Winter Concert successes

Congratulations to everyone! I’m so pleased with the outcome of yesterday’s concert. We all overcame the cold, the snow, the limited parking, the 55° breeze on stage, the conductor surgery fallout, the coordination of more conductors than we’ve ever had on a single concert cycle, and difficult repertoire — and you still connected with the audience. I heard so many positive comments that reflected that they really listened, and that makes me very happy. We’ll talk more about the experience at out next rehearsal.

Spring Concert repertoire

All of the parts for Spring are scanned, assembled, and coded; find them here. I usually don’t say “Practice before the first rehearsal!” but I need to say it this time. Here are the two items that need your attention before we meet again on February 23:

• Maslanka Symphony No. 4 – You really need to review the content of this work, which is over 900 measures in one continuous movement. You especially need to actively practice m.628-711, the jazz section. Specifically, this is be-bop, so the intervals are wide, the harmonies are complex, and the tempo is quite fast. It is quite a challenge.
• Clarinets – I will be writing to you by tomorrow with specifics about the auditions for the “Babies” solos, including a link to Manny Ramos’s how-to video and a score of three solo parts. All clarinets are welcome to audition for one of the solos, and you are welcome to audition for more than one solo part.

Congratulations again, everyone! The season’s big finale is coming up!

I just received this from Björn at the Music Hall, and so I’m passing it on immediately:

Curt, just want to let you know we’re struggling to keep the stage comfortable in this extreme cold. We purchased a big warehouse heater, but on days when it’s very cold AND windy, it’s an uphill battle. It does look like tomorrow will be less windy, which will help, but maybe let everyone know to dress really warmly for the concert.

Please feel free to deviate from strict concert black as needed in order to feel comfortable. Layers will help, and heavier shoes.

Timeline for Sunday

See the front page for details tomorrow. Please come early to help set up. Backstage will open at 11:00 am, sound check is as 12:00 pm.

Dangerous cold!

Please take care if you are out and about today. Don’t leave your instrument in the car, not even for 5 minutes! And be especially careful when stepping over packed snow and ice. We need everyone in one piece for tomorrow!

All reports indicate that today’s weather, with the biting wind and sub-zero wind chills, will moderate tomorrow. That should help. But there is still the need for all of us to be careful at all times outside.

Spring Cycle starts February 23

There are no rehearsals on February 9 or 16. We start up again with a read-through of the spring program on February 23. The front page has the link for the Maslanka parts. The other music will be posted asap, and I’ll send out a notice on Slack and via post to confirm when everything is ready. (I have all the music, I still have to separate the scans into individual parts and code their file names.)

Gratitude

I continue to be grateful for all of you, and for all the work and personal effort that has gone into the preparation of tomorrow’s concert. I’m looking forward to seeing you and bringing all this music to life for our audience!

H. Robert Reynolds, 1934-1926

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Bob Reynolds passed away yesterday at age 91. It’s impossible to assess the impact Bob had on our the musical world as a conductor, teacher, author, arranger, and mentor. I feel so fortunate to have worked with him on two occasions and to have heard several of his performances live. I will definitely include a memorial to him in next season’s programming.

Concert week

“To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.” — Leonard Bernstein

Here we are at the end of a most unusual rehearsal cycle. We have very little time remaining during our rehearsals this week on Monday and Wednesday, and we need to make every minute count. Please plan your travel to both of these rehearsals very carefully to allow extra time for traffic, frustrations caused my packed snow drifts, and the unexpected, and please help us stay on time during the rehearsals.

I have reworked the rehearsal plans for Monday (UUFNW) and Wednesday (TMH). Please review them here. IMPORTANT: Everyone who took home one or more music stands in December must bring it on Wednesday. We’ll confirm by Wednesday if the stands can stay at TMH until Sunday.

Personnel listing in the program

In order to keep everyone focused on the musical tasks at hand, I’m not going to circulate a program personnel list to check on Monday night. Instead, please check the roster here, and contact Katherine or me directly to make edits or corrections. Please do so as soon as possible, but no later than 7:30 pm on Monday.

Tickets for WSW on February 8 at 2:00 pm

Please send colleagues, family, and neighbors to the TMH Box Office site for this program. Click the link or copy/paste this URL in your correspondence and posts:
https://tickets.tarrytownmusichall.org/eventperformances.asp?evt=3127

Share the coupon code we discussed in rehearsal and posted in the WSW Members Slack workspace (I’ll repeat it again on Monday) to unlock the discounted $21 tickets (cited on the site as “Coupon 1”).

Thank you in advance

Our work together this week will demand your very best in regard to promptness, focus, musicianship, and dedication. Thank you in advance for bringing your best and most authentic selves, so we can make the best of this limited time together, and make 1+1 truly equal 3.

Excelsior Symphony Orchestra at Diller Hall

The Excelsior Symphony Orchestra is presenting a wonderful program next Saturday, February 7 at 3:00 pm at Diller Hall, on the campus of the Hackley School in Tarrytown. The orchestra will pay tribute to Bill Eckfeld, prominent Westchester conductor/composer and the former orchestra director at White Plains High School, who passed a few weeks ago. If you haven’t already considered attending, I urge you to take a look. I’m planning on attending — hope to see many of you there.