Tech rehearsal at Fremont Abbey Arts Center

A Tuning the Air Journal

Monday, September 26, 2011 – Tech rehearsal at Fremont Abbey Arts Center

Tech rehearsal. We arrived at Fremont Abbey at 8pm. The samba class that preceded us was just wrapping up. A lot of energy in the room. We took a moment to look at what needed to be accomplished – primarily to set up the gear to ensure it was in working order. We decided not to set up chairs for the audience – we are not changing anything about how the room is arranged for this season, and so it was not a critical item. Plus, given the challenges of the material we are preparing, the more time we could spend with guitars strapped on, the better.

Setup was smooth. No technical difficulties, and with everyone pitching in we were up and ready to soundcheck in 30 minutes. Travis did some basic work on setting up each channel for the particular players, and working out the balance. He then turned control of the board over to Joel and joined the circle.

Chris outlined the working setlist. His plan was to simply run the pieces in whatever form or stage they might be, and to get a rough running time. This would give us the opportunity the become reacquainted with the acoustic characteristics and peculiarities of the room and to begin to make the necessary adjustments. As always, some of what we heard was a surprise. A few of the pieces, “Space Circus” in particular, immediately sing in this environment. Other pieces, primarily the more rocking and rhythmically intricate numbers, require a certain care so that they do not become muddy and imprecise.

For Meleah, this was the first time she was hearing most of the material, and she needed to begin to formulate her strategies for each piece, while the players got a taste of what it will be like to perform with the changing lights. We made sure she got whatever time she needed, and feedback on what we need as well – in particular, “Gnossienne” needs to be well enough lit that players can make unambiguous contact with one another, even from across the circle, as the melody is passed from one to another as the spirit moves.

After a break, Darlene arrived and we re-ran the pieces she will be performing on. A new Sgt Bones piece was a nice surprise, and of course the oboe really sings in this room. We also re-ran “Larks” and did a down and dirty as-is run through “Walrus”.

A little after 10, we began our tear-down and by 10:30 the space was restored and we were out the door.