Terrible but real

The revelation that Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma* and other world acclaimed musicians were not actually playing the music that was heard during an outdoors concert for President Obama raised a few eyebrows in RTO circles. Although these first class performers (Perlman and Ma, not members of the RTO) had a perfectly reasonable explanation – the sub zero temperatures in Washington that day would have damaged their extremely delicate and precious ‘primary’** instruments – some in Edinburgh felt a little smug. For while the Scottish orchestra cannot claim to be in the same league musically as Perlman and co, they have never – repeat never – pre-recorded a performance and then mimed on the night. Certain elements of certain sections (not mentioning any names!) do mime certain passages of music within the context of a live concert. This is completely different from what Perlman and Ma did.
On the subject of violas, one of the RTO’s longest serving players, trombonist Quinton Stewart, has decided to retire and there is therefore a rare vacancy in the brass section. What might this have to do with violas? Well, it was agreed during the last RTO rehearsal that if a suitable replacement for Quinton is not found quickly, an existing RTO musician will be put forward for re-training. And the fairly unanimous decision was that it should be a viola, for two reasons: 1) there are no medics in the viola section and it was felt that brass should now open its ranks to those outside the medical profession, and 2) the trombone offers an RTO violist a fresh challenge with a new approach and this may be all it takes to release any musical potential so far inhibited by the current instrument. At the next RTO rehearsal, there will be a lucky dip among the violas, the winner of which will move immediately to brass, unless a last minute application is received from elsewhere.
Other recent changes to the orchestra’s make-up include the introduction of guest percussionist Gary, filling in temporarily for Neil Smith on drums. The RTO was very fortunate to secure the services of Gary as a drummer, particularly as he is a professional dancer and the RTO doesn’t attract many professional artistes.
And so to New York, where ticket sales for April 1 are nudging towards the 700 mark. This is extremely encouraging, as is the news that another really terrible ensemble is germinating in North America, accidentally inspired by a clip of the RTO spotted on YouTube. David from Inuvik, above the Arctic Circle in the western part of Canada, has emailed to say: ‘We are a small community band that is just starting up with a number of people learning new instruments…Inuvik is about 3000 people and it’s presently -36C here.’
That is cold! The RTO sends the Inuvik Really Terrible Band its warmest wishes and suggests secondary instruments only (indoors and out).

* Yo-Yo Ma is the brother of Dr Yeou-Cheng Ma who runs the Children’s Orchestra Society of New York, a charity supported by the RTO.
** RTO players who have both primary and secondary instruments are advised to bring the latter to New York, just in case the orchestra receives any impromptu requests to perform outside.