What is Virtuosity?

[anonymous4]

"One of my greatest pleasures in writing a concerto is in the opportunity for deep exploration of the "character" of a particular instrument. My goal is to allow the nature of the solo instrument to shape the work. I like to reconsider not just the orchestration but such questions as "what is virtuosity?"
-Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

This being said, what do you think are the qualities that make a person a "virtuoso" on the tuba? How does the character of the tuba define what is "virtuosic" for the instrument? If you would like, share an occasion where you were "blown away" by a performer and what it was in particular you thought amazing.

Cheers!

[Chuck Jackson]

Yup, Bobo would be the one. The only in my book. Good call, Joe.

Chuck"Who is always amazed every time I revisit any of the Bobo's recordings, whether solo, ensemble, or orchestral realizing he wore each hat better than anyone, with John Fletcher a close second, that has ever lived"Jackson

[tubaman5150]

Every time I hear the word 'virtuoso' I immediately think of Oystein Baadsvik.

In my opinion, I have never in my life heard a tuba player as good as him. Its not just the mastery of the technique, but its the musicianship. The absolute control and direction of every note he plays. I have heard him live and it absolutely gave me chills.
Alot of tuba players have flashy technique, but he's mastered every facet of being a musician who happens to play the tuba. Roger Bobo fits into that category as well.
That's virtuosity in my book.

[Dylan King]

for example, there are musicians who are anything but virtuosi, who can really connect emotionally and tell the story better than anyone else. prime examples of this (from outside the tuba/classical realm)...the ramones, the white stripes, old blues guitarists (lightnin' hopkins, robert johnson, john lee hooker), miles davis..."

Miles Davis?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=& ... tnG=Search

[Roger Lewis]

GOOD players make the difficult look HARD - truly GREAT players make the difficult look EASY. The reason (IMHO) is that making the playing of the impossible appear to be simple gives the audienc member that played trumpet 'way back in high school the belief that if he had practiced 20 minutes more a da, that could be HIM up there. This is a person who will always come to see you play. The player that makes it look hard tells the audience that they made a good career choiuce in going into something that did not involve music. It takes away the belief that "anyone can do it".

Just my thoughts.

[Lew]

i think there's a difference between virtuosity and musicality. certainly, each helps the other, but they are two separate things in my mind. here's the way i see it...

virtuosity is the ability of someone to get around on the instrument or voice. some characteristics would include flawless technique, incredible rhythmic precision and a large range.

musicality is the ability to tell a story, to communicate emotionally, to touch people on the most basic level.

for example, there are musicians who are anything but virtuosi, who can really connect emotionally and tell the story better than anyone else. prime examples of this (from outside the tuba/classical realm)...the ramones, the white stripes, old blues guitarists (lightnin' hopkins, robert johnson, john lee hooker), miles davis. none of these would garner the title "virtuoso." yet...NOBODY tells the story and connects emotionally like these guys. if the ramones were more sophisticated...would they have had the impact that they did? if jack white sang with a perfect sheen to his voice, or if meg could actually play drums like neil peart, would the white stripes have their rawness and edge? few bluesmen sing outside the range of maybe an octave and a half...and they can tear your heart out. even miles davis once told vacchiano (i think...), "when you miss a note, it's a mistake. when I miss a note...it's art." the three guys in nirvana...anything but virtuosi...they changed the entire rock music landscape.

there are a couple examples of virtuosity without art. the only one i can think of is the heavy metal project called "nitro" that had jim gillette on vocals and some other guy on guitar (michael something or other...) that i can't remember. what?? never heard of 'em?!!? they were billed as having the highest, screaming vocals you've ever heard and the fastest guitar-playing ever recorded. lots of virtuosity to go around. i heard the record...it SUCKED!!! bad songwriting, mediocre production, bad songs, but lots of high notes and mindless shredding. yep....there's a reason you never heard of them.

of course, there are lots of examples of those who have virtuosity AND musicality. bobo is absolutely the epitome of this. pat sheridan and michael lind would also fit into this category for me. in the rock world...joe satriani is this for me. in the worlds of nigel tufnel from spinal tap..."some guitar players have a great sound. some have incredible technique. he (satriani) has got both. i have.....*pause*....volume..."

Maybe it's a matter of semantics, but I don't think someone can be a virtuoso without musicality. To me virtuosity is not just incredible technique, but the ability to move people with the music created with that technique. There may be many great technicians, but not many virtuosos.

[Alex C]

Definition? A virtuoso displays no technical obstacles in a performance.

However, in my opinion, virtuosity and artistry are not the same thing. Artistry is when the performer transcends the instrument. In other words, while listening to a performance you no longer think "What a good tuba (insert any instrument) player, he is" but you become involved in the intent of the collaboration between the performer and the composer.

The instrument, or medium, chosen to portray the musical thoughts is secondary to the musical thought.

Certainly, virtuosity is made up of all of the facets of technique but if the audience ends up focusing on the technical aspects, then the musical goal hasn't been reached. The artistic goal will not have been acheived (unless the composer had less than artistic goals in mind).

Often, when I listen to a live orchestral performance I don't think "This is a great orchestra," I catch myself thinking "This is a great piece. Why didn't I like it before?"
---
An example is Ives 4th Symphony. I never liked it until I went to a performance at Orchestra Hall. Under an inspiring conductor, the CSO played this piece to the emotional edge. The angst, pathos and release that Ives wrote was tangible in the hall.

Why hadn't it hit me before? I can only guess that the recordings and performances I'd heard before were not as well done... not as "artistic."
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I have heard Harvey Phillips, Arnold Jacobs as well as Roger Bobo play artistically. I know there are others but I couldn't bear to let the string go without including these fabulously gifted men in the list. Bobo's growth, on recordings, as an artist is inspiring.

BTW, even being referred to a virtuoso is a very lofty compliment. Most of us will never approach that level of performance.

(Alex "not certified as the person responsible for assigning the title of VIRTUOSO or ARTIST" C (first time I've used the "" )

[Mark]

A virtuoso is someone who has complete mastery over the instrument and the music.

[jlbreyer]

I dunno --

I've heard Roger Bobo in person and on several recordings. I can certainly appreciate his mastery -- 'virtuosity' if you will, but whenever I pick up a tuba CD to enjoy, it's almost always one of Sam Pilafian's jazz sides. Roger's CDs I listen to from time to time, but Sam's Travelin' Light recordings keep bringing me back. Maybe it's just a matter of taste (for which there is no argument), but Sam is certainly musical in that genre and I haven't noticed any technical issue getting in his way.