Vaughn-Williams Audition Question

[Roger Lewis]

I own at least 3 different versions of the Vaughn-Williams Concerto. The first edition does not have a high Ab in it and is missing two bars from the final cadenza as well as having quite a number of different notes and phrase marks in it. The latest version is still missing the 2 bars from the final cadenza and has a high Ab in it, which is not in the original score.

My question is, when playing this piece as a required solo at an audition, would the changed phrasing, added or subtracted notes and failure to go for the high Ab, because it is not in the edition that you use, count against you in an audition no matter how musically you played what you see on the page?

Should audition committees specify a specific edition to be played at the audition? And why is it that all of these editions are still missing those two bars from the final cadenza? Is anyone working on a version taken directly from the score of the concerto?

Okay - let's hear your thoughts.

Thanks.
Roger

[UDELBR]

I can't imagine this would make much of any difference to a committee (and I've sat on a whole bunch of 'em). Opinions are formed in the first few minutes, based on quality of sound, intonation, accuracy, rhythm, etc. As long as you play whatever version you choose with authority (i.e. that character that assures it's not a mistake), which version you choose won't matter.

Minutiae doesn't win / lose auditions. The right player is almost always obvious.

[windshieldbug]

Ask well before the audition. This is a legitimate question, one you would ask if you were a Principal prepping for a solo in an orchestral series.

Then you don't need to worry if the audition committee is made up of tuba players/people looking at a score/part or viola players wondering how much time they have left on the meter.

Get the answer, prep the proper one, and then if you want to impress said committee, at the audition let them know YOU know enough to know there are multiple versions, and that you are prepared to play the 2 measures from the original score (if you are... ).

At least the committee will know that your student has a good teacher!

[Steve Marcus]

The response of asking the audition committee ahead of time has merit. Since the OP was asking specifically about performing the VW in an audition situation, the parameters may be different than when one is performing the piece under different conditions.

FWIW, according to the Naxos Dictionary of Music:

A cadenza, based often on an extended and embellished final cadence, at least in classical concertos, is a passage originally improvised by a performer in which virtuoso ability might be shown. Cadenzas are now more often written by the composer, although some modern performers continue to improvise.

By searching out the "authentic" ink and sticking strictly to it, is Gene Pokorny's May 2012 performance of the VW rendered as a one-time novelty? Can't a musician perform a cadenza ad libitum (unless the composer clearly limits the performer)?

Steve "who has heard movie theme snippets played as the cadenza of the John Williams Tuba Concerto more than once" Marcus

[UDELBR]

... but I suspect if something "works", it works.

My point exactly. +1