SHIELDS

wiseone2 · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 11:12 am Post subject:

It's the end of the Shostakovich Fifth and you are nailing the sucker! You notice some movement in front of you.
It's the WHOLE Viola section crouched and holding their ears. If looks could kill you know you'd be a goner.
I'm sure this scene has happened to all of us at one time.
Here in NYC, the new thing is shields.
Large pieces of plexiglass placed in front of the brass section!!!
I hate it!!!!!!!
Has it happened in your town.........yet?
Wilmer

Strawdoggy · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 11:36 am Post subject:

Nawww... they just use earplugs!

I like the "Cone of Silence" like Maxwell Smart and the Chief used on Get Smart

pfrank · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 11:48 am Post subject:

I still laugh when I think of the Cone Of Silence! Every time there was something secret to discuss, Max and the Chief would lower the C.O.S., and every time it prevented them from hearing each other. But did they learn? Never!

leadtrmptplyr · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 11:54 am Post subject:

The first time I saw that was in 1990 at a church that I played a Christmas program at. They put the brass in a little plexi shield cage so we wouldn't be too powerful. Now it is every time I have ever played at a church. The church that I go to is not very big and the volume of sound of a brass section is somewhat overwhelming and you can't hear the choir. We opted for the shield rather than mute every piece we play. But now I have to wear earplugs so I don't go deaf with 3 trumpets, 3 bones and 2 french horns all inside this plexi glass structure. Very loud in there.

trombapaul2 · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 3:16 pm Post subject:

Shields can work just fine if they are away from the bells and angled about 30 degrees.
If they're flat to the bells, obviously you're going to get the brunt of your own sound. They will also create the false perception that you need to blow more because you can't hear yourself come back to you from the hall. The Detroit Symphony uses them in front of the bones and, because of their positioning, you can't even tell the shields are there. The players also don't complain about them. The trumpets don't need them because they are situated further back from the winds and violas than the bones so nobody complains. Not too much anyway. Some string players and oboists are never happy unless the brass are moved to the next building. Experimenting with the positioning should alleviate some of the "hate".

Paul
_________________
"NEVER practice...ALWAYS perform" (Bud)

"NEVER look at the trombones...it only encourages them" (R. Strauss)

"What the hell does sound have to do with music?" (Charles Ives)

Iguananaught · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 7:44 pm Post subject:

The Minnesota Orchestra uses them, or did the last time I saw them. I haven't heard any complaints about it from the players, and they still sound pretty darn good! In the little orchestra I play in, our harpist is right in front of the brass. She hates us.

OCTA-C · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 12:03 am Post subject:

"KEEP THE SHIELDS AND BOXES FOR THE THE DRUMMERS, NOT THE BRASS PLAYERS!!!"

The R.B.B.& B. Circus uses a plexiglass box for the drummer and the rest of the band uses AMT mics.
_________________
Jay S.

"May the good sound be yours!"

"Always remember to blow into the proper end of the horn!"-circa. 1900 (Harry Gardoon)

OCTA-C · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 12:03 am Post subject:

"KEEP THE SHIELDS AND BOXES FOR THE THE DRUMMERS, NOT THE BRASS PLAYERS!!!"

The R.B.B.& B. Circus uses a plexiglass box for the drummer and the rest of the band uses AMT mics.
_________________
Jay S.

"May the good sound be yours!"

"Always remember to blow into the proper end of the horn!"-circa. 1900 (Harry Gardoon)

blasticore · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 12:24 pm Post subject:

Funny, I think our marching band could use a few sheilds in the stands. It isn't pleasant have 25 trombones behind you blasting their parts at the top of their lungs while about half of them are at least 40 cents off the actual pitch. *cringes* I just stand in the aisle where the stairs are.
_________________
Chris King
http://www.cktrumpet.com
http://www.ckbrassworks.com

kcrw · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 8:07 pm Post subject:

I think some trumpet players that stand behind me in marching band that try to play high but can't neded shields that cover the bell so you can't hear them. He is almost a half a step sharp because he is trying to play higher then he can (which is a G on the top of the staff). The bad part about it is it is a college marching band, so he is trying to be "cool" by playing what he thinks is high. Sorry about ranting, but it bothers me when a college student can't tell when he is playing the wrong note.

Casey Welty

bj · Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2002 10:30 pm Post subject:

trombapaul2 · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2002 4:55 am Post subject:

Excellent Brian!!!

I'll have to remember that one. The conversation that usually takes place in the orchestra I'm in is:

violas: Can you guys play any louder (sarcastically)?

brass: Why...YES WE CAN!!! (and promptly do so)

Admittedly, that doesn't go over very well.

Paul