[TPIN] Orchestral Balance

[Achias1 at mchsi.com]

After hearing a local orchestra perform Debussy's "La Mer," I need to bring up a
subject that is likely to open a can of worms - orchestral balance.

Everything about the performance was fine except that the brass kept
overbalancing the strings (hopefully, I won't lose my "Ba__s Against The Wall
Trumpet Players' Club" membership card for that statement.)

Evidently, this has been a problem even with major orchestras in the past few
years. If not overbalancing brass, then the overall volume level rising.

I think that part of the skill of playing well in an orchestra is knowing how to
balance and I consider it a flaw when a player doesn't listen and balance well.

Am I correct in this?

Is there any hope for returning to the well-balanced and accurate volume-leveled
groups of years ago?

Dave