| Author |
Subject |
drcello
Registered User
(2/2/01 3:59:52 pm)
Reply | Edit |
Orchestra cellists
What would you look for in a good
orchestral cellist? How is he/she different from a good soloist?
What single quality is most needed to make a real contribution to
the cello section and orchestra as a whole?
Marshall C. St.
John
drcello@vei.net
http://www.celloheaven.com
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Sorefingers
Registered User
(2/2/01 5:10:15 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Orchestra cellists
Single quality? Hmmm - that's tough,
at least five come to mind.
Single quality: the ability to
hear the melody or main theme of a piece in your head while you're
playing the counterpoint or harmony so you are BLENDING with the
entire orchestra, you are creating TOGETHER - bringing your PIECE to
complete the WHOLE.
I'm not a professional, a "young", in
terms of playing age, cellist - and this is a question that I am
very interested in as well. Can't wait to see what you BIG GUYS have
to say.
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zambocello
Registered User
(2/2/01 5:47:55 pm)
Reply |
Orchestra cellists
#1 quality: to fit in. Orchestra
cellists must play with character, but not at the expense of the
section sounding as one. It doesn't matter how great a musician or
soloist I am (as if) if I'm not contributing to the group
sound.
A soloist has the opportunity to take liberties and
*must* make a personal and individual recreation of the music.
Orchestral cellists *must not* make personal statements in their
playing, at least not to the extent that it diverges from the
section's collective approach. IMHO, in instances where cellists -
or other string instrument players - do not achieve tenure in an
orchestra it is usually because they are unable to "compromise"
their own personal way of playing to fit into the group.
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dennisw
Registered User
(2/2/01 6:42:12 pm)
Reply |
re:
ochestral cellists
A friend of mine auditioned for the
Cleveland Orch. when it was still under the baton of George Szell
(ancient history, I know). Szell was known as quite a taskmaster (to
put it politely), so I wanted to know what it was like. He told me
that Szell had him play the excerpts and then he made a bunch of
changes on the fly to the way he wanted to hear it played. Szell
like the fact that he was able to make the ajustments quickly and
play the new markings correctly on the first or second try. He got
the job.
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sarah
schenkman
Registered User
(2/3/01 8:09:35 am)
Reply |
No
rushing.
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David
Sanders 
Registered
User
(2/3/01 8:45:09 am)
Reply |
Re:
Orchestra cellists
There is no single quality that is
most needed in an orchestral cellist. Every really good orchestral
cellist needs many qualities in his/her playing, many of them the
same as a soloist. Good intonation, good rhythm, good phrasing, good
sound, good sense of legato, etc. Plus, they need to be able to play
with everyone else in the section, and the ability to adapt to
changes quickly.
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drcello
Registered User
(2/3/01 9:16:58 am)
Reply | Edit |
adaptable
This business of being able to adapt
to changes quickly is certainly true. Our principal cellist changes
bowings nearly every rehearsal, and you've just got to be able to
take it in and adjust quickly.
Marshall C. St.
John
drcello@vei.net
http://www.celloheaven.com
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Corrina
Connor
Moderator
(2/4/01 10:02:07 pm)
Reply |
not to
be a pain in the neck to the stand partner?
|
Steve
Drake
Registered
User
(2/5/01 11:47:16 am)
Reply |
Top ten
list
Ok, this is somewhat tongue in
cheek, but is strangely appropriate for my orchestra.
Top 10
qualities of a good orch cellist
10. Own their own
instrument
9. Play in tune, in tempo, w/o rushing, etc.
8.
Know all the words to all the songs.
7. Own electric bass.
6.
Be able to play with the orchestra despite what the conductor or the
bass section is doing.
5. Be able to see past the lady with the
big hair in front of you, or that really big guy, or be able to play
w/o seeing the conductor (better).
4. Be willing to sing when
idiot composers require it.
3. Know the conductors name, despite
reluctance to utter it.
2. Clean your suits or clothes at least
once a season.
1. Be able to fake anything.
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