OT: string section endurance

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mmike
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Post by mmike » Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:17 am

in classical orchestral music (symphonies, operas, etc.) the strings often play all the time. what is generally considered to be too much? is there, in fact, a limit? specific example: an orchestral work in 5 movements, each movement averaging between 9 and 10 minutes, with a longer one of 14 minutes, obviously with longish pauses between movements. would that be considered as fairly normal for a professional classical chamber orchestra (with a string section of 16 players) ?
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Michel R E
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Post by Michel R E » Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:29 am

the actual length of the music doesn't matter.
there are symphonies that go on for hours, operas that last days. the strings are usually the major part of the orchestration and present throughout.

the only place where you need worry is with specific playing techniques.
I'd highly recommend against writing a 14 minute piece of pizzicato strings (I have heard MUCH back-stage griping from string players over a 4 minute symphony movement that is entirely pizzicato - Britten, Simple Symphony), or sustained tremolo which is very taxing on the arm.

There are countless works for only strings, so there is no "limit" on the duration of a work for a string ensemble (maybe your audience's stamina?).
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mmike
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Post by mmike » Mon Jun 10, 2019 12:05 pm

just as I thought (and not a pizzicato in sight ... )
the stamina of the audience, well, that's of course another question ...
thanks for your input
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BuonTempi
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Post by BuonTempi » Mon Jun 10, 2019 12:23 pm

There are certainly limits to rehearsal time! :lol:

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