Thank God that the era of the all powerful dictatorial conductor has ended though that outburst by Toscanini is pretty entertaining. I think a modern bass section might resign en masse if that were to happen today.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Role of a principal, in a section.
- Thread starter Andy Mopley
- Start date
Thank God that the era of the all powerful dictatorial conductor has ended though that outburst by Toscanini is pretty entertaining. I think a modern bass section might resign en masse if that were to happen today.
Robert Meyer was the principle bassist of the Vancouver Symphony 1965-1973. He was an incredibly experienced orchestral bassist having played with the LSO, London Phil, BBC Symphony even the Queen's Coronation in 1953 before coming to Canada.
Arthur Fieldler was an 82 year old guest conductor with the Vancouver Symphony.
In Meyer's words:
'I never had a row with a conductor until Fieldler arrived. On the first day of orchestra rehearsal a very young girl was playing a piano concerto. She was very nervous but I thought she was doing well. Fieldler, however, started to bully her unnecessarily, which did not put me in a good mood. He then proceeded to give the back desk of my bass section a bad time. When I told him to quit, and that he was rude and arrogant, he shut up and so did I.'
The 'back desk of my bass section' would of been my teachers lol. They were all incredible players. I can just imagine the silence, shock and eyes wide as saucers of the symphony players as Meyer and Fieldler locked horns.
Arthur Fieldler was an 82 year old guest conductor with the Vancouver Symphony.
In Meyer's words:
'I never had a row with a conductor until Fieldler arrived. On the first day of orchestra rehearsal a very young girl was playing a piano concerto. She was very nervous but I thought she was doing well. Fieldler, however, started to bully her unnecessarily, which did not put me in a good mood. He then proceeded to give the back desk of my bass section a bad time. When I told him to quit, and that he was rude and arrogant, he shut up and so did I.'
The 'back desk of my bass section' would of been my teachers lol. They were all incredible players. I can just imagine the silence, shock and eyes wide as saucers of the symphony players as Meyer and Fieldler locked horns.
Last edited:
absolutely. You don't give my section s#!t unless they're really messing up - and even then, you be respectful. I get fighting mad and take no poopie. Yelling at the musicians helps no one and berating them when they do something wrong doesn't fix the issue.
Go ahead and fire me, y'know? The gigs I'm in don't pay me that much and I have standards. I'd rather lose the gig and work a muggle job than deal with the toxic environment.
Go ahead and fire me, y'know? The gigs I'm in don't pay me that much and I have standards. I'd rather lose the gig and work a muggle job than deal with the toxic environment.
Any conductor worth the name will always address the section through the Principal. If individual players in a section are targeted, the conductor should be fired, IMO. It's up to the Principal to know what's happening and whether he or she should have a quiet word in someone's ear.
I remember some conductors and bandleaders in my youth who came out of that time when dictatorial musical leadership was fairly common. It was never helpful or efficient IMO but did help to make it clear to me that I never wanted to work in situations like that. There were situations were I would want to say,"You're no Toscanini!" or"Big Bands are history. Get over it!" I've been known to laugh out loud when some leader comes on with that sort of attitude. Life is too short and I've played for too many good conductors and leaders who got much better results through intelligent leadership without the egotistical foolishness.
Last edited:
