A colleague of mine passed along this entertaining (and true!) tale from a concert in a local per-service gig orchestra.  I know a lot of musicians who perform in this orchestra (which I’ll refrain from naming here), which makes it even funnier to me.

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A regional orchestra in metro Chicago was recently rehearsing a piece with a tricky section that started with solo harp.  When the ensemble finally got to this passage in rehearsal, the entire piece fell apart.

Conductor: Harp, you must watch me there!

Harpist: No–there’s no way I can watch you there.  I have to be looking at my strings there.  It’s much too complicated.

Conductor: Um….OK.  Well, you should at least play it at my tempo.  Here–I’ll sing it, and you remember this speed when we get there.

[conductor sings harp part]

Harpist: Ha!  There’s no way I can play it that fast!  I’d have to be really good to play it at that speed–and if I was that good, there’s no way I’d be playing in this orchestra!

[conductor gapes at harpist speechlessly while the entire ensemble erupts in laughter]

Really, what can you say to that?  Some harpists just like to tell it like it is.  I know–I’m married to one!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freekorps/357647930/

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