Interesting and fun video

[Dave2002]

This video from David Bruce is both entertaining and informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFfFfGfgLj8

Beethoven 9 as you've maybe not heard it before [ be thankful ...]!

[smittims]

Thanks. One doesn't often see this sort of thing. I have to disagree with his opening claim ,that writing for an instrument one doesn't play is 'one of the hardest things a composer has to do'. In my experience it's one of the most basic things one learns to begin with: there are many far more difficult things about composing than that!

Having said that, I think the most difficult instrument for a non-player to write for is the guitar (I mean classical guitar, not just tune and chords). . I really think that unless you play the guitar you'll have great difficulty writing truly idiomatic music for the instrument.

The film reminds me of the time I bought a viola to find out certain ideas of writing for strings. In short , it illustrates the old adage that an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.

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[Dave2002]

The film reminds me of the time I bought a viola to find out certain ideas of writing for strings. In short , it illustrates the old adage that an ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory.

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Yes - but I don't think you decided to take up the viola and try to play to the level of Tertis or Primrose.

Trying instruments out in the way David Bruce does makes sense in exposing some problems, and possibly also some new ways to treat instruments, but DB does also acknowledge that asking for advice from experienced players makes a lot of sense.

On a slightly different note, on another thread you mentioned Russ Conway - but I think you omitted a mention of Winifred Atwel.

[smittims]

Yes, I omitted to mention Winifred on that occasion because I felt the other two made the point. And unlike them she did occasionally play classical 'straight': she recorded the Grieg Concerto for Decca, and it had quite a run on 'Ace of Clubs'.

Once again, thanks for posting this interesting film.

[Dave2002]

Yes, I omitted to mention Winifred on that occasion because I felt the other two made the point. And unlike them she did occasionally play classical 'straight': she recorded the Grieg Concerto for Decca, and it had quite a run on 'Ace of Clubs'.

Once again, thanks for posting this interesting film.

Thanks for this update - very interesting about the Grieg pc.

https://www.pristineclassical.com/products/pasc027

https://youtu.be/N1mYuGExB5c?si=QpL0MXGLxCR0xSw8

[smittims]

Eight euros, eh? And still on its own on a disc. On Ace of Clubs it was 21shillings.