This week:

• The plan for Monday’s rehearsal
• A wealth of Husa materials and an exceptional recording
• My thanks to Ben and the Area All-State directors/students
• TEDx Talk published!

Monday’s rehearsal

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!

Thanks for watching. See you on Monday!

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.

Wow! Everyone really brought their best work to the stage yesterday! It was truly exhilarating! Thank you all for such a fine performance, strengthened by a large and strong audience. And congratulations one more time to Ed Herko, and thank you to Eddie and Suzanne for their sponsorship of the concert.

Ben Acrish wrote me this morning and asked that I include this very kind personal note from him in this post:

Dear Curt and my fellow Westchester Symphonic Winds,

Thank you! Your playing of Metroplex and the whole program this evening was fantastic! I am so proud to be a part of this organization and sincerely thank you for all of your support and effort. We made some great music tonight and I look forward  to our next concert! Curt, it takes a truly confident leader to relinquish so much control. Thank you for the opportunity and for your trust and guidance!

Thanks again,

Ben

No, I didn’t lose the that key to the lock for our library at CubeSmart.

No, Nancy did not find a $1M winning lottery ticket in someone’s folder.

No, the sarrusophone parts are safe. You may resume breathing.

But — when I went to the library today to pull our WSW copy of Salvation is Created, which is on our Winter program, I found that the version we own is a Frank Erickson fantasy arrangement, not the standard arrangement by Bruce Houseknecht, which we need.

Band Director members — if you have Salvation is Created, arranged by Bruce Houseknecht in your school library and you’re willing to loan it to us through the end of February, please email me, and bring the parts to rehearsal Monday. (The version I’m looking for also has Awake! in it, but no one ever programs it!)