Posted by Mary Ann on April 24, 2003 at 10:13:35:
In Reply to: Professional Quintet posted by Howard on April 23, 2003 at 13:04:34:
I have done very high level ensemble playing in strings, and I've attempted a brass quintet that did not want to do the work needed.
Here are some basics, beyond getting everybody to get along (which is one of the harder things)
1. Attacks and endings must be _absolutely_ together. It sounds simple, but it is very difficult. It may take a year for the group to coalese on this level. Dynamics and rhythm must also be completely together.
2. Intonation must be worked out on intervals and chords first. You have to decide who is the pitch everyone else has to be relative to; it changes according to where you are in the piece, but no one can assume they are the correct one; everybody has to meld equally. If you have a tuba with a very good ear, you can practice building chords using the tuba as the "correct" pitch....bottom note first, next note up perfectly in tune, add the next one up perfectly in tune, etc. This has to become automatic, and unless everyone is already very skilled at intonation, it will take work.
3. Musicianship. This just has to be a blend of preferences, because everyone's preference will be different. Gotta have give and take.
4. Music. Don't perform music you can't do flawlessly under pressure. You may have to play simpler stuff than you would like for quite a while. But a near-perfect performance of simpler tunes will get you a much better reputation than a botched performance of harder tunes. Never forget audience appeal of what you're playing....they are the ones who will make you successful. Try to find a niche that no one else is in, and make it yours.
MA