Comments on: Behind the scenes: Team Marsalis and the status of Wynton’s “Blues Symphony” http://www.artscriticatl.com/2009/11/behind-the-scenes-team-marsalis-and-the-status-of-wyntons-blues-symphony/ Reviews and news about the arts in Atlanta Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:29:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Pierre Ruhe http://www.artscriticatl.com/2009/11/behind-the-scenes-team-marsalis-and-the-status-of-wyntons-blues-symphony/comment-page-1/#comment-208 Pierre Ruhe Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:55:36 +0000 http://www.artscriticatl.com/indextest.php/?p=1173#comment-208 This gets more interesting. The Atlanta Symphony is on vacation this week, so the flow of information had stopped ... until an email arrived from an ASO musician, who approved an excerpt be reprinted. -- Pierre The musician writes: "I can not comment on the readiness of the piece, because I don't know those particular details. I can tell you that the parts for those first two movements, which we played, showed up first. 3 other movements showed up very close to when we were starting rehearsals. It seems to me that you already had this information from the orchestra in your first article, so it is a little unfair to be accused of misrepresenting what was correct. As far as rehearsal time, we spent a great deal of time working on those two movements without any time left over to tackle the other 3. The reason for this was that Wynton was at two rehearsals and really had to educate the orchestra on how to play in the style he was looking for. His parts are orchestrated in a way that makes it challenging to get the result he is looking for. Wynton is an incredible musician and he educated us by singing much of what was in the parts in the style that he wanted. The process was time consuming; getting a bunch of classically trained musicians to figure out how to play blues in a couple of rehearsals. Basically, to sum it up, We were trying to play in a style that is foreign to many of us, and he was trying to compose for a group that he is not as experienced with composing for. It was not a negative experience, it was fascinating...." This gets more interesting. The Atlanta Symphony is on vacation this week, so the flow of information had stopped … until an email arrived from an ASO musician, who approved an excerpt be reprinted. — Pierre

The musician writes:

“I can not comment on the readiness of the piece, because I don’t know those particular details. I can tell you that the parts for those first two movements, which we played, showed up first. 3 other movements showed up very close to when we were starting rehearsals. It seems to me that you already had this information from the orchestra in your first article, so it is a little unfair to be accused of misrepresenting what was correct.

As far as rehearsal time, we spent a great deal of time working on those two movements without any time left over to tackle the other 3. The reason for this was that Wynton was at two rehearsals and really had to educate the orchestra on how to play in the style he was looking for. His parts are orchestrated in a way that makes it challenging to get the result he is looking for.

Wynton is an incredible musician and he educated us by singing much of what was in the parts in the style that he wanted. The process was time consuming; getting a bunch of classically trained musicians to figure out how to play blues in a couple of rehearsals. Basically, to sum it up, We were trying to play in a style that is foreign to many of us, and he was trying to compose for a group that he is not as experienced with composing for.

It was not a negative experience, it was fascinating….”

]]> By: Pierre Ruhe http://www.artscriticatl.com/2009/11/behind-the-scenes-team-marsalis-and-the-status-of-wyntons-blues-symphony/comment-page-1/#comment-207 Pierre Ruhe Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:55:04 +0000 http://www.artscriticatl.com/indextest.php/?p=1173#comment-207 Thanks for continuing to fill in the specifics. Mr. Kelly. My original headline, Team Marsalis Strikes Back, had a snarkier tone than I meant to imply, so even before your comment I changed it. (The article's URL retains the original wording.) Still, it was designed as a snappy headline to attract readers' attention and, well, you are part of the team led by Marsalis that put together the work. No personal offense meant -- I'm glad you clarified the story with your insights! Pierre Thanks for continuing to fill in the specifics. Mr. Kelly. My original headline, Team Marsalis Strikes Back, had a snarkier tone than I meant to imply, so even before your comment I changed it. (The article’s URL retains the original wording.) Still, it was designed as a snappy headline to attract readers’ attention and, well, you are part of the team led by Marsalis that put together the work. No personal offense meant — I’m glad you clarified the story with your insights! Pierre

]]> By: Pierre http://www.artscriticatl.com/2009/11/behind-the-scenes-team-marsalis-and-the-status-of-wyntons-blues-symphony/comment-page-1/#comment-206 Pierre Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:52:20 +0000 http://www.artscriticatl.com/indextest.php/?p=1173#comment-206 Jonathan Kelly said: PS--I didn't notice the title to your piece until after the short novel I wrote. My note was in no way an attack on you or your writing. While I work with Wynton hand in hand with his composing, I also work with countless other composers. So, lumping me in as some sort of Wynton side-kick is, at best, condescending. As far as "striking back" goes, I was merely pointing out inaccuracies in your original post--and doing so in a very friendly way. I think I would prefer "Jonathan Kelly Points Out an Inaccuracy in My Article" Jonathan Kelly said:
PS–I didn’t notice the title to your piece until after the short novel I wrote. My note was in no way an attack on you or your writing. While I work with Wynton hand in hand with his composing, I also work with countless other composers. So, lumping me in as some sort of Wynton side-kick is, at best, condescending. As far as “striking back” goes, I was merely pointing out inaccuracies in your original post–and doing so in a very friendly way. I think I would prefer “Jonathan Kelly Points Out an Inaccuracy in My Article”

