I felt very good about last week’s rehearsal! I appreciate that players practiced and brought their best efforts to the tasks at hand. The time until the holiday break will come and go quickly, so it’s really important that we dig in and master the difficult sections in the rep before that break. This will allow us to use the time in January to mold the sound and create an atmosphere conducive for this milestone program.
Monday’s rehearsal starts again at the regular time of 7:30 pm. The plan is posted. The target sections of the Husa are sections of movements I, II, and IV, but take a look at the link for the specific sections we’ll focus on.
We’re back to our regular start time of 7:30 pm tomorrow evening. Percussion is meeting at Eastchester High School for a sectional, so no music stands or equipment will be needed for them at TMH.
The rehearsal plan is posted. Over the next several weeks, my plan is to rehearse two of the Husa movements per week, trying to stretch out the grunt work needed without losing track of the groundwork laid out in previous rehearsals, and without over-taxing your chops and emotions. Tom McCauley has agreed to come to our rehearsal on January 22 to clinic the piece, and I’m very excited about this milestone on our way to February 11.
And NASCAR? Chris Carbone found this crossword. See number 32 Across. See you all tomorrow evening.
Following up on last Monday’s discussions, we’ll read through the entire Winter program on Monday evening — as they say, “through hell or high water.” Bring seatbelts, an open mind, and an open heart. The rehearsal plan is posted.
Husa materials for perusal
As promised, click this link for the Husa/Prague PDF. It includes all the materials that I have collected to date about Music for Prague 1968. This is more than you could possibly want, but then again, many of you often surprise me! Please use the handout from last Monday to note measure numbers with rehearsal letters throughout the piece before Monday’s rehearsal. The PDF includes:
The Instrumentalist interview with Karel Husa, September/October 1992
Several newspaper articles about the composition
Analysis by Husa
Analysis by Bryon Adams,The Instrumentalist, October 1987
Husa obituary (I handed this out last week)
Table of measure numbers/rehearsal letters (handed this out last week)
Revised/simplified percussion parts for the Interlude
Analysis by Samuel D. McIlhagga (February, 2002)
Interview with Mr. Husa (1988)
Motifs/themes (handed this out last week)
Michael Lucke shared this exceptional recording of Music for Prague 1968, performed by the North Texas State Wind Symphony, with Gene Corporon conducting:
I. Introduction and Fanfare:
II. Aria:
III. Interlude:
IV. Toccata and Chorale:
Gratitude
I am grateful to Ben Acrish, Festival Coordinator, and all the WCSMA members in the band who prepared and sent students to this past week’s Area All-State Band at SUNY Purchase. The rehearsals were long and tiring, and I pushed the group to the extent of their potential, but the results were truly impressive. The group really peaked at the performance, and for that I am truly grateful! I also offer my thanks to the SUNY Purchase PAC staff who made the evening’s transitions so smooth, and to Ricky Myint, Band Chair, who managed the group during the rehearsals and performance.
TEDx Talk
My talk, Framing Failure, was published this week on YouTube. If you have 18 minutes to spare, I would be most grateful if you’d give this a viewing. If you are so inclined, please give it a thumbs up, share a comment, and (most importantly) please share the link with friends and family. It’s not an “idea worth spreading” until it is shared!
There was too much to include in Monday’s post so I’m continuing tonight. This post includes:
Connecticut Symphonic Winds concert (November 11)
US Air Force Heritage of America Band concert this past week
WSW auditions continue
An email from Steve Cohen
Some preliminary information about Music for Prague 1968
First, the Connecticut Symphonic Winds will present the first concert of their season on Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 pm at Roger Ludlowe Middle School in Fairfield, Connecticut. Their program includes Ticheli’s Blue Shades and the Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto, with Joseph Spitzer, soloist. Charlie DePaul promoted our concert with his members, so I wanted to spread the word to return the favor. Click on the poster to see the details. Admission is free!
Second, I managed to squeeze in the trip to hear the Air Force Heritage of America Band on Tuesday evening at The Palace in Stamford. This was the first time I was back at The Palace since our concert there in 2016 with Northshore. I saw Michael Moran, the theater manager, at intermission, and had a great conversation with him. He’d very much like to see us back there at The Palace in the future. The concert itself was very high quality, and their new assistant conductor is my friend David Neil Regner, who taught in Rich Guillen’s program at Arlington for about four years before joining the Air Force. David conducted a beautiful rendition of Whitacre’s Sleep, and the commander conducted two movements from Dance Movements by Philip Sparke, which I thought was gorgeous. There was also a new arrangement of America the Beautiful that I’d like to get my hands on. All in all, it was a wonderful program!
Next, I want to remind you that the auditions are continuing. I’ve heard about 8 so far, and everyone so far has been marvelous! We’ve transferred the signups to this Google Doc, so please click on the link and add your name to an open spot to sign up for your audition. (You do not need a Google account in order to access this document.)
I received this wonderful email from Steve Cohen earlier this week. Once again, you distinguished yourselves with both your musicianship and your hospitality:
Curt,
Once again, thank you for this past week. It’s something I will not soon forget as a wonderfully fulfilling experience musically and socially. Please tell your group how grateful I am that they welcomed me so warmly and how wonderfully they played in the whole concert, not just in the Daugherty. It is an experience I will not soon forget and who knows – maybe I will join the group when I retire and move back east ! That would give me some incentive to not give up playing the clarinet!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
all my best,
Steve
I think I could waive the audition, should it come to that!
I’m finally home this weekend after four weekends away or totally booked, and the Thanksgiving break is in sight! I’m looking forward to debriefing the concert with you on Monday and digging into our discussion about Music for Prague 1968. To get your mindset prepared for our discussion, I suggest watching this short YouTube interview with Mr. Husa, concerning the composition of his work:
And this is an interview with his granddaughter, Maria Meyer:
And remember that we have a late start on Monday — we can enter/set up at 7:30 pm, and start as soon as we’re ready on stage. As before, I suggest we gather by 7:30 outside the marquee doors, and enter as soon as they clear us to come in.
I hope to see some of you in Connecticut on Saturday and all of you on Monday. See you then.
