Hags888

Hello Mr. Hooten,

I have an audition coming up and Mahler 1 is on the list. I've played some Mahler before and I've been listening to recordings (and I've heard Mahler 1 live countless times), but I've never actually played this one before. This seems like a dumb question in a lot of ways, but I'll ask it anyway. My question is, when auditioning, and playing "off-stage" parts, do you normally play loud "as if" you are off-stage? Or, do you play softly as if to imitate the fact that you are off-stage?

For example, in Pines of Rome, the dynamic is marked Forte in the off-stage part, so naturally you play it loud regardless. This makes sense to me, and I assume in this one, when you audition, you play it loudly. However in Mahler 1, the parts are marked pianissimo. If you're offstage, do you really play it pianissimo? What is the proper dynamic level to play when auditioning on Mahler 1?

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thomashooten

Hi Hag888

I would play the dynamic written. Don't try to make it sound off stage, just play what's written, and you can assume that the committee knows it's off stage. One thing you can try is to play a little off access to the committee. While I usually play about 20 degrees away from directly at them, you could play 40 degrees away to help give you that indirect off-stage feel.

Hags888

Thanks for the reply! I'm actually surprised by your response...a little. So, essentially you are saying that you should always just play what is in the part? I guess my follow up question then is, is the opening fanfares in Mahler 1 normally played at a dynamic of "ppp" when you are standing off-stage, and should I play it that dynamic level at the audition?

I was sort of thinking that the "ppp" marking is the dynamic that the audience (or the Maestro) would want to hear you...and if you're off-stage you would naturally play a little louder than that to compensate. So, would it make sense to play it at a louder dynamic for the audition as that is the dynamic level you would play it normally (when you're actually standing off-stage)? Please correct me if I'm thinking about this in the wrong frame of mind. I tend to "overthink" things more often than not. :)

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Do or do not. There is no try.
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thomashooten

Right, you got it. :) Just split the difference between what you'd have to do off-stage for the right result (which is probably louder than "ppp") and what an actual "ppp" dynamic is on-stage. I would trust your common sense. Good luck!!

T