Gunfire at the IMSLP corral

[Philidor]

There's Malcolm Arnold’s 'A Grand, Grand Overture for For 3 Vacuum Cleaners, 1 Floor Polisher, 4 Rifles and Orchestra' performed at the London Proms this year, with naturalist Sir David Attenborough on floor polisher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5343nfOnkk

Sadly not a HIP performance - I clearly see shotguns, not rifles, being used.

[sbeckmesser]

Ah, yet another violation of authentic performance practice. Shotguns do sound different from rifles. But are the "discharges" on specified beats?

Does Arnold specify the vacuum cleaners? Recent models undoubtedly sound different than the ones available when the score was written. And does the composer anticipate that vacuum cleaner motors might run at different rates depending on the frequency of the power line (60 Hz in North America, 50 Hz in Europe)? And I thought choosing "authentic" strings for my baroque violin was controversial!

--Sixtus

[steltz]

Have been rehearsing Cunning Little Vixen for about a week now.

There is gunfire in two places -- the second and third act. The second act shots can happen in the general vicinity of a bar, but the third act shot (only one, but it's the one that kills the vixen) must happen on a beat.

Up until last night, nothing was where it was supposed to be, so I was beginning to think it wasn't possible to do what Janacek wanted.

Ironically, last night, the first act shots were on beats, and the third act shot wasn't even close (hope his aim wasn't as bad as his timing!!).

Tonight, the third act shot was "bang on" (excuse the pun ).

So add Cunning Little Vixen to the list!!!