Wish me luck - lone wolf first concerto with wind ensemble

Started by Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich, May 16, 2023, 07:58:26 AM

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Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich

Hey guys,

long time no see. I'm a lone wolf player, slow progressing Bb clarinet learner since maybe 7 years.

Now this year I found myself in an amateur/hobby level wind ensemble, 10 players. First practice was a nightmare, a trauma, I was totally lost most of the time, couldn't follow sheets at all.

Subsequent practising was good though. Gained good experience. I'm of course accompanying, 2nd,3rd,4th clarinet. Some parts easy, some still difficult enough.

Tonight a first concert with few other ensembles, we'll play like 20 minutes.

I will survive I guess, but uhhhh. Rather the kind of guy who does not seek the public. Some relatives will be there. I first wanted to keep it secret... But then decided it is now the time to do some things one is afraid of. Also started @new job this week, that's all a lot to digest but well that's life.

Wish me luck 😅

thx


vandermolen

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Pohjolas Daughter

Pohjolas Daughter

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Papy Oli

Olivier

relm1

Yep, I hear you.  Try your best to zone in on your music and not what all is happening around you otherwise you'll notice every yawn and watch checking from family and that will come through in the performance.  Focus on the music and your part and you might have a great time too!

Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich

#6
Now I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)

20230516_191838.jpg

OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich on May 18, 2023, 07:30:47 AMNow I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)

20230516_191838.jpg

OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.
Congrats! Well earned!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

relm1

Quote from: Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich on May 18, 2023, 07:30:47 AMNow I can report back.

It was great. All my fears - didn't happen. Our ensemble played in the second part directly after a break. So I entered the venue 10 minutes before the break, while others were playing and - OMG-1, maybe 80 visitors in the audience. I was expecting like 10 people :-)

20230516_191838.jpg

OK, and how were we seated? OMG-2. We were one half-circle, kind of, and I was in the center... arghh. Order of seats was 2*Bass, 2x4th Bb, 1x3rd Bb (me), 2x2nd Bb, 2x1st Bb, 1xC-Clari. +cond.

And the performing was good. EVERYTHING WAS FINE YAY. Good concentration, I didn't care for the audience, it all went just as in the rehearsals. We all made our specific mistakes, there is enough weaknesses around, but really no problem. I had an eye for the overall sound, which was good (on our level).

There was no room for my biggest fears which I had before. Like: "I screw things up so massively, that we have to start over"... or I get lost somewhere.

No, I'm happy I participated and we'll keep on playing and hopefully performing. There's some potential currently, because a lot died, fell asleep, because Covid.

Thx guys for your kind words.

Way to go!! We are all proud of you!  And that's quite a turnout!

Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich

Quote from: relm1 on May 18, 2023, 04:10:01 PMWay to go!! We are all proud of you!  And that's quite a turnout!
Yeah, future generations will sing songs about me, I'm feeling it  ;D

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich on May 24, 2023, 06:14:58 AMYeah, future generations will sing songs about me, I'm feeling it  ;D
lol  ;D

But, seriously, I'm glad that you had a good turnout.  May I ask why though that you said that you didn't like the audience?

PD
Pohjolas Daughter