What Allan is playing

[Cato]

Hi Allan!

Which Bruckner symphony is being planned for the Toledo Rosary Cathedral this year?

And how is the orchestra doing so far?  Since Columbus discovered it cannot competently operate a symphony orchestra,      I have been wanting to come up to Toledo for a concert.

[toledobass]

Cato,

Howdy,  I hope all is well.  This year we will be tackling the 5th.  In fact it is our next big concert, the first Sunday of November I believe.  The orchestra sounds decent.  We still haven't quite gotten our stride back, but there are a few key people on sabbatical so maybe it's to be expected. 

Would love if you could make it up!!!!!!


Allan

[bhodges]

Cato,

Howdy,  I hope all is well.  This year we will be tackling the 5th.  In fact it is our next big concert, the first Sunday of November I believe.  The orchestra sounds decent.  We still haven't quite gotten our stride back, but there are a few key people on sabbatical so maybe it's to be expected. 

Would love if you could make it up!!!!!!


Allan

As I recall, the 5th has a pretty fine double bass opening... 0:)

--Bruce

[toledobass]

As I recall, the 5th has a pretty fine double bass opening... 0:)

--Bruce

I dunno Bruce.  It's quality music in the introduction but as far as bass openings go, quarter note pizz isn't exactly all that memorable for me.   Maybe you had a bottle of wine with lunch though.    I am a bit intimidated as there are a few hard ass spots in this part.


Allan

[bhodges]

I dunno Bruce.  It's quality music in the introduction but as far as bass openings go, quarter note pizz isn't exactly all that memorable for me.   Maybe you had a bottle of wine with lunch though.    I am a bit intimidated as there are a few hard ass spots in this part.


Allan

Yeah, I know it's not difficult, but from a listener's standpoint, yes, I find it memorable.  The first time I ever heard it, the basses were so soft I almost didn't realize anything was happening.  Magic...

--Bruce

[toledobass]

Oh OK I see where you're coming from.  I agree then...I don't really think of that as a great bass opening per se but but just some good music.


Allan

[M forever]

If you want to hear how great that can be as a "bass opening", listen to the Karajan recording. The basses sound like huge bells slowly swinging in the dark, very soft, but with a lot of sound and substance. For the whole string section, this introduction is technically not at all "difficult", but it is very difficult to make sound really good. The whole symphony is extremely difficult to realize well musically because it is so tightly constructed, especially the finale with the very extended fugato sections. This is not the kind of music which can just be played nicely. Every note has a meaning and function which need to put into a very complex context. I think this may be overall the most difficult Bruckner symphony to play, not just for the basses, but for the entire orchestra. The finale is extremly demanding, as it is not just long and has many difficult passages, going through lots of different keys, stuff that is not easy to just play as it comes up, these fugato passages go on just forever. And then the long and complicated legato passages with four notes in ff on each bow - and yes, that is meant to be played like that, not broken up. This is one of the instances in the repertoire where I think how can anybody in their right mind try to play this with the French bow? And no, I am not kidding in this case, I really think that can't be played with quite the verve, impulse, and full sound that it needs to be played with without the right equipment. Maybe encountering this symphony will make you change your mind. It is never too late to switch. Why make your playing life more miserable than it needs to be?

Regarding "easy" and "difficult" passages, I am always reminded of what my first bass teacher told me when I asked him what he thought was the most difficult piece he ever played in his 42 years with the BP. I expected him to say something like Ein Heldenleben or some really complicated modern piece, but he said there is a lot of very difficult repertoire, but that's all a matter of practicing; nothing is really difficult if practiced properly; what he always found most difficult and intimidating was the beginning of Beethoven's 9th - which is technically very "easy" to play - because there is always a special, solemn athmosphere when that piece is performed, and that simple, but critical opening is really difficult to get "just right".

[Cato]

Cato,

Howdy,  I hope all is well.  This year we will be tackling the 5th.  In fact it is our next big concert, the first Sunday of November I believe.  The orchestra sounds decent.  We still haven't quite gotten our stride back, but there are a few key people on sabbatical so maybe it's to be expected. 

Would love if you could make it up!!!!!!


Allan

Oy!  So soon!  I should have checked the website!  I will have to see what my wife says!   0:)

The Fifth Symphony live is something else: I took a group of high-school students some years ago to a Cleveland Orchestra performance, and knew it might be something of a "hard sell," but they were astounded by the work.

Fortunately von Dohnanyi kept the work moving, and did not slow things down inordinately (I am thinking of Jochum's DGG recording in the Finale), and then cranked up the volume for those last minutes!   

[toledobass]

Rehearsal begins tomorrow morning for Bruckner's 5th conducted by Stefan. 



Wednesday 10am
Thursday    10am 2pm
Friday        1pm dress
Sunday       4pm Performance


I love this concert series.  In previous years we'd given these concerts around the end of winter or early spring.  I do have a little hesitation about how we sound right now, but I think with Stefan back, things will fall together rather nicely.  I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what he has to say and how deeply he will go with the piece.

Allan

[M forever]

OK, seriously now - I know my French bow jokes are mean, cheap, unoriginal and tedious, but, again, seriously now for a change, are you really going to attempt to play Bruckner 5 with the French bow? I mean, including the finale? You know, where it says ff and fff and marcato all the time? 

Anyway, good luck.  0:)

[toledobass]

OK so today was all 4th mvmt.  Tomorrow will be the 3rd and the 2nd in the morning then 1st in the afternoon.

