Ssshhhhh!
Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 3:47 pm
One thing I like about playing in orchestras vs. playing in bands, is the different concept of volume. Too many bands consistently play at knock-yourself-out loud volumes (or two volumes... loud and DER). As a result, intonation, phrasing, musicality, rhythm... all suffer. Loud can be cool and can be effective, but most of the time, it's just too loud.
By contrast, in orchestras, especially with a tuba, the strings will quickly remind you of the appropriateness of volume. There's only 1 tuba, and you *will* be heard, no matter what. Although a larger tuba would give more breadth to my sound, my 188 produces more than enough volume to be heard (as would a 186, or even a 184). Smaller tubas take more work to sound warm and not edgy, but volume is not a concern. You *will* be heard. It's fun to test limits once or twice to see what it takes to get "the hand," but once you know that line, you know what to do.
Yes, bands will naturally be able to be louder than orchestras based on instrumentation, but the best bands exercise the same level of control, finesse, and restraint. I used to have a director (a 40+ year clarinet player for a major orchestra... still active!) who would run us into the ground to play softer. It's hard, it takes work, but it sounds better.
No real point to this other than I had an orchestra concert yesterday, and I found this difference to be very noticeable.
By contrast, in orchestras, especially with a tuba, the strings will quickly remind you of the appropriateness of volume. There's only 1 tuba, and you *will* be heard, no matter what. Although a larger tuba would give more breadth to my sound, my 188 produces more than enough volume to be heard (as would a 186, or even a 184). Smaller tubas take more work to sound warm and not edgy, but volume is not a concern. You *will* be heard. It's fun to test limits once or twice to see what it takes to get "the hand," but once you know that line, you know what to do.
Yes, bands will naturally be able to be louder than orchestras based on instrumentation, but the best bands exercise the same level of control, finesse, and restraint. I used to have a director (a 40+ year clarinet player for a major orchestra... still active!) who would run us into the ground to play softer. It's hard, it takes work, but it sounds better.
No real point to this other than I had an orchestra concert yesterday, and I found this difference to be very noticeable.