Performance Team rehearsal

A Tuning the Air Journal

Monday January 24, 2011 – Performance Team rehearsal

A solid nuts and bolts rehearsal. All about igniting repertoire, adapting arrangements for one performer who has moved on and two who have come onboard for this season.

We worked largely on Neptune, putting Carl in the unenviable position of picking up a part almost entirely comprised of zithers and cascades. He more than rose to the challenge. In addition to Carl jumping in on a new part, the new performance team seating arrangement means that we all have to adapt to highly orchestrated zithers and circulations where we are not necessarily sitting in the order the parts are played. This is going to be a very interesting treat for the audience. For the players, a major challenge.

Also addressed were A Day In The Life and Children’s Hour. The part in ADITL that needs to be covered is an accompaniment, kind of in the viola territory, and technically pretty easy, although one section still requires a bit of research to recreate correctly. The primary challenge is for the section to play together with unanimity in the attack and feel. That comes in part from being as clear as possible with the intention of the part, but largely from hours of playing together, and that takes time. Likewise, the part that needed covering in Children’s Hour is a simple circulation, not terribly challenging from a technical standpoint, but it is a part that defines the feel of the piece, and as such it needs to be just exactly right every time.

Plans for Thursday’s tech rehearsal were discussed, as well as a retreat we are organizing for ourselves next autumn.

Two weeks to opening. Hitting that point in the process where the task feels impossible, while all of our experience tells us it will be done.