We are good to go for this evening at TMH. (Herkos – this means we’re really having rehearsal tonight.)

See you all then.

I can’t believe there’s more snow forecast Sunday into Monday. For now, we are “go” for rehearsal Monday evening at 7:30 pm at TMH. We will make a final decision to confirm or cancel by 3 pm on Monday. Cross your fingers, do your anti-snow dance, promise to take Yeti to lunch — anything so we don’t get the 9-12″ currently forecast.

Meanwhile, our rehearsal plan is posted for Monday.

I also shared the November recording of Capriccio with Frank Gulino, and he wrote immediately. I just had to share this with you.

I just listened to this. I can’t tell you how impressed I am!

Curt – The band sounds great. Musical, refined, balanced. The brass projects well without cutting too much, the woodwinds blend with each other better than in most bands I’ve ever heard, and all of the musicians in the group seem to follow your musical ideas very well. The tempos are precisely what I had in mind when I wrote the piece, and I just love your approach and the group’s support of the soloist. Speaking of the soloist . . .

Tony – Wow. You sound terrific! The sound is so clear, so even, and has just enough brilliance to make the big moments really wonderful. Clarity in the high range, great legato playing, and a pure sound — all the characteristics I want to hear in a trombone soloist. Is this the Courtois? If it is, I think you’ve found your horn. Might be time to call Christan Griego and tell him you’re a Courtois man now 😉

Also some kudos to the recording guy! Recordings don’t come out this well by accident.

Seriously, bravo guys. Hope to have the opportunity to work with both of you again soon!

Best,
Frank

You continue to impress audiences and the composers themselves. Congratulations on this impressive work. I continue to be so proud to have the opportunity to work with you!

I shared November’s performance recording of Vignettes with the composer, David Avshalomov. Look what he had to say in an email he just sent!

Wow, a good performance indeed, so many nice things. I particularly liked:

1. The great dynamic range in Our Leader
2. How the accompaniment nailed the rhythmic feel of the overdots/quintuplets in Grotesko
3. The lyricism in Snowy Mountain–the drawn-out long tones and long phrases, the smoothness of the expression. What a sound!
4. The surprisingly brisk tempo of Robots–I’ve never heard or imagined it at that speed–but it worked (except perhaps for the sixteenth-note solo figure in clarinets at the end). I had thought this movement was too long (at the original tempo) and have already done a revised version that cuts a half minute–but I may have to rethink that. Also, the dynamics were great, and the articulations, and the long swells. Oh, and your tom-tom soloist was terrific, really got the feel (clearly had fun . . .)
5. The oboe transition of MoonSong, fine player, nice feeling.
6. Dragon dance was crazed and wonderful, right to the last held-over tamtam ring at the end. A little fast, but it still worked.
7. News/Weather was tight and just right.
8. The phrasing/placement of the ending of Valentine.
9. The controlled frenzy of Ice Wars, you really brought that off. (The tight percussion helped.)

If you ever want to play them again, I could provide a few notes (little things here and there). Also revised versions of a few movements.

Best,
D A