Soloist vs accompaniment -- who sets the tempo?

[DaveBj]

This is a question springing out of an almost argument at last night's band practice, and I'm asking anyone who is an experienced soloist and/or ensemble director. (No, I wasn't the soloist; just a player in the band.)

When a soloist is playing with a piano accompanist, who is responsible for setting the tempo -- the soloist, or the pianist/accompanist?

How about when a soloist is playing with a band or an ensemble, who is responsible? The soloist, the band, or the conductor?

I've always thought that the soloist was to play at his own interpretation of the tempo, and the accompanist[s] was/were to accommodate his/her/their tempo to that of the soloist. Have I been wrong?

[John Morgan]

In all my years of playing solos with mostly concert bands, but some other ensembles as well, the soloist lets the conductor know the tempo he/she wants. About the only reason it might be altered a bit is if the band part (accompaniment part) is too hard for the players to play at the soloist's desired tempo. The soloist might be advised at this point to pick another solo or settle on the tempo the group can play at.

So, David, you have it right in my opinion. I suppose for very young or inexperienced soloists, the conductor might help in establishing tempos. But mostly, the soloist tells the conductor what the tempo is. The soloist usually goes over the whole piece (score) with the conductor prior to any rehearsal so that the conductor can mark the score to accommodate what the soloist wants to do - tempo, cuts, dynamics, repeats, cadenzas, extended cadenzas, places where the accompaniment will lay out, rubato spots, one on a part places, etc. There are many things the soloist may want from the accompaniment. The conductor should usually indulge the soloist.

For professional soloists, they pick the tempos. Just like guest artists for a concert. They usually have sent the conductor cuts, tempos, and anything else the conductor needs to know to mark his score and have the accompaniment played as the soloist desires.

Now to be more precise, I am referring to a full-fledged, stand in front of the band (or orchestra or ensemble) solo, as in euphonium solo with band accompaniment. If we were talking about a solo within a piece of music, for instance the solo in the Holst Second Suite, the conductor will establish the tempo and the soloist should follow that for the most part. Some solos may allow the soloist a little bit of artistic freedom to play rubato perhaps, but this is all sort of agreed to between the person playing the solo in a piece and the conductor. So, for short solos within a piece of music, the conductor has control of tempo. If part of the short solo is a cadenza, then the soloist has more freedom to go at his own tempo but should keep things within the general style of the piece.

[DaveBj]

Just to clarify, I was not talking about a solo within a concert piece, like the Holst. I was talking about a stand-up solo in front of the band.

[iMav]

When a soloist is playing with a piano accompanist, who is responsible for setting the tempo -- the soloist, or the pianist/accompanist?

How about when a soloist is playing with a band or an ensemble, who is responsible? The soloist, the band, or the conductor?

ALWAYS the soloist. After all, the entire POINT of the piece is to showcase the soloist.

[davewerden]

In rehearsals, absolutely the soloist. This should be done by showing the tempo you want, and also by discussing with the conductor in a respectful way.

In the concert, it is less absolute. The soloist should still try to influence the tempo, but not by being "dead right." There is an elastic connection between the soloist and conductor. It is not like you're tied with a cable - response time lags a bit. Then the conductor has an elastic connection with the band. I have sometimes had to compromise greatly in performance so I did not create a train wreck, particularly when playing with ensembles that are not full-time professionals. The better the conductor and ensemble, the less I will need to compromise.

[iMav]

Dave describes exactly what I have experienced. In fact, the college band I play with just finished a concert that had a piece that featured a clarinet soloist…and this is exactly how it was arranged and worked out.