Here Comes Treble: For The Love Of Music
...It is, however, just as true to say that not all amateur musicians and unskilled or inexperienced. If one traces the word ‘amateur’, one finds it is rooted in the French and Italian, ‘amatore’ and the earlier Latin, amator or amatoris, all of which mean ‘lover’. While there are many amateurs who prove the Oxford Dictionary’s definition, there are far more fine musicians who choose to ‘play for love’, earning their living as lawyers, shop-keepers or secretaries. Such musicians are dedicated...
Isabel Bradley says that most people would prefer to hear a musician who plays passionately, loving every note of the music, rather than a person who plays only for money.
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Often, when musicians are referred to as ‘professional’ it is inferred that they play their instrument better than someone labelled ‘amateur’, that they are courteous and considerate, and that they can be relied upon.
Common English usage reinforces this perception, as does The Oxford Dictionary: “amateurish: unskilful or inexperienced”; while the definition for “professional” includes the phrase, “having or showing … skill … , competent.”
Most professional musicians are skilled, they enjoy their work, and are competent, reliable, and well-behaved.
One of the most disruptive musicians I have ever had to work with, however, was a professional double-bass player, temporarily employed by our small amateur orchestra to replace our regular bassist. He arrived late for every rehearsal, talked non-stop, and argued incessantly with the conductor. Unfortunately his playing was needed, and thankfully, in spite of his bad manners, he was a good player.
Chamber music in the form of wind quintets is, for me, one of the most joyful musical activities. Our amateur group gathered regularly to play and enjoy works that we loved and to discover new music. Sometimes, we’d perform a quintet concert in one of our homes. Occasionally, when one member of the group or another was away, we invited a ‘professional’ to join us. One bassoonist agreed with alacrity to a few Saturday morning sessions. However, she arrived late on each occasion, and after playing through one or two works, complained that her ‘lips were tired’, packed her instrument away, and moved to the tea table where chocolate cake or other delights waited, cutting our enjoyment from a glorious three hours to less than one.
More disturbing than unreliabality and inconsiderate behaviour, is the fact that the standards of some professional musicians, earning their living by performing frequently in public, fall far short of many of the amateurs I’ve played with.
Lack of interest and declining technical skills come about when musicians, embarking on their careers, find themselves in an orchestra, playing music chosen by someone else, with no opportunity for individuality; between rehearsals and performances there is little or no time for personal practice, as financial constraints force them into teaching and playing freelance gigs. The music they were passionate about while studying soon becomes ‘just another job’. Post-concert gatherings of musicians tend to sound like meetings of a trade union with discussions centring on inadequate salary packages, dreadful working hours and complaints about the boss.
It is, however, just as true to say that not all amateur musicians and unskilled or inexperienced. If one traces the word ‘amateur’, one finds it is rooted in the French and Italian, ‘amatore’ and the earlier Latin, amator or amatoris, all of which mean ‘lover’. While there are many amateurs who prove the Oxford Dictionary’s definition, there are far more fine musicians who choose to ‘play for love’, earning their living as lawyers, shop-keepers or secretaries. Such musicians are dedicated. They take time to improve their playing, invest in instruments and sheet-music, take lessons and study the theory and history of music, They arrive punctually for rehearsals, and pay attention to the conductor. They’re considerate of others, and willing to play until lips, arms and fingers are quivering with exhaustion – because they don’t want the fun to stop.
During a recent visit to a game farm, we took a digital piano with us. The effort of getting it there was well rewarded. When six musicians gathered during the early part of a storm to play sextets, the sounds we sent into the bush were glorious. Music written for wind quintet and piano is rich and rewarding. Every musician, though ‘amateur’, was definitely more than proficient. Lightning struck, and the electricity in the main lodge went out. We were plunged into gloom. The keys of the piano clicked like hens’ feet on concrete then fell silent. Water splattered through a gap in the thatch, and thunder rumbled and crashed dramatically around us. Squinting at the music poorly lit by candle light, we played quintets until the rain stopped, then four of the men shouldered the heavy piano and carried it, crunching along the pebble pathway through the bush, to one of the bedrooms where the power still worked, and we resumed playing sextets. Amateur musicians will go to any lengths to play and enjoy the music they love, sharing their knowledge and skill with like minded friends.
Most people would prefer to hear a musician who plays passionately, loving every note of the music, rather than a person who plays only for money.
Whether professional or amateur, love and passion will always be my first choice.
Until next time, ‘here comes Treble’!
By Isabel Bradley Copyright Reserved ©
