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The youth symphony that I'm in is going to the Illinois state capitol to play for Lincoln's Bicentennial. We are playing in the rotunda of the state capitol building. I am trying to find out what I want to "sound like." I am kind of ignorant when it comes to playing in such a large hall, especially one with such overhead real estate. FWIW the Illinois Capitol Building is larger then the National Capitol building in Washington D.C. (the dome is quite a bit taller at least). I am not really sure if I want to go for projection, strong fundamental, or lots of overtones. I am sure this is going to be a great experience. I am asking you now what you would do. Because I am not sure .
We are playing a 3 piece program consisting of La Forza del Destino by Verdi, American Civil War Fantasy, and Copeland's Lincoln Portrait.
and if anybody needs to know here is my gear list, if you'd like to pick out what mouthpiece YOU'D play on
Miraphone 188:
PT-88
PT-88+
PT-36
Miraphone TU-23/Mirafone C4
Helleberg 7B
Kellyberg
Bored out Yamaha 67C4 to 11/32"
Bored out Yamaha 67C4 to 3/4"
Marcinkewitz H1
Concert is on Thursday in Springfield IL if anyone wants to see it
thank you for any help you can provide.

Aim for the center, let er rip!

The sound may not come back to you in ways you expect, making you believe that you're not getting out. That will lead you to playing too loudly. My experience playing in the Texas Capitol rotunda is that we needed to control ourselves carefully to avoid blasting people. The space is extremely live with a very long decay, and that requires control and close attention to the conductor.

Rick "who played in the Texas Capitol with a community symphony about 20 years ago, and still remembers" Denney

The hall will not help you in matters of clarity. Verdi is about clarity. Take the mouthpiece letting you draw the musical lines with an optimum of clarity and contour.

Klaus

In 1961, my 21st Army Band from Fort Lewis was asked to play for the reception of some local luminaries in the state capital building at Olympia WA. It was not a pleasant experience-----too much reverberation, even though we purposely played relatively quietly.

Keep your eyes glued to the conductor. Listening to other sections, like you would normally, can be deceptive. Their sound will coming at you from multiple directions and with multiple delays. Their reflected sound will likely be stronger than their direct sound. The advice about not over blowing is also very well taken. I played for years in a cathedral that was, essentially, a giant silo lined with glazed brick. As long as everyone followed the stick we were fine.

I have played there before. It was a few years back in a jazz group. it's basically what you would expect for a stone, iron and glass rotunda. Very, very, very boomy and loud. You will sound like gods! Just make sure your articulations are clear and that you watch the conductor well, or else it will just turn into a loud mushy mess. Thats some nice repertoire you guys have. American Civil war fantasy is pretty cool! Are you bringing a cannon into the Capitol? Also, be careful when going through security. They wanted to put my tuba through the x-ray machine last time!!!

Thanks for the tips guys, I think I'm just going to bring my 4-5 favorite mouthpieces and play it by ear. I have finally realized that the whole viola section is basically a metronome going back and forth in front of me. They play alot of tempo keeping parts so it's easy to watch 'em saw away. I doubt we will have a canon, but I wish we did . I'll be sure to tell them to screw off if they want to put my horn through an X-ray.

tubatom91 wrote:the whole viola section ... saw away ...

Oh... If only...