Vocalist.org archive


From:  John Link <johnlink@c...>
John Link <johnlink@c...>
Date:  Thu May 10, 2001  2:56 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] reading skills or rather a lack thereof.........


Elizabeth Finkler wrote:

>Here's a rant of my own: Singing in an ensemble (or for that matter,
>playing in an orchestra) is a far more complicated matter than a solo
>performance by a pop or folk singer. One must listen to one's fellow
>musicians AND maintain a consensus on tempo and volume etc.
>
>A good classical musician should not be "buried in a book," but giving full
>attention to the conductor, his/her fellow musicians and the performance.
>The music is there as a reference and anchor in time. You may have noticed
>also that a soloist (voice or instrument) will usually perform from memory,
>unless it is a very new or complicated piece.

Perhaps contrary to what you might expect from my previous rant, I
agree completely (I think I said I was probably overstating my case),
except that I wouldn't refer to the paper with marks on it as music.
I would add that one of the most annoying experiences I ever had as a
band leader was at a showcase when my regular tenor saxophonist told
me that he had memorized the two short pieces we were playing and
therefore wouldn't use his sheet music. I asked "Are you sure?" and
he said "yes". He then proceeded to destroy my complicated
composition becasue he had not sufficiently memorized his part and
had no crutch to help him out. Since then, when leading groups, I let
them know that I much prefer that we perform off book, but if anybody
has any doubt whatsoever about a piece, please speak up and we will
all hold the books. I let them know that each of them is personally
responsible for the performance and not to be shy about speaking up,
because I'm not interested in having any unnecessary disasters that
could so easily be avoided.

I hope this puts my views on this matter into perspective.

>One last note: If the sight of a musician working with sheet music upsets
>you so, you may want to avoid catching Rosemary Clooney in performance. I
>heard her last fall with the San Jose Symphony, and she was using some short
>of "crib sheet" in her set. But she certainly didn't have her nose in the
>paper, and she still has the voice and soul to put that music over!

I wonder what was on the crib sheet. Lyrics? Notes about a new
arrangement? Order of tunes?

John Link

http://www.mp3.com/JohnLinkFeldenkrais
http://www.mp3.com/JohnLinkVocalQuintet



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