Harry Wimmer harryblog@wimmercello.com

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CONFESSIONS OF A WOULD-BE PAGE TURNER Finding a page turner is usually the responsibility of the pianist in an ensemble. Invariably, until the dress rehearsal of the approaching concert, the pianist flicks the pages, thinking blithely that he can manage somehow. Then a moment of panic sets in, and he scouts around for willing suckers among friends, acquaintances, students. As a performing cellist, when between engagements, I find myself becming a prime sitting duck for this job. I have many important qualifications: I own a dark suit, I can look funereal, I don't take up too much space on stage, I read music somewhat fluently, my eyesight hasn't yet failed me completely, I am mostly even tempered, I don't wear cologne, after-shave lotion or hairspray. But I invariably decline the honor! For me, page-turning is the most nerve-wracking experience. Performing on the cello, even before a large audience, I'm cool as a cucumber. I have nerves of steel. But the responsibilities of being a page turner are truly daunting: what if you turn two pages at a time! turn too soon! too late! miss a Da Capo! dal segno! or, God forbid, a quick Segue! What if your boardinghouse reach fails you in negotiating oversized contemporary music pages? My definitive life-altering experience came at a concert many years ago when, as a naive young man, I consented to turn pages for the Prokofiev D Major Violin Sonata. The professional pianist was none other than the formidable mother of my erstwhile girl friend. Though shaking in my boots, refusing her was out of the question. At the last minute the desperate violinist begged me to turn her pages as well.This required intricate footwork, as I commuted across the stage between pianist and violinist. There were some close calls, but no major disasters. At the end, I even received applause from the appreciative audience. Nowadays, however, when asked to turn pages, I respectfully decline. I leave that to certain Members of Congress. POSTED: SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK This blog created, written and maintained by Harry Wimmer (hwimmer@wimmercello.com). Thanks to Shirley Givens sgivens@juilliard.edu for her imaginative illustrations. Design and content ©2006, 2007 by Harry Wimmer, Incidental Artwork ©2006, 2007 by Shirley Givens. All materials on this blog are limited to personal, non-commercial use. CelloBlogTM Trade Mark by Harry Wimmer

OTHER POSTS Django in Cajun Country CHARLIE CHAPLIN - Left-handed Cellist and Composer B U X T E - W H O ? The Concert As A Meal C o m i n g S o o n - - - Where Do We Get Such Men? CLAUDE DEBUSSY - Avant-Garde Composer ARTICLES, CARTOONS The Virtuoso by Wilhelm Busch The Cello Concerto (anon.) Young Itzhak Perlman in Aspen Leonard Rose in Colo.Springs String Portraits by Shirley Givens Bach's C Minor Suite Was Written This Morning. Pablo Casals From Afar Michael Tippett Arrives inShorts Casals Lives On in Puerto Rico The Golden Treasure of San Juan Bach on the Bayou ABOUT HARRY WIMMER Bio from the"Joy of Cello Playing" site Page Turning Academy of America