Posted by I don't agree... on April 19, 2003 at 19:46:01:
In Reply to: Re: when to lift/lower instrument posted by Sean Chisham on April 17, 2003 at 19:10:31:
Going to a concert is a visual experience as well as an aural one. I have to say it's distracting to attend a Chicago Symphony concert and watch Jay Friedman whip his horn off his face and put it down as fast as possible, no matter what the music. Also watching Dale Clevenger (usually during a colleague's slow solo) spin his horn around in front of his face, and shake it up (above his head) and down to get out every last drop drives me nuts, too. Instrument movements can be subtle, and achieve the same results. As far as lowering a tuba up and down, let the music dictate your movement. If you just finished a beautiful chorale and have an extended rest, lower it slowly. After a loud, fast passage, a fast horn movement won't be out of place. Also it can look nice if you and the trombones raise and lower instruments more or less together in tutti passages.