In classical music it used to be much more normal to improvise. In this series we tell the stories of our colleagues from the past. This time a story from Dresden, Germany, where Berlioz got very upset by an oboist improvising in his Symphony Fantastique.
Berlioz noted in Dresden:
the first oboe has a fine tone, but an old-fashioned style, and an irritating mania for inserting trills and grace-notes, which outraged my deepest convictions. He indulged in some particularly disgusting embellishments at the beginning of the ‘Scène aux champs’. I expressed myself on the subject in vigorous terms at the second rehearsal. The sly dog refrained at the two subsequent rehearsals, but it was a feint. At the concert, knowing that I would not stop the orchestra and arraign him personally in the presence of the court, he treacherously resumed his little tricks, eyeing me with a quizzical air the while. I nearly collapsed with indignation.
Memoirs, translated by D. Cairns. London (1970)
Ten years later Berlioz still remembered and, when he was about to visit Dresden again, asked if that wretched oboist was still there...
Recording:
Concertgebouw Orchestra - • Concertgebouworkest - ...
Berlioz Memoir:
www.gutenberg....
Other improvisation stories:
• Celebrating improviser...
///////
ONLINE BAROQUE ORNAMENTATION COURSE - learn to improvise baroque ornaments inspired by Quantz's fascinating pedagogy:
www.thescrolle...
IMPROVISE A BAROQUE SOLO - Preludes according to Hotteterre:
www.thescrolle...
//////
Who are we?
www.thescrollensemble.com
Support us on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/thescrollensemble
Support us with a 5€ one-off gift:
www.robertdebr...