Netflix has an Oscars Collection which contains the content that has been nominated for the Academy Awards over the years. Scrolling through that section, I stopped at a short documentary 'The Only Girl In The Orchestra' – the story of Orin O’Brien, the first full-time woman member of the New York Philharmonic, the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. A symphony orchestra is a large group of musicians who perform classical music using wind, string, brass and percussion instruments. I might have scrolled past it had I not had the completely mesmerising experience of watching an orchestra only a few days ago. The concert by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra was the first-ever orchestra performance that I attended, and it showed big time. Mistaking a pause in the music with the end, I, and some twenty other people in the hall, started clapping enthusiastically, only to be met with the stern shushing of an elderly gentleman, a true opera aficionado obviously, who was sitting in the next row. I was so traumatised that I didn't clap again until the entire hall was doing it.
Other than my brief moment of utter shame and embarrassment, the experience of watching an orchestra was otherworldly. Despite having hardly any knowledge of this genre of music (and the etiquette of sitting through it) I enjoyed every bit of it. There were solo performances by a concertmaster (the lead violinist) and a cello soloist, followed by multiple performances of the full orchestra. Before attending it, I believed that it was meant for the lovers of classical music only, or for those who understand the nuances of this musical form. I now believe that regardless of your taste in music, if you get the opportunity to see an orchestra performance, you should not let go of it.
It is nothing short of a magical experience to witness so many instruments with completely different sounds coming together in a melodious harmony to produce music that sounds majestic. In the age of autotune and digital sounds, the music that you hear in an orchestra is an ode to human ingenuity, skill and strength – to sit in an upright position for a long time while playing your instrument, making sure you follow the sheet music and the instructions of the conductor is no easy feat, after all. While music critics may judge and appreciate such performances on the basis of their technicalities, a layperson with little to no knowledge of classical music can still enjoy its beauty, for there are emotions to be felt in what you hear.
In case you are wondering, this is still an article about the Oscar-nominated short documentary ‘The Only Girl In The Orchestra’. While it is correct that probably the only reason I decided to watch it was that I had just attended an orchestra and its memory was still fresh in my mind, I strongly recommend that everyone should watch this documentary because it's more about the human side and the journey of a musician than the music she produced.
Orin, as the documentary's title suggests, was the first woman to join the prestigious New York Philharmonic as a double bassist, and she remained a part of it for 55 years. Although it touches on the subject, the documentary doesn't dwell much on her struggles as the only woman in the ensemble, perhaps because Orin herself doesn't seem too bothered by it, except her annoyance at the media spotlight she was suddenly in after joining the Philharmonic or the misreporting by the papers that her male colleagues helped her carry her instrument or her stereotypical representation as just a pretty face, and, even worse, her looks being a distraction for other musicians. However, such nasty comments couldn't stop her from doing what she loved to do: play the music.
That Orin is a high achiever is beyond doubt. She made a name and place for herself in a field where men prevailed. Keeping in view her success, first as a musician and now as a teacher of music with students in, and from, all over the world, the humility with which she talks about her craft is refreshing. She keeps on refuting the idea that she has been a great artist, calling it an exaggeration. The most surprising aspect of her personality is to take immense pride in being a part of the whole instead of trying to be the whole. In an industry where artists go to great – and sometimes absurd lengths – to establish their individuality and identity, Orin refused to stand out. Few will disagree that a solo performance is perhaps the brightest feather in an artist's cap. Not for Orin, who never gave a solo performance and prefered to play ‘second fiddle’ as she calls it. Without sounding condescending or overbearing, she explains her philosophy on why she chose to be like this, and it's definitely worth listening to.
It is probably because of the close bond they share that the director of the documentary, Molly O'Brien, Orin's niece and her only living relative, succeeds in persuading Orin into talking about some very personal aspects of her life, such as her relationship with her parents – both of them known film actors – and regrets about not having a family or kids. And yet she doesn't sound bitter or unforgiving. A moment in the documentary which captures a very vulnerable side of Orin was when she was moving homes – leaving her slowly crumbling New York apartment, her home for almost half a century, and moving to a new place. There is another scene wherein she is shown visiting the apartment for the last time, and the way her eyes wander about the empty spaces, you could feel the vulnerability and pain of someone who has to go through such a big change, that too at an age when familiarity is preferred as any kind of change represents disconcertment. Yet another moment reveals the intimate and sacred bond a musician shares with their instruments. You can’t ignore the catch in her voice and the tears in eyes when she lets go of her favorite double bass. It is almost as if she is saying goodbye to a loved one. And yet, she seems content with her decision because she believes that her student to whom she has handed over the instrument is truly worthy of it. Similarly, she is seen getting comfortable in her new home, giving music lessons to her students and making a meal for her niece with a renewed energy. And that perhaps sums up her what her life has been; to keep herself in the background while living for and among others.
If you come across The Only Girl In The Orchestra and decide to skip it because it seems music-centric, I suggest you change your decision and give it a watch. It is the story of a woman who chose a different and difficult field and carved out a unique identity for herself not by standing out but by blending in.
Javeria Shakil-Kazim is a freelance journalist based in Istanbul
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer