Posted by olituba on January 22, 2003 at 16:08:23:
In Reply to: van der Meij "Lord of the Rings" posted by Tim on January 22, 2003 at 15:30:10:
Yes, Played it numerous times, never played anything before or since in wind-orchestra or symphony-orchestra that came close when it comes to sheer playing fun .
Gandalf.. well... uuuhm, let me think. must be that chorale section right after the shadowfax thing. we were only 2 tubas to a 60 people band and still made it work, so, try this: never force on the air but LET it flow, make it a single huge sigh. Play the whole passage in one breath (itīs posible, even if you havenīt got godīs lungs) then find the spots wherebreathing is easiest to hide and start breathing there - youīll dicover numerous possibilities there. then to increase airf flow ake it down gradually (whole step, third, fourth fifth...all the way to the octave. Still remember to play it as a huge sigh, not like a weight-lifter would blow (or rather squeeze the air out). then come back to where itīs written still useing the same amount of air as dow the octave. Result will be biger, more open soundreally broad quality in sound AND volume AND youīll likely be surprised about the results for your air-control..
And allways have fun playing that piece. I love orchestra-music, operas... you name it, but no schostakovitch, Bruckner, Brahms, Berlioz etc is nearly as much fun as Johan de Meijīs Lord of the rings!
olituba