or just trying to be encouraging.

So here's what I was thinking, (and this is where I need some more advice):

There is another bass player who will be playing Messiah with this orchestra (otherwise there is NO way I'd be even considering it). He knows the piece inside and out (they play it every year). I'm fairly solid on the score for the most part, but the quicker parts and the runs sometimes get the better of me. How bad would it be if I played normally during the parts I can play well, but don't bother trying the runs that I know I can't play properly yet? Or even playing the first in every group of 4 sixteenths, etc? Is this faux pas? I mean I realise it would be unacceptable in a professional orchestra... but I figure I'll use the 6 weeks I have left until the performance to actually work on these difficult passages so that as we get closer to the date of performance I might be able to actually play them WITH the other bass player.

Well you let me know what you think. I know that 8 months is not really enough time on the bass to seriously think about joining a pretty half-decent community orchestra. I would hate to bring down the quality of this group by my presence... But I really would like to play this concert if at all possible since its probably the only concert this year I'll have any chance of playing in (the repertoire for the rest of the season is quite a bit more challenging).

Well your advice and/or encouragement and especially your anecdotes of similar situations (if any) would be greatly appreciated!

kenlacam · #2 11-07-2008, 08:49 AM

If I were you, I'd learn the difficult runs and work on that, if you feel comfortable with the rest of the material. The average audience member may not notice if you skim over the hard parts, but your fellow orchestra mates would definitely know, not to mention the conductor. I think that 6 weeks is plenty of time to learn it.
Good luck!

jgbass · #3 11-07-2008, 10:43 AM

When I played in a community college orchestra, the musicians were encouraged to do what they could do, meaning if a passage was too difficult and fast, just simplify the passage and, as an example, just nail the quarter notes correctly. That was totally acceptable. Being that you are playing with someone who knows this well, this will probably inspire you to play well.

Sounds exciting. I always wanted to play this in an orchestra, but have not yet had the chance.

EJ_Dad · #4 11-08-2008, 02:30 AM

Selective Simplification is good.

At one of the early music seminars at the ISB Convention in OKC '07, the presenter indicated that it was common practice for the bass or Violone players to simplify the parts, even up until the time of Mozart.

My teacher always reminds me to play things very short when simplifying as not to cover the others that are playing all the notes.

Dbass926 · #5 11-08-2008, 12:32 PM

Why are you so down on yourself? The point of these orchestras is inclusiveness and community - it's right in the name! Since you're so worried about it, reflect on the motivation and sheer willpower you have to succeed and how few people in the orchestra besides you have that passion. There is a point at which you must realize that having such a desire to overcome obstacles like runs and your technical facility is the best tool you have. If everyone played like you, playing for their lives, in your orchestra, it would be an amazing experience for the audience.

Andrew McGregor · #6 11-08-2008, 02:39 PM

Well, I say go for it. Be sure not to let anything you play run over the correct duration for the note (so as not to muddy things up... Handel should be crisp), leave things out if you have to, and otherwise just do it.

Learn as many of the difficult passages as you can, and remember that the easiest way to fail to play a difficult passage is to be scared of it (and the second easiest is to think too hard).

dchan · #7 11-09-2008, 12:06 AM

The Messiah isn't a very hard piece. It just has a lot of continuous notes on some parts, and if you don't pay attention, you're going to fall behind somewhere.

So in addition to the above advice, I would suggest staying focused for those sections.

David Potts · #8 11-10-2008, 05:32 AM

If you do get to play then ask the other guy if you could have a section rehearsal, just the two of you. Or ask your teacher to pay in unison with you. I think two basses in unison is the hardest combination to play in tune, especially if you are not experienced.. One bass (preferably you) is great and three or more basses start to produce a section sound that blends each individual contribution together .

The other thing that is quite common is that one bass and one cello play for most of the solo numbers and that a larger number play for the choruses. This would cut you out a lot of very exposed important playing that the soloists rely on for help. It also would take a lot of strain off you while you observe and listen from "the best seat in the house." Then when you finally get to play these exposed accompaniments you will know exactly what is expected of you. Don't see this as any loss of face or honour if it happens. Your help as a page turner will be appreciated anyway.

DP

barbarbass · #9 11-10-2008, 07:34 AM

I am in a very similar situation to the OP -- about 7 months along and in a community orchestra. We are doing Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music." We have four (yes, four!) basses in our section. The poor cellists (three of them) must hate us.

Fortunately, our section leader is something of a local legend, Milton Beiseigel. He is one of Robert Oppelt's teachers(Mr. Oppelt is the director of a fairly famous music program at a university which I am forgetting, and I believe a some time contributor here). In any event, our section is a benevolent dictatorship under Milton's lead -- he is not shy about calling attention to poor intonation or bowing errors (in the midst of playing). I consider our rehearsals to be free bass lessons, basically. And I always make a point of asking Milton for little technical suggestions after practice, when he has time. Great learning experience.

Oh -- to the original point: two basses isn't too many for Handel. You have to remember that the original "Messiah" was scored for something like a dozen bassoons.

JoeyNaeger · #10 11-14-2008, 11:30 AM

The Messiah is beautiful. Quit worrying about playing the bass, and enjoy every minute of it.

gennaevelyn · #11 11-26-2008, 05:39 AM

Hi again everyone, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated all your helpful suggestions!

I went to the first rehearsal and the conductor was very surprised to notice that I'd gone from playing piccolo in the last concert to playing bass... what can I say -- I'm a person of extremes

Anyways, the rehearsal went well. I spoke to the conductor afterwards and told him that if at any point he felt that I was being more of a hindrance to the piece than a help that I would most certainly understand if he asked me to sit this one out. So far I have not gotten the boot.

But I HAVE made some pretty grave errors at some points during rehearsals... but the other bass player has been a REAL help.

I'd love to do sectionals with him, but he drives up to Fredericton from Maine every weekend to do the rehearsals, I can't justify asking him to stay longer to help me out. No, I just practice as much as I can at home and hope that I can get as much down pat in by the time we perform on the 6th of December. Anything I can't play to an acceptable level by the last rehearsal I guess I'll have to air bow or something

Thanks again everyone!

Man I love this instrument....

Genna.