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orch. bass strings placement inquiry


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Guest ariceffron
Posted

i saw a string ensem. do a tribute to britten and it was good but why are all the cellos and basses on the rt. side of the stage only. i like to listen to classical on lp, and everyone knows classical is far better in mono than stereo, so why in concert do they have all the basses on the rt. which gives the listener in the audience a sort of quasi-stereo effect. is it just trad. to do it that way, or what????

Posted (edited)

i like to listen to classical on lp, and everyone knows classical is far better in mono than stereo,

WTF are you talking about? Do you hit the mono switch when you listen to RCA shaded dogs and Mercury Living Presence and Decca stereo's??? LMAO

Basses are back right.

A properly recorded and played back classical stereo recording will place the instruments in their proper locations between and around your speakers with accurate layering(depth). Nothing quasi about it.

Edited by wolff
Guest ariceffron
Posted

EVERYONE KNOWS THE BEST WAY TO LISTEN TO CLASSICAL MUSIC IS ON THE WARM SOUND OF A MONOURAL 12 INCH 78 RPM RECORD, YES YOU HAVE TO CHANGE RECORDS 7 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF A SYMPHONY BUT THAT IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR THE WARM SOUND PROVIDED BY THAT LISTENING MEDIUM

Posted

I can't remember exactly how but in the past some UK conductors (and presumably elsewhere) set out the strings differently...possibly swapping one set of violins for the violas. I think Sir Adrian Boult might have been one.

Posted

String section placement has changed over the years. Some composers give directions in the score, but current style/habit generally rules the day. I prefer the divided string section of the (late)18/(early)1900s.

Most current conductors are just happy to have a gig and take "whatever".

Posted

Some composers give directions in the score...

This has me trying to remember what I saw with a LOT of basses, all lined up on risers at the BACK of the orchestra... I think Mahler "Lied von der Erde" and Stravinsky "Nightingale" were both on the program...

Guest ariceffron
Posted

clasiscal myusic is either free or expensive. its free at universities and if its not its ez to sneak in. but otherwise you have to shell out for it

Posted

clasiscal myusic is either free or expensive. its free at universities and if its not its ez to sneak in. but otherwise you have to shell out for it

Good point! In my early years living in New York, playing in bands at places like CBGB and Mud Club, that music was either cheap or I'd be on a guest list. Jazz -- I waitressed at the Tin Palace and heard a lot of great things. Classical -- hang out at the front door of the Lincoln Center halls and get offered ticket stubs by corporate poseurs in evening dress splitting at the very first intermission -- especially for any music written after 1890! Saw a great series of the Bartok String Quartets that way, and most of the operas "Lulu", "Wozzeck" and "Mahagonny"!

Posted

Yes. Always stage left.

Umm ..not always to stage left:

some conductors prefer to place the basses across the center rear ( behind the french horns ) ,split the violins A and B to the Land R, and place the cell and violas stage l and right ( besides the woodwind positions )

and well recorded binaural stereo in a good hall with a good ensemble and conductor

will cut mono every time for me IMO

:g

Posted

All I can go by is what I've seen in NYC (Julliard Theatre & Miller Theatre @ Columbia U.). I'm no authority!

It would make more sense to center them in the back, but I've never seen that.

Guest ariceffron
Posted

maren::: did u ever meet debbie harry

Woozeeck is garbage music. i happen to like other music in that style and i am telling you wozek is crap. and i like berg. but wozzeck sucks. what sucks most about it is if u saw it in the 80s. it sucked even worse in the 80s. i am telling you.

.....-------now if u wanna hear good music like that check out what john cage recorded w/ this chick on vocals names arline carmen. not only could she sing all out (and this is like the 40s now) but she is really pretty, if you happen to find a photo.

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