Ensemble balance and horn "adequacy"


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Posted by Dale on October 12, 2001 at 12:49:25:

I have thought about some recent questions, "if-this-horn-big-enough"-type questions.
Some things I have been taught about ensemble balance are as follows:

1) If there are other tubas in your section, and you hear yourself playing, you are too loud.

2) If your section (or even the whole band) cannot play a legitimate pianissimo dynamic, you will NEVER think you are "loud enough"

3) If you yourself cannot play a legitimate pianissimo dynamic, you CANNOT know what "too loud" is

Actually, these rules pertain interchange-ably for a section and for the entire ensemble. Blend and balance for the entire ensemble, though, for a tubist, has to start with the tuba section focussing on their own best possible balance and dynamic contrast. If, as a section you are EVER told by your conductor that your pianissimo isn't loud enough, politely point out that the music is marked pianissimo. A clear-thinking conductor MIGHT (and only "might") then request the ensemble as a whole to attend to dynamics, if this happens you have made a HUGE contribution to your entire group!

f.w.i.w.

dp


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