Black for a change

[couyalair]

I vary rarely wear black, certainly not in the sun (I'll explain that if necessary to any of you in the north that may have forgotten what that is), but this week I have been to two concerts, and knowing that the musicians would almost certainly be in black (heaven knows why), I decided to wear my black shirt and black skirt. Beginning of the week it was still chilly and I needed other clothes to keep the wind off (I cycled to & from the station), and realized I had nothing that looked right with black. Last night, however, it was warm and I was able to walk to the local concert hall with just skirt and shirt -- and felt real elegant !!! ... and matched the soloists up on stage. But no-one asked me to play.

Martin

[JRMILLER]

As a musician, the reason we wear black is because it's not about "us", it's about the music....

[Kirbstone]

Well put, JR. However, I belong also to a traditional Irish music group and we men wear white long-sleeved shirts and waistcoats to perform. In a previous similar group in Germany we also wore traditional plaid or check caps as well.

T.

[couyalair]

It is the music, and it is the musicians too, without whom who would know what Mozart did with his short life? Who would know what Beethoven could hear after becoming deaf?
Black is not the only shade available for a harmonious uniform.
Martin

[skirted_in_SF]

The members of my local symphony orchestra also all wear black for their regular concerts with in men in white tie and many in tailcoats. I wear a business suit to attend (though I did wear a long, black skirt one time). I also have a subscription to a matinee chamber music series with musicians from the symphony. The women frequently wear something more colorful for those concerts and the men wear non-black suits or even open collar shirts and jackets.

[Jock]

I attend as many local concerts as I can get to. Some are pro and some are enthusiastic amateurs. In all cases the men wear black suits with dress shirt and often bow ties. All alike as on a production line. The women wear blouses that may or may not match everyone else and skirts or trousers. I have often seen a line of female singers for example with black skirts from ankle to thigh length, alongside black trousers of various styles. The ladies are as amorphous as the gents are homogeneous. From time to time a choir will have the ladies attired to a fixed pattern - much nicer to see IMHO.

Anyhoo - black skirt and shirt for a chap - I've seen it and the effect is good. I like the idea of long black skirt and black jacket for concertgoing.

[SteveB]

As a musician, it is the larger object of the music and other aspects of the show then myself.

For the band that I perform in my on stage costume is generally a black skull cap, long sleeved black knit shirt, with a short sleeved black shirt over it and a floor length black skirt. During part of the performance I remain "invisible" to the audience as the lights are low on the area where I am stationed until the need for me to be visible. This is the same for the entire performing group. We can easily shift on and off and around the stage during our performances without distracting the audience. The additional part of our uniform is black leggings and solid black soft soled trainers, so as to not add any unwanted percussion sounds.

There are some performances in which we wear bright clothes that are uniform for all of us. Our costumes are the same for both men and women.