Performance team rehearsal

A Tuning the Air Journal

Saturday, October 8, 2011 – Performance team rehearsal

Full performance team at Fremont Abbey Arts Center, except Darlene who has other professional commitments this week and will be sorely missed.

It was out day to dig deep into the more complex arrangements. The first hour entirely given to “I Am The Walrus”, which is moving from the encore into the set next week. We worked section by section, giving the cello/string players the time needed to work out their collective phrasing, and to learn how their parts sit and interact with each other, the rhythm section, and the melodies. The cello part, played by Bob and Jaxie, runs all the way through the piece. Greg, Taylor and Mary Beth are covering the violins, brass, and a plethora of assorted sound effects, many involving the use of the slide.

After a break, we moved on to the B Minor Prelude. At Greg’s suggestion, we played it a number of times. Each performer took a turn directing how it would go for a few minutes. This involved everything from getting on our feet and moving around in the Great Hall, to sitting down and methodically breaking down passages that consistently give us difficulty. All of the exercises were in one way or another designed to get us individually and collectively up and out of our notes, and into the music and the connection with the group.

Another short break, and we took a look at the new encore for next week. This involves a fair amount of blocking, not to mention geometry.

The final half-hour was a planning meeting for the 1-week retreat we will be going out on at the end of the month.

Next rehearsal, Monday.