Posted by Richard on September 02, 2000 at 09:54:33:
In Reply to: Re: Nutcracker posted by Tony Clements on September 01, 2000 at 01:41:55:
Nobody has mentioned the counting. Assuming we're talking the complete work, as opposed to the Suite, which for tuba is fairly light and uneventful, Nutcracker is a counting minefield. It may be that those who have played it a few gazillion times know it better than they know themselves, but for the Nutcracker newbie, beware and be prepared. Study the part with a recording. A lot of it "counts" differently than it sounds. This is especially true of key passages in Act I.
As for sound, being aware of your inherent acoustic advantage allows you to play for lightness and clarity, which should keep you from overwhelming the orchestra or sticking out. The trick is that you're usually placed in the midst of loud instruments, other brass, and percussion. This is what often drives us to play too loud in pits.