Concerts and concert protocols
Oct. 28th, 2003 11:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
darcydodoDespite my lack of sleep and my not feeling well, I decided to go to the concert at Zellerbach that I had tickets for. It was a German youth orchestra playing Strauss, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, and Sibelius, and in the end I was glad I went. For a start, they were really very good. Secondly, the virtuoso violinist who played for the Sibelius was amazing. He's 16 years old.... and attends Crossroads, which, when I saw this fact, surprised me not a whit. Kristin, who was sitting next to me, muttered that he must go through a bow every night, which I didn't disagree with, seeing as how he broke about five hairs on his bow during the one piece. There was much confusion at the end of the Shostakovich; the program said there were five movements, they clearly had only gone through three (Kristin and I were both convinced of this independently), and then they finished. So I couldn't clap for the soloists as I had wanted, because I was trying to be good and not clap between movements. Which is a piece of etiquette, I might add, that the majority of the audience seemed not to have been schooled in, which made it doubly confusing that they seemed to be finishing after three movements.
Speaking of which, what's the protocol for the following? The conductor announces that, as a sign of the friendship between our countries, they're going to play both our national anthems. Given that America is full of patriotic fools, a large part of the audience stands up during the American anthem, which is played first. Now, two things must be decided. 1) Does one clap at the end of each anthem, or after both are finished, treating them each as a movement of a larger piece? 2) Does one remain standing during the German anthem, as well? I would say that one wouldn't clap between the two anthems and that one would remain standing for the German anthem, but apparently much of the audience didn't agree with me. Although, to be fair, this is the same audience that was clapping between definite movements. *sigh*
Now I'm going to go to sleep and hope that I'll sleep for a sensible length of time tonight. Grr.
Speaking of which, what's the protocol for the following? The conductor announces that, as a sign of the friendship between our countries, they're going to play both our national anthems. Given that America is full of patriotic fools, a large part of the audience stands up during the American anthem, which is played first. Now, two things must be decided. 1) Does one clap at the end of each anthem, or after both are finished, treating them each as a movement of a larger piece? 2) Does one remain standing during the German anthem, as well? I would say that one wouldn't clap between the two anthems and that one would remain standing for the German anthem, but apparently much of the audience didn't agree with me. Although, to be fair, this is the same audience that was clapping between definite movements. *sigh*
Now I'm going to go to sleep and hope that I'll sleep for a sensible length of time tonight. Grr.
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no subject
Date: 2003-10-29 10:26 am (UTC)So I couldn't clap for the soloists as I had wanted, because I was trying to be good and not clap between movements. Which is a piece of etiquette, I might add, that the majority of the audience seemed not to have been schooled in, which made it doubly confusing that they seemed to be finishing after three movements.
LOL. I know. Happened to me before.
::tsk-tsks at audiences::
Strauss, Shostakovich, Mendelssohn, and Sibelius
Those seem to be German favourites: last year, in this fair city, I went to concerts where they were playing all of them (okay, not Strauss, actually, but he's fairly popular in general)...
no subject
Date: 2003-10-29 10:38 am (UTC)One of the most confusing pieces in this respect I ever came across was the Saint-Saens cello concerto. Although technically in three movements, they are all very linked, and linked by the original theme which keeps coming back so it really does sound all like one movement. Great innovations in structure in music, but very confusing to an audience if they don't know the piece.
Good for you and attempting to keep the etiquette though.
Hopefully I'll get my hands on a piano this evening!!! Most of my music is being shipped, but I had a few things kept out. Looking at them today though, I realize I must have been in a huge Rachmaninov mood when I chose them -- Rachmaninov 2nd piano concerto, Rachmaninov 3rd piano concerto and Rachmaninov 4th piano concerto. Hmmm, and I was hoping to learn some Chopin!
Ah well, at least I like Rachmaninov.
Better do some work now I suppose...
no subject
Date: 2003-10-29 04:37 pm (UTC)It was indeed, and I say that's cheating. Huh.
Hopefully I'll get my hands on a piano this evening!!!
Yay!!! *bounces* Now, if only I were in Trieste so that I could come sing with you!
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Date: 2003-10-29 04:46 pm (UTC)I'm cheating? No, it was justa guess. I know about half of the Shostakovich symphonies, and that is the only one with 5 movements with 3 of them linked. I played it on a youth orchestra tour around Europe, so must have performed it (from the back of 2nd violins) about 20 times... so I know it pretty well. Cool piece, particularly the 4th movement (thats the one with all the trombone fanfare and the bassoon cadenza sandwiched between the 3rd and 5th).
Actually, won't get much chance to play the piano today as I have to go home to sort out a few last things. But I should get the key to the room today so I can use it in the future... as I don't yet know any sopranos to take up all my time, I should be memorizing a lot of Rachmaninov and Chopin in the next few months... :)
SMILE!
no subject
Date: 2003-10-29 04:49 pm (UTC)When are you getting a piano in your apartment? :)
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Date: 2003-10-29 04:56 pm (UTC)Speaking of such things, I had an amusing time at one point recently editing a recording of a set of etudes by some modern dude, don't remember who now. I didn't have a copy of the music, which made it very difficult to decide where to put the track breaks in the CD. I got it right; but I'm sure it was partly luck.
Anyway.
I'll get a piano in my house as soon as I've bought/rented one. Hopefully within a month or so otherwise I'm going to be very figity (is that how you spell it?). You comin' to visit babe?
Ahaha - almost 6.00pm here. Which means it's time for me to go and sing lalala
no subject
Date: 2003-10-29 05:02 pm (UTC)Huh. I'll say.
figity (is that how you spell it?)
It's got a 'd' actually, and an 'e'. Fidgety. :)
Having fun singing! I'm just counting the days until they get you to play the piano instead. ;)