TubeNet

Did anyone catch the NY Philharmonic season opening concert last night? I watched the last mvt of the Tchaikovsky last night between bathroom breaks and was transfixed to the set. Alan Baer was really blowing his face off! (You could see the enthusiasm on the many closeups.) Every note was crisp and clear, and if I did not know the part I could have sat down with a piece of manuscript paper and dictated it accurately note for note. Maybe it is just my TV's smallish speakers, but does he sound noticeably brighter on his 6450/2 than Warren played? (PLEASE do not take this as a negative - the "darker is better" phenomenon has long since run its course after being taken to extremes)
P.S. Bass trombonist James Markey still looks young - should be good incentive for all the whining college age kiddies here who don't think they can do anything. (He won Pittsburgh after his sophomore year and NY (as associate principal) two years later before recently taking over bassbone reigns from the awe-inspiring Don Harwood.)

Marty,

I, too, watched the concert and was delighted that it was on TV and that we had so much time (comparatively) on the tubist. My reaction to what I saw though, was not enjoyment but rather a good deal of strain. I considered his color and facial appearance to be rather a sign of incredible effort. The sound, on the other hand was easy and full and exactly right (I have good speakers hooked up). There was no sign of edge, at all. I really enjoyed Mr. Baer's performance.

I watched the performance and listened with a good amp and speakers. The entire brass section gave a great performance, for which they were recognized by name. There was definite brilliance to the low sounds that I don't know quite how to describe, but would associate with bell vibrations from really punching the notes and getting every last drop of sound without losing control.

bill wrote:I, too, watched the concert and was delighted that it was on TV and that we had so much time (comparatively) on the tubist. My reaction to what I saw though, was not enjoyment but rather a good deal of strain.

Story time:

Back in the mid-80's, the Chicago Symphony came to Austin for a performance. The program was Mahler's 5th. The concert was delayed two hours by a disastrous crash involving the truck carrying many of the instruments, and the orchestra members were clearly under a lot of stress.

When Bud Herseth played those opening trumpet notes, he turned bright red. The fellow who attended the concert with me (an oboe player) commented that he looked unhealthy.

Yeah, right. Herseth played that way with near perfection for what, 48 years?

I no longer worry about how the players look, heh, heh.

Rick "who can still hear that sound in his head" Denney

I watched it too. I noticed other things than the tuba playing (although I certainly did notice that, too):

I heard the characteristic mild vibrato in the first horn, which I like. He didn't look stressed.

The 1st bassoonist appeared to be achieving vibrato by pushing the reed in and out of her mouth; I have trouble believing that was what was going on, but I saw what I saw. Don't know how to interpret it. She must have calluses. (See comment below about oboist not being held back.)

The 1st oboe had almost no reed showing; I saw a thin slice of reed and then threads. *Everything* I have been told and read says to play on the very tip of the reed, with no more than 1/8th inch inside the mouth. Clearly how the oboe was doing it has not held him back (heh, heh, as Rick would say) but, once again, I saw what I saw. I even noted, when he wasn't playing, that he did have a normal-length looking reed. I'm going to go over to the oboe forum and ask them about it. Maybe he's German school or something like that.

MA