This week:
- Next rehearsal is Monday, February 23 at UUFNW. Bring music stands!
- My conversation with Matthew Maslanka
- Preparing for rehearsal on February 23
First Spring cycle rehearsal
There is no rehearsal again this coming Monday, February 16. Enjoy the holiday!
Our next rehearsal is the read-through of the Spring program on Monday, February 23 at UUFNW. Please remember to bring music stands. If you haven’t already, please bookmark our rehearsal/performance schedule, which is updated in real time when there are changes. This will help you keep track of all rehearsal locations in this round-robin schedule in which we are now working.
If you haven’t already, download your Spring cycle parts here. Please note:
- This program is a little shorter than most, to help us with the demands of the Maslanka.
- The Maslanka sub-folder also includes an Errata in Parts PDF. It’s right at the top. Please find the errata that pertain to your part and annotate them before the first rehearsal.
- There is also a PDF with Additional Clarinet Errata. Clarinets, please be sure to mark these three additional errata as well.
Conversation with Matthew Maslanka
As I told you, Matthew attended our concert in November, and he came again last Sunday. He was so very impressed with your work. After the performance, he told me that he wanted me to call him to discuss the symphony. We spent over two hours on Zoom yesterday, paging through the score. He shared insights measure by measure — it was an amazing, incredible experience. I feel I am so better equipped now to tackle this with his father’s purpose fully in mind.
As part of that conversation, it occurred to me that I am actually glad the pandemic interfered with our 2020 rehearsals/performance. The study I did to prepare for 2020 has had time to percolate and ferment. Our newly admitted members have made the ensemble so much stronger, and this newly found association with Matthew Maslanka will certainly have immense musical benefits.
Preparing for the first rehearsal of Maslanka Symphony No. 4
I full expect that the reading of the Millburn, Sousa, and three vocal arrangements will go smoothly. This will be normal sight reading.
But that is not the case for the Maslanka.
To effectively prepare for our first rehearsal, I must make some detailed practice assignments. As it’s said, “No one should ever sight read Brahms.” Well, no one should attempt to read through Symphony No. 4 without reviewing the entire part. These sections need to be planned, practiced, and full prepared:
- m.84-88: Matthew stressed that this is the most important transition in the work. The integrity of the Eb clarinet, Bb Clarinet 1, Contrabass clarinet, and xylophone are critical to setting up m.88 and everything which follows.
- m.359: Horns need to be prepared to hold this fermata for 20 seconds. I’ll explain in rehearsal.
- m.360-405: All these solos need to be prepared so they can be played effortlessly. Trumpets: Matthew said he will pray for you.
- m.628-645 and m.672-711: This jazz section is what makes this symphony a Grade VII on a 6 point scale. I must ask you to prepare these rhythms with surgical precision so we can get through this without anyone getting hurt at the first rehearsal.
- m.712-731: Clarinets, please refer to the email I sent to you separately.
We have amazing and thought-provoking work ahead of us. I am certain that we are ready to take on this project. I need to ask everyone to stay full committed, fully focused, and fully immersed in this work in order to bring it to fruition, both for us as performers and for our audience.
Enjoy the long weekend — see you a week from Monday.