Bainbridge Cornet Band Photo taken about 1900-1906

I’m heading home today to Pennsylvania to attend a concert of the Bainbridge Band, a community band founded in the 1880’s in my father’s hometown of Bainbridge, a beautiful town on the Susquehanna River south of Harrisburg. The band is interesting not only because of its long history, but also because the ensemble rehearses in its own Band Hall, purchased back in 1920, and its library contains over 7000 titles. Two of my longtime friends from high school play in the band, and one is stepping in to conduct this evening’s concert. I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with this band, in a community close to my own roots.

The Kimmel Center, home of the Philadelphia Orchestra

Tomorrow evening, as I make my way back to White Plains on Amtrak, I’m stopping in Philadelphia to attend the Curtis Institute Symphony concert in the amazing Kimmel Center (my first visit). And why would I single out this particular concert? Because WSW, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the Curtis Institute Symphony all share one important work among their fall repertoire – Pictures at an Exhibition, of course! We are in such great company, and I am truly excited to share and experience another interpretation of this milestone work.

Our rehearsal on Monday evening will focus, for the first time, on the Mussorgsky only. I have spent time over the past three rehearsals breaking up the piece 4-6 movements at a time. As we move ahead, it’s critical to extend our focus over a longer period. The Fall concert will mark our first performance of a continuous 30-minute work, and we can’t wait until the dress rehearsal to address the mental concentration required. I’m still planning Monday’s rehearsal, but my hope is to break up the work into three sections. I’ll rehearse individual movements in detail, then include a run-through of each third of the work as closure. This will be an important step to performing the entire work without interruption less than a month from now.

We’ve had great rehearsals so far in this cycle — let’s keep it up! Enjoy the holiday weekend, and see you Monday!