Wind Ensemble Project (pt.VI)
(I've got another musician on board for the recording session! Derek Scoles, the first trumpet from Ohio Wesleyan University, is totally psyched to be involved. Thank you Derek!)
After a late night of taping parts, and a very harried Monday at work, Nicki and I blasted out to Wheaton College for the first reading of "TranZendental Danse of Joi". When we arrived, Jim Warrick was busy conducting the rehearsal, so we quietly grabbed seats in the hall and listened. When they went on break, we started handing out parts. I gave the upright bass player my bass guitar, and he went backstage to find an amplifier. I also gave the percussion section my plastic paint buckets and dowel rods -- the ones I'd been using for my own "rehearsals" of the piece. After the break, a guest conductor picked up the rehearsal, and I could see Jim Warrick off to the side feverishly conducting through this piece -- with a meter change every 1-2 bars, I couldn't blame him!
With 20 minutes left in rehearsal, Jim W. called me up to the stage. I said a few brief words, thanked them for this opportunity, and then asked that if they had any comments or suggestions, to write them in their part so I could review them afterwards. I jumped offstage, and before the band could start, there was a blast of outrageous feedback -- the bass amp had died. So, no bass guitar for the reading. Jim W. shows them the 7/8,7/8,12/8,2/4 groove, and then gave the downbeat. No one came in. Several bars go by, no one is playing. I run back to the percussion section, and they're all standing at their buckets, dowels at-the-ready, with no idea how to play this part. My notation has completely stymied them. I play through it once, and the 1st percussionist IMMEDIATELY gets it -- this guy is a very quick study! The rest of the band comes in, and they do the best they can to play through the piece. After running it from top to bottom, we go back to one short section, and then we're out of time. Fortunately, Jim W. has had the foresight to record this rehearsal, and he's able to present me with a CD-R immediately afterwards, so I can study the reading and make changes.
My sincerest thanks to the Jim Warrick and the Wheaton College Symphonic Band -- you were presented with a daunting task, and as unsatisfying as the experience may have been you, I WAS able to gain some insight on what tweaks need to be made to the piece. Your rehearsal time was GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
After a late night of taping parts, and a very harried Monday at work, Nicki and I blasted out to Wheaton College for the first reading of "TranZendental Danse of Joi". When we arrived, Jim Warrick was busy conducting the rehearsal, so we quietly grabbed seats in the hall and listened. When they went on break, we started handing out parts. I gave the upright bass player my bass guitar, and he went backstage to find an amplifier. I also gave the percussion section my plastic paint buckets and dowel rods -- the ones I'd been using for my own "rehearsals" of the piece. After the break, a guest conductor picked up the rehearsal, and I could see Jim Warrick off to the side feverishly conducting through this piece -- with a meter change every 1-2 bars, I couldn't blame him!
With 20 minutes left in rehearsal, Jim W. called me up to the stage. I said a few brief words, thanked them for this opportunity, and then asked that if they had any comments or suggestions, to write them in their part so I could review them afterwards. I jumped offstage, and before the band could start, there was a blast of outrageous feedback -- the bass amp had died. So, no bass guitar for the reading. Jim W. shows them the 7/8,7/8,12/8,2/4 groove, and then gave the downbeat. No one came in. Several bars go by, no one is playing. I run back to the percussion section, and they're all standing at their buckets, dowels at-the-ready, with no idea how to play this part. My notation has completely stymied them. I play through it once, and the 1st percussionist IMMEDIATELY gets it -- this guy is a very quick study! The rest of the band comes in, and they do the best they can to play through the piece. After running it from top to bottom, we go back to one short section, and then we're out of time. Fortunately, Jim W. has had the foresight to record this rehearsal, and he's able to present me with a CD-R immediately afterwards, so I can study the reading and make changes.
My sincerest thanks to the Jim Warrick and the Wheaton College Symphonic Band -- you were presented with a daunting task, and as unsatisfying as the experience may have been you, I WAS able to gain some insight on what tweaks need to be made to the piece. Your rehearsal time was GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!
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