Final Extracurricular group workout (#14)

A Tuning the Air Journal

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 – Final Extracurricular group workout (#14)

The final (everything this week is “the final”) extracurricular group workout. Curt, Jaxie, Carl, Chris and Greg gathered at Curt’s place to work for a couple of hours on whatever seemed useful and relevant.

Chris and Greg were running a few minutes late, so Jaxie and Carl began by looking at the tempo and count-in for “Tico Tico”. Several runs through this as the rest of the team gathered, as well as later on during the break and just before the rehearsal came to an end.

Chris arrived. For a warmup I suggested cycling the diminished run from “Fallout”, with the metronome beginning at a rather benign tempo and notching it up until we reached performance tempo. Greg arrived and joined in at the tail end of the warmup. We then ran the entire piece, at tempo with the metronome.

Jaxie suggested “Slow Burn” next. A simple runthrough, with metronome, followed by a short discussion of some “feel” matters and how we can bring it together.

“Tango Apasionato” was up. Specifically, the final verse where Chris is improvising a counter-melody. We looped that verse for a while, giving Chris the opportunity to explore the possibilities. A full runthrough with metronome.

“Prelude and Fugue”, without metronome, not to mention without 4/9 of the players. Each piece presents its own set of challenges, and the missing players their own set of holes and gaps. It is a very useful exercise, though not necessarily a very fun one.

With the metronome: “Eye of the Needle”, “Mad World”, “I Am The Walrus” and “Larks’ Tongues”, and "Chanson de Mardi Gras" (with impromptu improvised percussion accompaniment).

We ended with several more runs through the Bach pieces, this time on our feet. A couple of segments were highlighted and worked for clarity.

Tomorrow, Performance Number 225; the final performance of Tuning the Air.