Horning in on All the Details
October 6, 2008
By Kelsey Harper
Internationally acclaimed musician Jeff Nelsen, French hornist of the eclectic group Canadian Brass, will be coming to Emory in October as the Coca-Cola Artist-in-Residence.
While here, Nelsen will give a series of workshops about how all performers can use certain tactics to avoid stage fright. He derives his strategies from personal experience and has lectured on this method across the world.
In addition to striving to liberate all musicians from sweaty palms and pounding pulses, he lends his talents to Broadway musicals, video game soundtracks and, for this semester, the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, where he will perform a solo piece entitled “The Glass Bead Game” by James Beckle, on Oct. 20.
In between recording and touring, he serves as professor of music at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.
During a layover from Toronto to Philly he took the time to talk to the Wheel about his experiences, his philosophy and what we can expect from him at Emory.
For all of us who suffer from agonizing auditions and performances, can you sum up the secret of being fearless?
Jeff: Your level of nervousness is inversely proportionate to your level of preparation. When you’re preparing, don’t just learn the technical aspects — how to play fast or high — and the musical aspects — what we think Mozart meant. We can also put a ton of attention to how we approach the performing aspects.
I have always been fascinated with how a huge part of the sweaty, heart-pounding experience is inspired by the walk to the middle of the stage. So why not practice the walk too? This simulates a real performing experience, and then we can practice thinking well while walking onstage.
You’ve had the opportunity to perform all over the world. What is the most memorable place you have performed, and where was the most challenging place?
One of the most memorable places in which I’ve performed is Corfu, Greece. We did a concert there this summer and our “stage” was outdoors on a plateau overlooking the ocean at sunset. We began performing at sunset, and it was a warm summer night. These two factors made this concert also one of the most challenging places we’ve performed — it was 40 degrees Celsius!
You are a versatile musician, performing both classical and contemporary music. What aspects do you particularly like or dislike about each? Do you prefer one over the other in general?
I enjoy each genre equally for different reasons. Classical music feeds the mind and the soul and is written so well for our instruments. It is a part of history, and it never lets you down.
The contemporary music I’ve done lately, like Broadway shows, movie and video game soundtracks and tours with pop artists, is fulfilling for the romantic in me.
The sweeping horn lines are so great to lean into while trying to send that wave of horn sound over the audience.
Canadian Brass will be releasing a new CD entitled Manhattan Music sometime in November, featuring a collaboration with The Eastman Wind Ensemble. To get a taste of Canadian Brass right now, try its Legends CD featuring songs by Mozart, Handel and McCartney & Lennon.
Interview conducted and edited by Kelsey Harper.
