Performance Team Rehearsal

A Tuning the Air Journal

Monday November 14, 2011 – Performance Team Rehearsal

Full team on board, including Tony and Darlene.

The first hour was entirely dedicated to the B Minor Fugue from Book One of the Well-Tempered Clavier. This is different from anything we have ever played in this project, and since it involves staggered entrances of statements, playing it from anywhere but the beginning is a bit of a chore, with people grabbing for their scores to be sure about what bar we are talking about. The overall feel of this part of the rehearsal was an odd combination of feeling helpless in front of the challenge, and the growing sense that in spite of everything, it is really possible. We never achieved a flawless runthrough, but several were good enough that the potential of the piece was clearly evident. We did once through the Prelude and then into the Fugue in order to get a taste of how that will flow.

A break that included cupcakes (courtesy of Tony) in celebration of Mary Beth and Taylor’s second wedding anniversary. A number of us reminiscing about the endlessly modulating rendition of “Brasil” that we played at the wedding, as the guests moved from the ceremony to the bar and their dinner tables. One of their wedding gifts was a box of 3 bottles of champaign, each tagged to be consumed at 1-year intervals on November 14. We popped open the one marked 2011. Fortunately, with so many of us present, this meant only a sip for everyone, and the rest of the rehearsal was not too adversely affected.

For the balance of rehearsal, we looked at assorted details. Work on the middle section of “Slow Burn”, which continues to be blissful when it works, but a little labored when it doesn’t. Discovered several little changes that make the transitions to and from this section much stronger, and discovered a bit of attitude that enlivens the section itself.

Talked through the middle set, which features small group pieces. Chris had a slight reordering that will keep things moving a bit. A final “in or out” decision made about “I Will” came out “in”. The trio discussed one clear change in the arrangement, and will look for an opportunity to rehearse before Thursday. “five-five-FIVE” is in the set for Thursday. We touched on it briefly, and made plans to make it the focus of Wednesday afternoon’s extracurricular rehearsal.