Orchestra in the Age of Covid

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 09/04/2020 at 14:37 • Filed to: orchestralopnik

8

29

The Austin Symphony began rehearsals today for its first concert in six months. That’s a long time. In the past six months, I’ve played one gig– a Fourth of July brass quintet concert at a retirement home. In fact, the conductor commented to the group that the last time he went six months without conducting was 43 years ago. It’s been an enormous challenge to stay in any kind of playing shape during this long hiatus.

The orchestra has gone to great lengths to make this happen. In addition to many consultations with health professionals and other orchestras , they have created a comprehensive back-to-work plan that will make the rehearsals and performances as safe as possible. Every member must pass a Covid test prior to the first rehearsal (paid for by the orchestra), submit health questionnaires, take temperature checks at the door, wash hands upon entering the hall , and maintain social distancing backstage. We have assigned tables for instruments and cases , 10-foot spacing on stage between musicians, plexiglass dividers between each chair, and even puppy piddle pads for the brass players to empty their water on. Ventilation has been increased, outside doors opened, and doors in the shell have been opened to encourage air flow. String players will have to wear masks onstage, but obviously, wind players can’t. The orchestra is also programming works that can use fewer players to we can spread out.

This is the set up for the Royal Fireworks by Handel, in an arrangement for just winds, brass, and percussion. It feels a bit like a marching band formation, with the flutes and horns on opposite 40 yard lines with the drum major standing on the 50. But it works. Instead of having an audience, the concert will be recorded live on Sunday afternoon and then rebroadcast online to those who have season tickets or who have !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Each piece will be recorded separately so there isn’t a huge gaggle of people at the hall at the same time.  It’s a huge experiment, but it’s imperative that we get the orchestra back on stage and in front of an audience in any way possible . It’s perhaps optimistic, but at this point, we plan to be back on stage for real in January. We’ll have to see how that goes. At least for now, it just feels great t o be back with colleagues and doing what we love to do.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 14:44

6

For some reason I had a mental image of a trumpet with a mask on the end like a mute and just kind of started snickering to myself.

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 09/04/2020 at 14:46

0

There have been experiments about something like that, and bags that go around woodwinds that you put your hands inside. But it’s just too impractical. I figure the orchestra has done the best they can do, and we just have to go to work like so many other people have done the last six months. 

For Sweden > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 14:49

0

Some music director somewhere is telling players  “just learn strings lol”

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 14:49

0

If it’s just a sound recording, I’m skeptical of  there being a point because great recordings of almost every non-modern orchestral piece are freely available. But, what if they released a video of the performance with different angles and closeups mixed in (not just a GoPro someone perched in the balcony)? I will frequently choose to watch live video performances over superior-sounding studio recordings because of the feel of occasion a live performance brings, even if delayed.

These are just my ramblings, of course. No matter what, I’m happy for you that you’re getting any chance to perform again.

Also, you look kinda mysterious in that mask. It’s a good look for you.

CalzoneGolem > For Sweden 09/04/2020 at 14:54

1

Percussion is good to go.

For Sweden > CalzoneGolem 09/04/2020 at 14:58

3

I’m talking about players, not people banging sticks against things

CalzoneGolem > For Sweden 09/04/2020 at 14:59

2

Shots fired.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 09/04/2020 at 15:03

2

No, it’s video. In fact, we’re wearing our concert dress to the rehearsal tomorrow night just in case there’s a glitch with the recording and we have to use some of it to patch the Sunday recording. I have no idea what sort of thing they are doing with the cameras. There was nobody roving the stage, but they could have been doing closeups or pans or whatever from the hall. I think they had cameras in the side boxes and down at the bottom of the stage, but I didn’t really look.

The ASO mask is a bit small, but with my overall dark theme (both in dress and mood) it does fit. 

ttyymmnn > CalzoneGolem 09/04/2020 at 15:04

3

A composer/arranger once said to me: “I’m always fascinated by the tympani player. He sits back there and he taps and he tunes, taps and tunes, taps and tunes. And then he hits it and it goes ‘BOOM.’”

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 15:18

0

Cool, that sounds interesting.  I hope the experiment works for the orchestra!

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 09/04/2020 at 15:20

1

So do I! Last I heard, about 900 households had bought tickets to the show. I’m going to buy one for our family to give a little back to the orchestra. 

Roadkilled > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 15:32

0

I guess Carmina Burana is out of the question. There would be too many people to get together. My wife used to sing in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus. I have no idea how that would work.

RallyWrench > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 09/04/2020 at 15:38

2

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > RallyWrench 09/04/2020 at 15:41

0

Unrelated to topic of conversation but in “things Fritsch will find amusing” , I bought two build manuals yesterday.

https://www.toylander.com/build-manual-tl2

https://www.toylander.com/build-manual-tl1

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 15:51

0

Well you do have a vested interest in sales volume!

ttyymmnn > Roadkilled 09/04/2020 at 16:06

0

Yea, Carmina Burana is right out. We’re supposed to be doing Beethoven 9 this year. We’ll have to see how that goes.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 09/04/2020 at 16:07

1

Indeed. I also have a vest to wear with my tuxedo.

jminer > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 16:27

1

Seems like a decent enough plan - hope it all goes well.

Good Luck!

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > For Sweden 09/04/2020 at 16:28

0

As a drummer, I can tell you I’m too busy stealing your girlfriend to be offended at such jokes.

Also, at least I’m not a bass player.

ttyymmnn > jminer 09/04/2020 at 16:36

0

Thanks!

Future next gen S2000 owner > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 17:30

2

Not gonna lie, I really enjoy going to see a well done symphony. The enve lo pment of sound from a full orch e stra is soothing.

I’ll be happy once I can do a night out downtown and see the Colorado Symphony play again.

MrDakka > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 17:56

0

Do all wind instruments have to be sanitized?

ttyymmnn > Future next gen S2000 owner 09/04/2020 at 18:21

0

I auditioned for the CO Symphony about 25 years ago. I booked a hotel, flew out to Denver, played like shit for three minutes, then got extremely drunk, and then  came home. It was the last orchestral audition I took for a very long time. 

ttyymmnn > MrDakka 09/04/2020 at 18:24

0

I don’t think anybody sanitizes their instruments per se. Different folks clean them to differing degrees. I usually wait to clean my horn until I notice that it isn’t blowing as freely as it used to. 

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 18:55

1

Starred for opportunistic pun. 

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 19:08

0

Playing an outdoor concert Sunday, tiny string section and painted grid on the grass for the audience. Rehearsal is tomorrow morning.

Also, have been tuning organs at universities lately:

Looks like a bunch of naughty chairs.

ttyymmnn > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 09/04/2020 at 19:31

0

Somebody over on another G/O site referred to Covid as an “obnoxious apocalypse.” I really like that. I walked backstage today for the first time in six months, looked at everybody spaced out and in their masks, and said to a friend, “Ain’t the a hell of a thing?” But it was such a joy to play again. 

For Sweden > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI 09/04/2020 at 19:33

1

The bass players have the biggest wood

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ttyymmnn 09/04/2020 at 21:32

1

A bit like the first time I was waiting to pick up a Pizza. There were about 4 others, everyone avoiding one another