Beethoven concert

[tubamaestro2001]

Hello fellow Beethoven enthusiasts..
I am currently directing a rather good community orchestra in eastern NC. It is mostly music educators and several good musicians from the Marine Band at neighboring Camp Lejuene. We started it all in January, had a very good first show in March, and now that we have some wings, I am preparing the Beethoven 7th, which is my personal favorite.
I am looking to see if there are any conductors out there that have some insight into its perfomance or problems they encountered themselves when perparing this great work.
Please feel free to email me and tell me your findings. I'd appreciate all the comments that can help.
Thank you,
Ken Serfass
Conductor
Crystal Coast Community Orchestra
Jacksonville NC
EMAIL:
sefasskj@2mardiv.usmc.mil
crystalcoastorchestra@hotmail.com

[Chris]

Hmm, that sounds like a great project - good luck with it. I have no conducting experience myself, save for one or two special occasions, so I can't really help you out with your request.

[Peter]

Originally posted by tubamaestro2001:
Hello fellow Beethoven enthusiasts..
I am currently directing a rather good community orchestra in eastern NC. It is mostly music educators and several good musicians from the Marine Band at neighboring Camp Lejuene. We started it all in January, had a very good first show in March, and now that we have some wings, I am preparing the Beethoven 7th, which is my personal favorite.
I am looking to see if there are any conductors out there that have some insight into its perfomance or problems they encountered themselves when perparing this great work.
Please feel free to email me and tell me your findings. I'd appreciate all the comments that can help.
Thank you,
Ken Serfass
Conductor
Crystal Coast Community Orchestra
Jacksonville NC
EMAIL:
sefasskj@2mardiv.usmc.mil
crystalcoastorchestra@hotmail.com

I'm not a conductor, but I am a musician, and if I could make one plea it would be regarding tempi - In particular, the opening introduction is often taken too fast. Conversely, the trio is always taken too slow! - Beethoven marks it Assai meno presto , which most conductors interpet as Andante!

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'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I'm not a conductor, but I am a musician, and if I could make one plea it would be regarding tempi - In particular, the opening introduction is often taken too fast. Conversely, the trio is always taken too slow! - Beethoven marks it Assai meno presto , which most conductors interpet as Andante!

I would not say from my experience the intro is performed too fast, quite the contrary, but I agree absolutely about the scherzo trio. At the end of the day if one is in doubt about the tempi, check the metronome figures! Just as important with Beethoven however is that all performances should OBSERVE THE REPEATS!!!

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin

[Peter]

Originally posted by Rod:
I would not say from my experience the intro is performed too fast, quite the contrary, but I agree absolutely about the scherzo trio.

I have a Karajan recording which takes the Poco sostenuto at lightening speed, completely destroying the architecture of this opening.

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'Man know thyself'

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I have a Karajan recording which takes the Poco sostenuto at lightening speed, completely destroying the architecture of this opening.

Well the Italian says it all, not a great amount of sustain is called for. The ascending short note passages sound pletty lame if the underlying tempo is too slow. Clearly the 'sostenuto' only concerns the longer held notes, with the scales being by comparison 'a la breve'. Regardless, let the metronome be the guide, I don't know what it is, but I would tollerate too quick rather than too slow with this particular music.

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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin