That musical feeling

[nfotxn]

Just got back from the McMaster University Orchestra rehearsal and feeling FINE. It went really well and all things considered I sight-read the music well considering I was keeping up with the first chair girl who'd two more rehearsals than I.

Next rehearsal is post Canuck Thanksgiving (next weekend) so I have loads of time to practice and maybe even get in a lesson.

Here's our repetoire for the first concert with short descriptions for those so inclined:

• Sinfonia Bb+ - J. C. Bach
  1. Allegro Assai
  2. Andante
  3. Presto
  Dunno who the soloist is on piano. Ironically enough it was the piece HECE was to play last year when our soloist had a heart attack.
• Colas et Colinette Ouverture - G. Ridout
  1. Allegro
  It's early North American Opera. French Canadian actually. It's a full symphonic piece which is nice.
• Moorside Suite - Holst
  1. Scherzo
  2. Nocturne
  3. March
  What can I say? It's Holst. It's all full of bravado and march. Most people are familiar with his "planets" work. Fact: The background music from Level 9-9 in Super Mario Brothers 3 is an arrangement of "Mars" from said Planets. The Moorside Suite is very celtic though, lotsa fun dotted rhythms.
• Concert in E Minor for Orchestra and solo Alto Sax - Glazounov
  
  This one is an interesting one. I guess it's neo-classical 'cause it's Sax and Orchestra. Lotsa funky harmonies and modulations all over the place but still demonstrates structures like little fugues and cannons here and there. Just sight read it and liked it.
• Milonga del Angel - Astor Piazzolla
  
  It's a neat string orchestra and solo sax piece (again, dunno the soloists yet) with a latin vibe. Portamentos, decorations and modulations all over the place again. Sounds like the most cliché elevator music you can think of. Fun to play!

That's all really. Schools tough work, mostly the commute though. It's getting colder again, but that works for me as most of my wardrobe is warmer clothing. Now I'm SURE I've lost a lot of weight 'cause all my stuff is waaay baggy now.

Peace-out-ola.

Comments

[sultmhoor.livejournal.com]

Holst is probably my favorite composer. I love what he does with hackneyed rhythms... back about 10 years ago in the civic orchestra, we did his "St. Paul's Suite". Lovely triplets-atop-doublets.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I played the same song about.. wow, like 6 years ago now when I first join HECE. The viola part is loads of fun because it's chock full of non-divisi 5th chords that you get to hammer out at times. And all the endings are so dramatic and exciting, not toning off ppppppp notes or anything.

Yeah, I like Holst. Another one of those classical composers who writes really, for lack of a better term, rockin' music.

[imattv.livejournal.com]

Brodie?

woah....sory to interupt here...i only have a few minutes...I have to say something.

Your pictures always make me smile...

(I know I've mentioned it before...)



today Brodie?...your picture made me sigh...I know there isn't much to
say other than "thank you" or "shucks" or a deprecating "No"...but you ...you have something....and I know bits and pieces of your life and there's a whole lot of family crap that's mired you down and isolated you someitmes in your developmnent and I'd be willing to bet, (American even)...that like most of us on LJ...you were kind of a geeky chubby not so social guy who hasn't always felt all that attractive? (that's not the 'rule'...persay, but it's a fairly common progression?)....who found the bear world rightbefore it was too late....and you are beginning to get what it means to feel "normal" if not down right "attractive" sometimes....?
yes? no? maybe?


If so....Good.

good for you and for all of his who get to follow along.
You are so not even done becoming you yet...
you are young and you will add to your body and to that inspiring mug of yours, some of life's best scars for reference and character. ( they'll suck ass at the time, but you'll feel right about it and what I mean some day.)

pardon my English, Brodie Chree... but you Reallllly are.... a very VvvvERY...good looking man.

THanks for the all smiles and today's best sigh.

your friend

MattV.

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

I don't know what to say other than "thank you very much".

North American opera

[profundojoe.livejournal.com]

So the comment about opera piqued my interest. Since I work in a library, I decided to go look up G(odfrey) Ridout, whom I had not heard of. Turns out this Colas et Colinette is just a reconstruction of an opera by a man named Louis Joseph Marie Quesnel, a composer/patron of the arts in the late 18th century. Quesnel was born in France, travelled as a sailor to many countries but ended up on a ship captured by the British and taken to Canada. He then became a wine and fur trader, but was anxious to promote music in pioneer society. He founded Montreal's "Theatre de Societe" in 1789. The next year, they performed the first North American Opera, Colas et Colinette. Of note is the fact that the only surviving manuscripts of the opera were a solo voice part and the second violin part, which Ridout used to reconstruct it for his symphonic arrangement. How fascinating.

Re: North American opera

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Louis Joseph Marie Quesnel

Thank you! Our conductor mentioned the original writer's name but it was nowhere to be seen on the music, and of course no credits because the copy looks like a worn treasure map from the 1600's or something.

[jenneferre.livejournal.com]

You were supposed to play Mozart 20 with the Hungarian pianist guy, what are you talkign about?