]]> By: Pierre http://www.artscriticatl.com/2009/11/behind-the-scenes-team-marsalis-and-the-status-of-wyntons-blues-symphony/comment-page-1/#comment-205 Pierre Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:49:41 +0000 http://www.artscriticatl.com/indextest.php/?p=1173#comment-205 Jonathan Kelly said: Hello Mr. Ruhe, I'm glad to read your response to my note. The original agreement between Mr. Marsalis and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was for a 30 minute piece. As I'm sure you noticed at the concert, there was a video before the performance where this exact point was addressed by Wynton and Mr. Spano. Wynton joked that most of his pieces end up being longer than initially intended. I, as Wynton's primary copyist over the past 10 years can confirm that point; I can confirm it with words and I can confirm it with the permanent bags under my eyes. So, your statement that "The Atlanta Symphony had all along planned for a seven movement symphony of almost an hour's duration" is incorrect. They had planned on a piece that would be 30 minutes in duration. As it became clear that the piece would be much longer (and more involved) than originally inteded; it also became clear that we would need to make other arrangements. The 2 movements that we chose to play were 21 minutes and not 18. It may sound petty, but it would only sound petty to someone who hasn't composed for a symphony orchestra. There are a lot of notes in 3 minutes--especially when those notes are as challenging as the music that Wynton has written. I don't have a creative stake in this project. I stay up for months at a time, put notes into a computer and hope they are accurate enough to help complete a composer's vision and generally, I remain nameless/faceless. Your original note struck a chord with me because of it's inaccuracies. We delivered 5 of the seven movements before the start of rehearsal. The final two would've been delivered, but I put aside working on them because a phone call between Wynton, Mr. Spano and myself made it clear that there would not be enough rehearsal time for the entire piece. I don't want to speak for Wynton (but I will!!): We had a great time rehearsing and performing with Mr. Spano and the ASO. Despite your criticism; the movements were met with standing ovations all three performances. January will be an inspired performance I'm sure. I wish that you had responded while I was still in Atlanta as I would've been glad to sit down, look at the scores and have a disucussion about Blues Symphony. Perhaps when we return in January, that opportunity will present itself. Sincerely, Jonathan Kelly Jonathan Kelly said:
Hello Mr. Ruhe, I’m glad to read your response to my note. The original agreement between Mr. Marsalis and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was for a 30 minute piece. As I’m sure you noticed at the concert, there was a video before the performance where this exact point was addressed by Wynton and Mr. Spano. Wynton joked that most of his pieces end up being longer than initially intended. I, as Wynton’s primary copyist over the past 10 years can confirm that point; I can confirm it with words and I can confirm it with the permanent bags under my eyes.

So, your statement that “The Atlanta Symphony had all along planned for a seven movement symphony of almost an hour’s duration” is incorrect. They had planned on a piece that would be 30 minutes in duration. As it became clear that the piece would be much longer (and more involved) than originally inteded; it also became clear that we would need to make other arrangements.

The 2 movements that we chose to play were 21 minutes and not 18. It may sound petty, but it would only sound petty to someone who hasn’t composed for a symphony orchestra. There are a lot of notes in 3 minutes–especially when those notes are as challenging as the music that Wynton has written. I don’t have a creative stake in this project. I stay up for months at a time, put notes into a computer and hope they are accurate enough to help complete a composer’s vision and generally, I remain nameless/faceless. Your original note struck a chord with me because of it’s inaccuracies.

We delivered 5 of the seven movements before the start of rehearsal. The final two would’ve been delivered, but I put aside working on them because a phone call between Wynton, Mr. Spano and myself made it clear that there would not be enough rehearsal time for the entire piece. I don’t want to speak for Wynton (but I will!!): We had a great time rehearsing and performing with Mr. Spano and the ASO.

Despite your criticism; the movements were met with standing ovations all three performances. January will be an inspired performance I’m sure. I wish that you had responded while I was still in Atlanta as I would’ve been glad to sit down, look at the scores and have a disucussion about Blues Symphony. Perhaps when we return in January, that opportunity will present itself.
Sincerely, Jonathan Kelly

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