Sometimes, when I listen to St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert broadcasts, I wonder what the musicians are thinking. This happens most often when they perform a piece I played on the bass during high school or college.
Last night, for instance, the orchestra performed Debussy's "Nocturnes." When I played that piece, I couldn't get enough of the second movement. The brass, winds, and strings generate much of that movement's dramatic tension. I wonder if the musicians playing last night were engrossed in that movement's drama as much as I was decades ago. Or, did it feel more like just one of many concerts to them? I have no complaints about the orchestra's performance, but it's still interesting to ponder.
Musicians are human, after all. Even when your intonation, rhythm, and overall musicality are spot on, it's still possible to go through the motions. Many baseball players on teams that won't make it to the playoffs must have that feeling, as well.
