browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Tubas, euphoniums, mouthpieces, and anything music-related.
Forum rules
This section is for posts that are directly related to performance, performers, or equipment. Social issues are allowed, as long as they are directly related to those categories. If you see a post that you cannot respond to with respect and courtesy, we ask that you do not respond at all.
Post Reply
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19324
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3852 times
Been thanked: 4102 times

browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Post by bloke »

It occurred to me that there is a tendency - in small brass ensembles, when playing fast pieces or fast movements - to hurry through the last measure.

This is not necessary, is anticlimactic, and just a bit disturbing.

I’ve also noticed that the last note in fast movements or pieces tends to get “whacked“ - as if a stinger at the end of some American march. I’m thinking that this isn’t always necessary, and that sometimes the last two or three notes in a fast movement can diminish a bit, as sounds best with - just as an example – Tchaikovsky‘s “Waltz of the Flowers“ (as flowers typically aren’t imagined as “whacking“ anything).
European musicians refer to that as a “feminine“ ending.

I'm not lecturing anyone... :teeth:

Rather, I'm going to realize these as brass chamber ensembles’ tendencies, and - maybe - try to monitor these tendency in performances with which I'm involved.
Last edited by bloke on Mon May 03, 2021 5:11 am, edited 1 time in total.


Estubist
Posts: 68
Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 12:09 am
Location: Hessen, Deutschland (Hessia, Germany)
Has thanked: 127 times
Been thanked: 18 times

Re: browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Post by Estubist »

I agree. But "feminine"? :huh:
These users thanked the author Estubist for the post:
bloke (Sun May 02, 2021 12:10 pm)
Schenkelaars rotary Eb, Cerveny BBb, Thomann 4+1 comp. Eb
User avatar
bloke
Mid South Music
Posts: 19324
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:55 am
Location: western Tennessee - near Memphis
Has thanked: 3852 times
Been thanked: 4102 times

Re: browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Post by bloke »

Estubist wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 11:42 am I agree. But "feminine"? :huh:
' not my term.
Though you're in Europe, and I'm not...I've ONLY heard that term used by European-trained musicians (conductors/music directors).

It's certainly not "derogatory"; it implies "more subtle"..."unlike a bull in a china shop"...etc. :thumbsup:
These users thanked the author bloke for the post:
Estubist (Sun May 02, 2021 12:14 pm)
User avatar
Three Valves
Posts: 4606
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2020 4:07 pm
Location: The Land of Pleasant Living
Has thanked: 814 times
Been thanked: 501 times

Re: browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Post by Three Valves »

I can’t wait for all of Europe to rid itself of gendered grammar. :laugh:
Last edited by Three Valves on Mon May 03, 2021 7:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Thought Criminal
Mack Brass Artiste
TU422L with TU25
1964 Conn 36k with CB Arnold Jacobs
Accent (By B&S) 952R with Bach12
The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column
P@rick
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2020 5:20 pm
Location: The Netherlands
Has thanked: 23 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: browsing past a few amateur/student brass quintets on youtube...

Post by P@rick »

bloke wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 12:12 pm
Estubist wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 11:42 am I agree. But "feminine"? :huh:
' not my term.
Though you're in Europe, and I'm not...I've ONLY heard that term used by European-trained musicians (conductors/music directors).

It's certainly not "derogatory"; it implies "more subtle"..."unlike a bull in a china shop"...etc. :thumbsup:
I agree also...but feminine...those Europeans ;-)
It could be a literal translation of a word which has in fact another meaning. For example "damenhaft" (German) is literally "ladylike" or "feminine", but the actual meaning of "damenhaft" is civilized. "Civilized ending" makes sense in this case.

This is however not the topic of this post. The explanation about the "tendency" with fast movements is explained very well and recognizable...I will try to do my best to improve myself :laugh: :tuba:
These users thanked the author P@rick for the post:
Estubist (Mon May 03, 2021 9:13 am)
Post Reply