Beethoven 7th Symphony

[rainyann]

My son's youth orchestra is playing Beethoven's 7th. He says its hard and is getting frustrated. Has anyone else here had the same feelings? Do you think it is too much for a youth ochestra? They are quite good and I know they can do it justice but the frustration level is a bit high. They do have until March to prepare it.

[MicaelaB]

It all depends on the youth orchestra. I played the 7th at camp this year and it wasn't a strain at all, but that was an orchestra composed almost entirely of juniors and seniors headed towards conservatories. This piece requires very good string sections and horns; most of the other parts aren't terribly difficult.

It also depends on the conductor's approach to the music. If he/she's making them play it faster then they can comfortably handle, I can understand the frustration. And they don't have to play the last movement at a breakneck pace to get a feel for the piece. If it's so much of a monster for the orchestra that the musicians just hate it by March, I doubt that it's appropriate.

Micaela

Senior and accepted to college!

[rainyann]

Actually they were just given the music the other day and sight read it. I am sure it will get better. They are all NYSSMA level 6 (and better) musicians.

Give us the college news!!!!

[linuxviolin]

In my last orchestra (which I quit because I wanted my Monday nights back, they raised the rates yet again, and the drive was unfair to my mother), we did Eroica in four rehearsals and I didn't hear any complaints. If you've got three months, I don't see any problem.

[MicaelaB]

I'm going to Swarthmore. I got my letter today. It's my first choice and I even got a small scholarship.

Micaela

[rainyann]

Wonderful news!!! Did you decide to major in music? Music history?

[MicaelaB]

Thanks! I think I'm going to major in music and minor in history. I could end up switching the major and minor or maybe doing a double major. I'm also interested in literature and philosophy and I don't have to declare until the end of my sophomore year so ya never know...

Micaela

[HVS]

Congratulations Micaela, that's wonderful news. =)

Regarding the Beethoven 7th...our symphony orchestra played it earlier this year. Granted we're all college students...but that regardless, it does seem hard initially, but once you get used to it, it's not that bad. It's a fun symphony. Stamina is needed though...some of those extended fast passages get slightly tiring after playing it for a while. =)

[crazy jane]

The viola part in the first movement is particularly difficult & is in a nasty key. If the conductor attempts Beethoven's metronome markings, as ours did , it is brutal (and potentially silly).

However, the violas are rewarded with the second movement!

Youth orchestras play this piece fairly often. It will yield.

J.

[liana]

i think if you're looking for a good performance of beethoven symphonies, unless you have an absolutely fantastic conductor, youth orchestras can really butcher them... take my school orchestra for example. i'll never see beethoven 6 the same ever again.

at the same time, however, a lot of conductors will get youth orchestras to play beethoven because they're very important for excerpts and auditions and such. even if it's over a kid's head right now, it's good experience for them to play it -- solidifies things that will be needed later on.