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Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:49 pm
by daktx2
There are times while on stage, I find myself thinking "it's great to have the best seat in the house." What movements of which pieces make y'all think that?

I'm in a (non-professional) orchestra with very strong strings and woodwinds, and at yesterday's rehearsal, got as much enjoyment out of listening to them play the third movement of Tchaikovsky 4 as I did playing the 1st and 4th movements.

I'd ask about humiliating/disappointing tacets too, but everyone would just answer Dvorak 9...

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:59 pm
by bloke
I'm quite weary of Symphonie Fantastique, but still enjoy hearing the Waltz movement, "Au bal".

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 3:07 pm
by edfirth
I always LOVED being onstage during my tacit movements during Peter Gynt, Ed

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 8:36 pm
by ProAm
In Mahler 2, 5th and 6th on stage trumpets are tacet until the 5th movement.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:59 am
by bort2.0
I love all the tacet movements, to be honest, but the best ones are when the trombones play, and I get to just sit there and listen.

Rehearsals can really be a drag, though, for tacet movements.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:01 am
by Mark
The second (Andantino) movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 4:21 am
by Snake Charmer
I love the first symphony of W.S. Kalinnikow. Tacet for the movements 1-3, listening wonderful music to build and three pages of lovely things to play in the last movement, comfortable to play after the long rest. And even string players coming afterwards to say :bow2: "it sounded great when you joined in!"

Berlioz Requiem is also great for listening more than the half of the piece and still feeling needed and lots of fun playing wild things.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 1:40 pm
by tubanh84
Joke (because it's not really a tacet movement)/not a joke (because I'd do this over most pieces WITH an actual tacet movement): Beethoven 9, because then I can be in the choir.

Still probably the most intense orchestral performance I've ever been a part of.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 2:25 pm
by bloke
It depends on how "hot" and "on" (not looks...chops) the strings/winds are, in a given orchestra.

Tchaikovsky Orchestral Suite #3 (basically, a "grand symphony"...though he categorized it as a suite) is amazing.
It's rarely programmed because - well... - its damned hard.
I've played it once (with an orchestra that was capable of wiping the floor with it), and doubt that I'll ever encounter it again.
bort2.0 wrote: Thu Mar 10, 2022 12:59 am I love all the tacet movements, to be honest, but the best ones are when the trombones play, and I get to just sit there and listen.

Rehearsals can really be a drag, though, for tacet movements.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 5:32 pm
by matt g
While not a traditional 4 movement symphony, the Saint Saens Organ Symphony has that nice bit with the trombone solo.

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 7:04 pm
by ParLawGod
I'm sitting through a rehearsal of the 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky 4 right now. Love it!

Re: Best Tacet Movements

Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 7:24 pm
by Three Valves
Mock Morris.

I prefer band marches and no tacetness.

But I appreciate the double reeds so… :thumbsup: