Times when you wish you weren't there

[661-Pete]

As I think I've said before, I'm a classical music buff, piano in particular. Mrs P is eager that we should go to another live concert in the coming weeks, last time was several months ago. I'm all for it, but ... just a slight jittery feeling.

Last time, watching a very distinguished concert pianist (best not name him) do his stuff, he came very seriously unstuck in one piece (Schubert B-flat sonata) - had to repeat several bars to get it right. Not one of his better days I suppose. Makes you wish you weren't there to see it, rather like seeing the knife-thrower hit the girl or the high-wire perfomer fall off! At least no-one gets killed for a mistake at the keyboard! I can't really explain the emotion, it's like .. not wanting to be a witness to someone else's embarrassment. Anyway I don't want to see that again.

Anyone else get similar queasy feelings? Seeing an actor miss their cue on stage, for instance?

 

[asterix]

rather like seeing the knife-thrower hit the girl or the high-wire perfomer fall off!

Don't shoot the piano player!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Yes I know exactly what you mean. I was a brass player for forty years, playing in mainly brass bands. Whenever I listen to the brass section in an orchestra, I can't help but listen for that cracked note or dodgy intonation. I really try not to but I can get quite on edge with some pieces. Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" for instance.

 

[rich p]

I went to see Taverner's "The Protecting Veil" a few months ago as it is undoubtedly one of the finest bits of modern sacred music written.

The downside was that the extra event was a world premiere of his new piece which was the most excruciating hour of tuneless ear-bashing I've been punished with since I made the schoolboy error of going to Peter Maxwell-Davis' Sea Symphony having mistaken it for Vaughan-Williams'.

Don't you just hate it when that happens!

 

[661-Pete]

By contrast, I must say that the number of concerts I've been to, where I was absolutely electrified, out of my seat, far outnumber these occasional c*ck-ups. In the concert I mentioned, the pianist was evidently tired - in a Chopin scherzo which he played earlier he added an extra - unscripted - bar and fluffed several notes. And the Schubert was rather wooden and uninspiring. But he'd started with some Bach which was beautiful and faultless. I hope most of the audience didn't notice the gaffes.

 

[Archie_tect]

I can't play anything recognisable on any musical instrument so am not able to notice anything going wrong [apart from strident wrong notes]. So I have a high regard for anyone who can play well and has the confidence to play in public [they must be mad].

When things do go wrong if they cope with humour I don't find it embarrassing at all.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I went to see Herbie Hancock years ago and he 'played' two hours worth of dreadful experimental jazz with a guy on percussion hitting various things, it was shocking stuff. Wasn't until the encore when he played 'Watermelon Man' that we got anything with a tune.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I didn't ask for an encore BTW - I just wanted to go home by that time.

 

[Kirstie]

My brother is a classical musician (french horn), and knowing the kind of pressure he is under to perform at his very best day after day, deal with the constant scrutiny of the audience, colleagues and conductor, and that he has to resort to beta blockers to calm his nerves before he goes on stage (a lot of them do), I would regard a musician struggling with something on stage with nothing but sympathy. They are all under horrible pressure, have crappy employment conditions, work anti social hours and don't see much of their families. It's a very difficult job.

 

[Fnaar]

I used to go to a lot of jazz gigs back in the 1980s (

)
One of my faves was the Tommy Chase Quartet, who were excellent, if you liked that sort of stuff (which I did).
Anyway, one evening, TC was playing with new additions to his band... (TC was the drummer). He stopped one tune halfway through, shouted at the band for playing it wrong, and made them start again.
Not sure what happened to TC, but I think he had "substance issues".

 

[User169]

I went to see Taverner's "The Protecting Veil" a few months ago as it is undoubtedly one of the finest bits of modern sacred music written.

I played in a performance of The Protecting Veil in Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge about 15 years ago. Just as the piece was finishing, a rain storm began. The rising sound of rain against the windows and roof of the Chapel as the final notes died away was a truly magical moment. It stunned the audience into forgetting to applaud.

 

[Archie_tect]

I played in a performance of The Protecting Veil.... It stunned the audience into forgetting to applaud.

Interesting interpretation DP!

 

[ColinJ]

Seeing John Martyn all bloated and so out of it that he could barely play the guitar was pretty grim. Poor sod.

Indeed...

I saw him perform a couple of times when we both fairly young, and then saw a documentary about him shortly before he died. I couldn't believe what a state he was in and wasn't surprised that he died not long afterwards.

 

[Happiness Stan]

Pete Townshend performing 'Lifehouse' at Sadler's Wells in the 90s.

If I want to watch old men masturbate, I'll buy a telescope and hire a flat opposite an old folks home.