Will the Sec
Active Member
And I'm further exploring the issue of "Should Composers let go".
Ordinarily, I say yes, they should. Once the piece has been sold, (or in my case given to a band) then the conductor gets on with it.
For example, since I gave the Fulham Bricklayers' March to Fulham Brass, and the MD decided it would be our signature tune, I've sat quietly at the back and let him get on with it. Very hard, and although the MD was clear he could interpret it anywhichway he liked, some players kept asking me what I wanted. I referred them to the MD.
So where does the issue become difficult? When the composer is invited to act as quest MD for his piece.
I'm in Houston at the invitation of the Houston Brass Band, to conduct the premiere of my piece Boadicea. Their regular MD, ran through the piece whilst I listened, and then handed the piece over to me. As he'd been rehearsing the piece for 5 months, and I've got three rehearsals, I think it is only fair on the players to try and stick with his interpretation, and act as a coach for the band for certain segments. In reality, the interpretation is much as I would have had it by choice, and as I'm getting a recording of the piece, I win in all aspects, so am happy to accommodate the players.
The MS has doubled some parts, where he felt the players concerned were too exposed; in one instance, I've changed this back as the segment is clearly a (quiet) quintet but I've left the others and have no qualms about it.
It's an experience conducting a world premiere of your own piece - I can recommend it too anybody (even notwithstanding 11+ hours at Chicago O'Hare Airport!)
Will the Houston Based Jet Lagged Sec
Ordinarily, I say yes, they should. Once the piece has been sold, (or in my case given to a band) then the conductor gets on with it.
For example, since I gave the Fulham Bricklayers' March to Fulham Brass, and the MD decided it would be our signature tune, I've sat quietly at the back and let him get on with it. Very hard, and although the MD was clear he could interpret it anywhichway he liked, some players kept asking me what I wanted. I referred them to the MD.
So where does the issue become difficult? When the composer is invited to act as quest MD for his piece.
I'm in Houston at the invitation of the Houston Brass Band, to conduct the premiere of my piece Boadicea. Their regular MD, ran through the piece whilst I listened, and then handed the piece over to me. As he'd been rehearsing the piece for 5 months, and I've got three rehearsals, I think it is only fair on the players to try and stick with his interpretation, and act as a coach for the band for certain segments. In reality, the interpretation is much as I would have had it by choice, and as I'm getting a recording of the piece, I win in all aspects, so am happy to accommodate the players.
The MS has doubled some parts, where he felt the players concerned were too exposed; in one instance, I've changed this back as the segment is clearly a (quiet) quintet but I've left the others and have no qualms about it.
It's an experience conducting a world premiere of your own piece - I can recommend it too anybody (even notwithstanding 11+ hours at Chicago O'Hare Airport!)
Will the Houston Based Jet Lagged Sec
