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Date: | Sat, 13 Mar 1999 09:28:14 -0800 |
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Bill Boletta, in commenting upon a NYCO performance writes:
>... I was astonished to see two of the three trumpet players and two
>of the three trombonists as well reading books, newspapers and magazines
>during their rests. Not just once or twice, but during every act. ...
>I have never seen such behavior anywhere. Is this considered acceptable
>behavior among pit musicians these days?
Decidedly not!! It's astonishing to me that one trombonist and one
trumpet player wasn't reading. When I had occasion to sub at NYCO in
the early 70s, every brass player read. In the far more spacious pit of
the Met, players would usually slip out of the pit to the warm up room.
>... but doesn't such behavior bespeak a kind of cynicism about the music
>(or the job!).
Not really. Pit playing takes a certain mind set which includes paying
enough attention so as to not miss entrances but attention to everything
going on, after repeated performances, will lead to boredom and more likely
inattention and missed entrances. Nine months of the national company of
Cabaret, where after the first two rehearsals all technical difficulties
were mastered, proved to be more a test of fighting boredom than making
music.
Of course, the ideal pit job is at Bayreuth where, due to the almost
covered pit and absence of air conditioning, the musicians, at least
in the brass section, will often be stripped down to their skivvies.
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