Thank you Ian Bousfield: I will never play the ride the same again.
I finally get it. One of the best things about playing in the YouTube Symphony was the chance to collaborate and be coached by Mr. Ian Bousfield, solo trombonist with the Vienna Philharmonic.
His constant urging for more precision in articulation and rhythmic accuracy not only helped me with some issues I’ve had in my own playing, but drastically changed the way that I play, and more importantly HEAR the rhythm in Wagner’s Die Walküre (Ride of the Valkyries).
I think that I may have worn out the saddle that he rode me with, but his incessant demand for rhythmic purity has helped me approximately 100% in just two days, and I will continue to use it, and teach it, for the rest of my career.
I took this video during the dress rehearsal at Carnegie Hall to both observe his impressive slide technique and to remind myself of the Viennese style for Die Walküre.
In short- THANK YOU Mr. Bousfield–your passion, time, intensity, and integrity will impact both myself and my students for generations to come.
The YouTube Symphony brass section was impressive, and a pleasure to work with!
Dr. J
April 20th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Jon – I haven’t watched the videos attached to this, but I thought you might get a kick out of reading David McGill’s “Sound in Motion.” Pages 56-61 deal specifically with the Valkyrie ride and how just about everyone always plays it wrong. The Valkyrie motive is quite different, ending on beat 2, rather than beat 3 as most orchestras play…
Anyway, food for thought….
Best wishes -
And-a-roo
April 20th, 2009 at 9:41 am
I think I know what you’re referring to, but haven’t read the passage- will check it out. Thanks!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
“Crispy Crunchy” as Mr. Karlin would say (the articulation extremely controlled)