Piano Peeps- This harpsichord was brought in two days before the recital and I pretty much CAMPED OUT there tuning this thing (and had tuned it -no joke- about 40 times prior) and with the help of a harpsichord guru, we worked on the voicing together and made some adjustments. This is a Hubbard kit harpsichord made in 1979 with uhhhhh.... "personal problems" and man did I know it. I *was* on the nervous side during the whole concert, but I must admit it was a good boy. The first half was most important, for it was solo voice (Jacquelin Horner-one of the Anonymous 4) accompanied only by harpsichord. 2nd half was a Bach contata. And there SURE AS HECK was no spaghetti-strapped slinky dress-wearing Stranges on stage. (Quit laughing, those that already knew that!!) But I did look GOOD. No accu-tuner. Just me, my gooseneck lever and a big smirk on my face. :B Strangey > Hi Michelle, > Yes, the intermission harpsichord touchup is a real challenge. Talk > about getting your ear right inside to try to hear something over the > din! (playing each note about three times a second helps a bit). And > if the stage lights have actually done a big number on pitch - well, > I confess I just leave it wherever it is, pull in the brass bass > strings that have gone the farthest and hit the worst of the unisons. > Worst case scenario is where the instrument got moved to the hall > just prior to the concert, and is doing its best to adjust to new > ambient conditions. And they want it to be in tune with the portative > organ that has gone in the opposite direction. > You do your best, grin, and call it good enough. (I do try to make > sure whenever possible that the instrument acclimates at least 24 > hours in the hall before concert. But that can't always happen). > Regards, > Fred Sturm > University of New Mexico > fssturm at unm.edu > > > > On May 8, 2006, at 2:29 PM, Michelle Stranges wrote: > >> Hey Alan and everyone else who chimed in.. >> >> Thanx very much for all of your posts. >> I think this is very interesting reading and intermission touch-ups >> aren't something I see much of anymore. >> (And I think I used to????) >> >> The college I work at rarely has an occasion where I'd need to go >> up during an intermission- but I'll be honest here... >> >> The reason I sorta posted this subject was because of my recent >> experience touching up a harpsichord during an all- baroque recital >> in our concert series. >> >> Thank heavens I had tuned the harpsichord PLENTY up to and right >> before the concert so that the tuning was quite solid and held well >> throught the concert.. >> >> But CLEARLY, when it was touch-up time at intermission it was >> almost comical how more time was spent showing the art chairperson >> what was going on, what the instrument was, and how I *would* try >> to cook asparagus like she had explained to me earlier that day at >> lunch. >> (And they set up for the cantata then too...) >> >> and yeah... >> >> when I was done, three goons I knew in the audience gave me a darn >> good standing ovation. >> >> Heck yeah I bowed. >> >> :B >> her >> >> >> >> On May 8, 2006, at 3:59 PM, Alan McCoy wrote: >> >>> Hi Michelle, >>> >>> Ditto lots of these comments. Earplugs do help you focus on the >>> task at hand >>> as well as protect your ears. I use Westone plugs with 9 dB filters. >>> >>> But it is an impossible situation. It is definitely possible to >>> make an >>> improvement, but it is equally possible to make things a bit worse >>> than they >>> were before you walked on the stage (to steal the spotlight, geez >>> Dennis, >>> you must be kidding!!). >>> >>> I only go out if the artist's contract requires it or if I am >>> otherwise >>> asked to. Our orchestra usually schedules the concerto in one half >>> or the >>> other, but not both. I go to lots of performances, by choice, and >>> I have >>> adopted the "what will be, will be" approach. These days I'm less >>> concerned >>> with unisons going out, than the voice. I have the luxury of >>> tuning and >>> voicing these instruments (at school and for the orchestra) often >>> so unisons >>> are normally very solid but the voice does change amazingly fast. >>> Also >>> listen for zings to attend to next time. >>> >>> Alan >>> >>> >>> -- Alan McCoy, RPT >>> Eastern Washington University >>> amccoy at mail.ewu.edu >>> 509-359-4627 >>> >>> >>>> From: Michelle Stranges <stranges at oswego.edu> >>>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" >>>> <caut at ptg.org> >>>> Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 14:24:59 -0400 >>>> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" >>>> <caut at ptg.org> >>>> Subject: [CAUT] Touch ups.. (and I ain't talking about makeup) >>>> >>>> I would like to read some chit-chat on how everyone handles >>>> intermission tuning touchups if you have such an occasion to do so. >>>> How many of you do them? >>>> Only at solo piano recitals? >>>> (Does the stage manager bring a curtain across for privacy/quiet.) >>>> >>>> >>>> Welp? >>>> >>>> :B >>>> A concerned citizen >>>> >>> >> >
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