Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Auditorium


Within the past two weeks, I had the pleasure of performing in two very different, yet wonderful acoustic spaces.  One was an early 1900s rural opera house and the other, a modern suburban church.  One was built for secular purposes, the other religious; but in each case the room was built to be an auditorium - a room for several hundred people to listen.

Sometimes I'm stuck in an acoustically ugly space and do the best I can with or without sound reinforcement.  That's why I appreciate great rooms like these all the more; and it's when little or no amplification works best.  

This recent experience gave me a very strong image and understanding:  I was a mere string vibrating; the room was the great sounding board, the wooden box of a violin or guitar.  I will practice playing the room as an instrument.