Divided fiddles

[Pabmusic]

Usually there's a row of Trumpets, Trombones and Tubas (y'know: proper brass!) between the Percs and the Horns, isn't there? (Mind you, there's much to be said for a well-aimed drumstick! )

Don't you believe it. Nothing worse that a horn's bell pointing directly at the timps - causing unwanted sympathetic resonences whenever it plays! Well, actually their sound is worse, because they're nothing like as dreamily beautiful when their bells point your way. Still, you can always get you own back at the next sffz - and maybe cause a chipped tooth...

[Hornspieler]

Don't you believe it. Nothing worse that a horn's bell pointing directly at the timps - causing unwanted sympathetic resonences whenever it plays! Well, actually their sound is worse, because they're nothing like as dreamily beautiful when their bells point your way. Still, you can always get you own back at the next sffz - and maybe cause a chipped tooth...

On the concert stage, strings sit on platform level. There is a series of "risers (like long steps) behind and the woodwind would be on step 1.The horn section sit above that and are usually alongside the trumpets. The brass section usually sit on a "riser up from the horns. The point is, that trombones and trumpets point outwards towards the audienece, so their sound is directed towards the audience.
Tuba? Straight up into the air, so no problem.

That leaves the third riser to accomodate the percussion section and the tympani, and it is the percussion section (and the tympani) which are usually stretched across the back row.

So take a look at an extract from my little Xmas sticking filler "Bravo Maestro" ...

... For much of my professional career, I sat directly in front of the Percussion section and I am
now slightly deaf in my right ear as a result. The culprit was not, as might be supposed, the big
gong or the bass drum - it was the suspended cymbal which, when struck repeatedly
produces overtones that can actually cause acute physical pain (and damage) to ones ear
drums.

Inspired by the likes of James Blades, the standard of percussion playing is now very high, but
when I first joined the Bournemouth Orchestra, the two dear old codgers in that department
used to send so many sticks and implements raining down about our heads that I'm sure, if we
had not handed them back, they would have had nothing left to play with by the end of the
concert. I was once moved to ask the Orchestra Manager (jokingly of course) if we could
not perhaps have a safety net draped over the top of the horn section!

I think that answers your post partly, but if you would like to see more of "Bravo Maestro" PM me with your email address and I will be happy to send you a copy.

HS

Bah! Fiddlesticks!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Going off on a very small tangent, I remember going overboard with enthusiasm on acquiring my first stereo equipment. My mother was not so impressed and thought I was wasting my money. Her words were: "Why do you think the orchestral players are seated the way they are? It's because they can't all sit in the same place."

[Tony Halstead]

Going off on a very small tangent, I remember going overboard with enthusiasm on acquiring my first stereo equipment. My mother was not so impressed and thought I was wasting my money. Her words were: "Why do you think the orchestral players are seated the way they are? It's because they can't all sit in the same place."

Well said your mum!

[Pabmusic]

On the concert stage, strings sit on platform level. There is a series of "risers (like long steps) behind and the woodwind would be on step 1.The horn section sit above that and are usually alongside the trumpets. The brass section usually sit on a "riser up from the horns. The point is, that trombones and trumpets point outwards towards the audienece, so their sound is directed towards the audience.
Tuba? Straight up into the air, so no problem.

That leaves the third riser to accomodate the percussion section and the tympani, and it is the percussion section (and the tympani) which are usually stretched across the back row.

So take a look at an extract from my little Xmas sticking filler "Bravo Maestro" ...



I think that answers your post partly, but if you would like to see more of "Bravo Maestro" PM me with your email address and I will be happy to send you a copy.

HS

Bah! Fiddlesticks!

If only there were risers at every venue! I'll pm you, HS.