Lots of good stuff today.  He opened the rehearsal with the remark 'this is a huge undertaking'.  Main points were paying close attention to articulation especially in the softer dynamics and clearing up when sections need to give room to others.  His tempo seems to pulse forward more than I expected.  It's on the faster side of the spectrum.  Our rehearsal today was in our main hall and while the tempo seemed to work well in that dryness I kinda wonder if it's gonna get muddied in the cathedral.  Also something that stuck with me was the comment to pay constant attention to what the brass are capable of giving and judge crescendi etc by that.  I know that seems like a simple thing that might make you scratch your head like 'uh yeah' but for some reason it is staying with me and making me realize that while I always try to listen well to understand what is going on, there is even further I can go.



Allan

[karlhenning]

Living with the simple things is always of benefit.  Pianists never grow out of doing scales.

[toledobass]

Looking forward to the concert tomorrow.  Dress rehearsal went fairly well yesterday.  It felt good to play through the movements even if there was a snafu here and there that forced us to stop in order to go back and clear up confusion. 

Much of the rehearsal process has been spent dealing with making sense of articulation and sound color so as to differentiate material that is important and material that is more or less harmony.  I wish we could have spent more time also working on the dynamic structure as well.  The dynamic range feels a little compacted to me and a bit too comfortable in execution.  It's never quite getting to ppp or fff.  Still I don't think it's gonna be too shabby for the little orchestra that could.  There are a lot of really great things happening.
 

Allan

[Cato]

So tell us about the Bruckner 5th on Sunday!

Unfortunately we had a family situation that prevented us from attending: first one I have missed in since the series began!   

[toledobass]

Bruckner 5 went well.  I think it was our most consistent performance of Bruckner yet.  I felt like things were relaxed and focused and the usual adrenaline filled approach of only one performance of a big piece like this was kept in check.  There were a lot of great things that happened including some nice brass playing. It was nice for them to have a day off between the dress and performance but I think they also saved a little during the rehearsal process.  I especially enjoyed the way the ending of the second movement unfolded....that kind of beautiful music making that seems is controlling you and making things happen rather than the other way around. 

I will say that I think this is also the most difficult Bruckner we've played.  The piece for me required a tremendous amount of focus.  As it goes on it gets more and more difficult with a lot of accidentals to keep track of from measure to measure. 

I'll get the recording of it in some time and compare my thoughts with that.  There hasn't been a review posted online yet but I'll make sure I post it if/once it becomes available.


Allan

[karlhenning]

Great to hear, Allan!

[Cato]

Bruckner 5 went well.  I think it was our most consistent performance of Bruckner yet.  I felt like things were relaxed and focused and the usual adrenaline filled approach of only one performance of a big piece like this was kept in check.  There were a lot of great things that happened including some nice brass playing. It was nice for them to have a day off between the dress and performance but I think they also saved a little during the rehearsal process.  I especially enjoyed the way the ending of the second movement unfolded....that kind of beautiful music making that seems is controlling you and making things happen rather than the other way around. 

I will say that I think this is also the most difficult Bruckner we've played.  The piece for me required a tremendous amount of focus.  As it goes on it gets more and more difficult with a lot of accidentals to keep track of from measure to measure. 

I'll get the recording of it in some time and compare my thoughts with that.  There hasn't been a review posted online yet but I'll make sure I post it if/once it becomes available.


Allan

Yay Team!  Was there a fairly large crowd in the cathedral?

As far as a recording goes, beware of the "original" DGG Jochum!   

Yes, I know!  Usually Eugen Jochum is the way to go with Bruckner, but in this version he halves the rhythm for the grand finale in the last movement, and really gums up any energy he had generated.

The later EMI has a slowdown as well, but not as much: still, not indicated in the score!   

[toledobass]

Cato,

The house was packed as has been the case for all of the Bruckner we've presented in the Rosary Cathedral.  Even the choir loft looked to be full.  It was good to see people out,  the Peristyle attendance has been off the mark even with some great programs, so I was wondering what the turnout would bring.

Allan

[bhodges]

Bruckner 5 went well.  I think it was our most consistent performance of Bruckner yet.  I felt like things were relaxed and focused and the usual adrenaline filled approach of only one performance of a big piece like this was kept in check.  There were a lot of great things that happened including some nice brass playing. It was nice for them to have a day off between the dress and performance but I think they also saved a little during the rehearsal process.  I especially enjoyed the way the ending of the second movement unfolded....that kind of beautiful music making that seems is controlling you and making things happen rather than the other way around. 

I will say that I think this is also the most difficult Bruckner we've played.  The piece for me required a tremendous amount of focus.  As it goes on it gets more and more difficult with a lot of accidentals to keep track of from measure to measure. 

I'll get the recording of it in some time and compare my thoughts with that.  There hasn't been a review posted online yet but I'll make sure I post it if/once it becomes available.


Allan

Thanks for the report, Allan, and congrats!  I can imagine the Fifth would be more than a little difficult; if nothing else, the final movement is probably a bit tiring to play with all those incessant dotted rhythms.  But oh, the result...

--Bruce

[toledobass]

The orchestra members just received an email from Stefan giving us many thanks for what he considers one of the best concerts he's conducted with the orchestra.  Really makes me want to get that recording now to compare heat of the moment vs actual sound coming across.


Two kiddie shows went off well this morning.  Packed house, 1700 kids yelling good morning at the top of their lungs was quite a shock to all of the hardly awake musicians.  Excruciatingly piercing!!!!!


Allan