A Spinning Stand
For a few years I had the pleasure of playing in the orchestra for the end of term show at one of the Glasgow Schools - and very good productions they were too.
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The show took place in the school hall, so the orchestra did not have the 'advantage' of a pit - instead we were simply in front of the stage and the way the conductor liked to set things out he had the brass over on the far right - Horns and Trombones in a row with Trumpets in front.
As 1st Horn I was on the end of the row - right next to the front row of the audience. The year we did West Side Story, there were two great trumpet players drafted in from one of the BBC orchestras who were sitting in front of me.
Now - the orchestra didn't quite generate the same energy as the one in the video that I have linked - but at this point in the story the conductor got the entire brass section to stand for effect. On one of the nights the trumpet player sitting in front of me stood up with a flourish and pushed his chair back making contact with my music stand.
Unfortunately... the top of my stand was clearly not properly fixed and so it spun round so that the music was facing the wrong way. Now - you will realise that it takes two hands to hold a French Horn - so my only option was to attempt to spin the stand back using one of my feet, whilst playing on one leg.
Not sure why the audience member next to me didn't help - they were probably finding it too amusing!!! On following nights I made sure that my stand was secure.
This video isn't much longer than yesterday's - the actual music finishes about halfway through and, as I say, there is plenty of energy and enthusiasm on display!!
