What Allan is playing

[Bogey]

I forgot to comment on the Barber rehearsal last night.  I wasn't really sold on the piece last night and another go at it tonight leaves the same taste lingering.  I'm not finding the material that makes up the piece to be of very much interest.  The harmonic language almost sounds 'Danny Elfmanish'.  Who knows though, maybe I need another go at it. 

Allan

This just sold me on exploring Barber more Allan.  I enjoy most of Danny's music.

[toledobass]

This just sold me on exploring Barber more Allan.  I enjoy most of Danny's music.

Not that I know all of the canon, but that seems to be a little unique to that particular piece, Bogey.  Don't let that stop you though.  Lots of good stuff to hear.

Allan

[Cato]

Here's the Blade Review.

All in all a very good concert last night.  I was especially pleased with the Hartmann which felt good to play.  Not very much in the review about it.  It sort of looks like that review was edited quite a bit....not even a mention of the Dvorak.  I guess our baritone wasn't marking after all.

As for Cato's inquiry as to what the audience response would be,  I'm happy to report that it was very well, almost surprisingly well recieved by the audience.  (but maybe I'm underestimating how much the audience has grown along with us)  Much more than just a polite applause for the performance but not over the top either.  There was enough to understand that the overwhelming majority genuinely enjoyed the piece/performance.  It definetly wasn't a luke warm polite reaction.  Merwin, the soloist, also got a standing ovation for one of his curtain calls. 

Looking forward to it again tonight.
Allan   

Okay, yay team!  Yes, the intellectual growth of the patrons throughout the years can be a factor: I recall an Andrew Massey concert of Schoenberg's Five Pieces for Orchestra where Massey stopped and "explained" each piece in an apologetic "please-don't-throw-rotten-tomatoes" tone.  In fact, after it was over, an old lady next to us whispered "Glad that's over!  Now let's get to that Mozart piece."

[karlhenning]

Split a bow, Allan! 

[toledobass]

Whew,  finally done with the 3 performances of Carmina.  Sat night was an excellent concert again and the response to the Hartmann was equally as gracious as the Friday night concert.  So I guess they really liked it and it Friday wasn't a one off audience full of Hartmann fans.......then again maybe they all came again on Sat.  

Sat. I had some problems with my concentration during Carmina.  The first half was fine.  During carmina though, I fell in a big hole, whacking a ff F a half a measure(!!!) early.  I joked with my collegues afterward, asking if they could hear it.  There's no doubt everyone in the hall heard it.  So after that I kicked myself and told myself to get back in the game.  That lasted for a movement or 2 and while nothing as embarassing as my initial flub happened,  I never could get myself completely back on board.  After I realized my focus wasn't 100% I looked at what movement we were on, to maybe come with a game plan to try and reserve energy and think ahead as to what was coming up.  We were 9 out of 25.........sigh.......great. 


Today was fine though. 

Allan

[M forever]

I also once placed a very audible solo note in a performance of Carmina Burana in which I was principal bass, in the "Dance" ("Uff dem Anger" which doesn't mean anger, but the central meeting place in a village) after the few introductory chords, the conductor spontaneously decided to insert an unusually long pause before the actual dance music. Apparently, I was the only one who didn't get that...It was actually pretty funny because the conductor stood there with his arms up in the air dramatically, he gave me a shocked look when I played the first C wooomp!, and then the dance really started after what seemed like a very long moment.

[toledobass]

Yeah that's a big note, if it's the one I'm thinking of.  I like that at the Met bass section they have a 'clam can' that you donate money to each time you goof and play a solo.  They use those funds to help buy them all a dinner or something liek that at the end of the season.

Allan

[toledobass]

This week with the Akron Symphony finds performances of Mahlers second.  Saturday in our normal hall and a Sunday matinee in Severence hall.  Ben Zander will be conducting.  It's a huge week for the orchestra and organization.  Lots of publicity accordingly.

I have no idea what to expect from Zander.  I'm excited for the week though, especially the Severence performance.

Allan

[M forever]

I forgot, do you play French or German bow?

[toledobass]

French bow.

Allan

[karlhenning]

For a while there, they were calling it Freedom bow.

[toledobass]

For a while there, they were calling it Freedom bow.

Word.....no love for my yurt joke?

Allan

[karlhenning]

I enjoyed it!  Didn't have an apt riposte, and then stuff crossed my desk . . . and the yurt moment was gone.

[M forever]

French bow.

Allan

Sorry to hear that! That must really totally suck when you have to play stuff like Mahler 2. Well, you can play all the notes, but you can't really play the music with that thing. That's just not what it was made for. There is more bass action on any single page of the part of Mahler 2 then in the entire French or Italian orchestral literature combined.

[toledobass]

M,

I know I know.  I hated to tell you.



As for last night's rehearsal,  I had a good time.  Everyone was a little more prepared and attentive than usual just due to the nature of the concert.  We began working right away rather than reading through then working.   A lot of time focused on the first movement, then in the last hour the third and second.  Zander is giving a lot of attention to specific weight of notes and how how to color the dynamics.  I hope people remember what he's talking about and play accordingly, because I'd like to get a few more layers on top of what we have. I hate when the conductor simply has to keep repeating him/herself only because the ensemble fails to forget to do what is asked for.  I also don't think we as a group are agreeing with what the pulse is.  Every section seems to be pushing or laying back in their own way with a disregard to what is happening elsewhere.  Maybe it's because it was the first rehearsal though.  I'm interested to see what he has to say on top of the more or less fundamental work he did last night. 

Allan

[karlhenning]

M,

I know I know.  I hated to tell you.

That yurt him more than it did you, Allan.

[Cato]

That yurt him more than it did you, Allan.

One should always be "tentative" in making a pun on "yurt."   

[M forever]

What does "yurt" mean?

[karlhenning]

"A circular, domed portable tent used by the nomadic Mongols of Siberia."

(Just to show that I'm a man of my yurt!)

[M forever]

OK, I actually knew that - but I still don't get the pun.