GET OFF THE PLATFORM...
Jack Brymer (1915 - 2003)
In the winter in the
United States there is a problem in concert halls which become so dry with the
excessive heating. In my bassoon case I
would put a humidifier, a sort of rubber
tube soaked in water. 'A London
Symphony’ of Vaughan Williams has some very pianissimo sections. In one of these, with Previn
conducting on an LSO tour, one of the double basses literally exploded. It was an amazing noise, followed by the Mancunian voice of Stuart Knussen (father of Oliver, the composer and solo
double bass), ‘git off the platform, Robin!’, to Robin McGee, the owner
of the ruined instrument. Previn really
enjoyed that.
Once in the Royal Festival Hall we had
just finished the first movement of a symphony when Jack Brymer, sitting next
to me, got up and walked off the
platform through the violins. I think
Previn must have suspected what was the trouble for he just stood on the podium
and waited. Sure enough, after probably
not more than two minutes, back comes Jack, who says in his marvellous,
sonorous voice ‘Sorry, André!’ and goes back to his seat to complete the
performance of the symphony.
Roger Birnstingl
