Last saturday was a fun but challenging day for the band as we had our first "workshop"
The band all met at our usual rehearsal venue, Trinity Church at 10am for a warm that consisted of playing throuh hymn music.
We then rehearsed for an hour with Peter Cole, our musical director. We played Weber's Overture Oberon and a march. These are both quite technically demanding pieces that the band would not usually have the opportunity to play.
Peter's brother David also conducted us through his composition, Kaleidoscope. This is a piece that includes arrangements of ' A whiter shade of Pale, ' Lady in Red' and Black is Black'. David is the Director of the RBL. It was a great experience to rehearse with a professional conductor who kept us on our toes!!
After lunch (down the pub) we then played through some Swing pieces, conducted by Peter Ripper. After a quick polish of the other pieces we then had a final run through for our patrons in the evening.
All in all it was a very successful day. I hope the other band members enjoyed the challenge as much as I did!
3/04/2008
Extending the Repertoire
The band is growing and developing in both strength and skill. For that reason, we're thinking of introducing new, slightly heavier, pieces into our repertoire. This should give the band some extra musical challenge whilst providing more variety for our audiences. 2008 should be a fun and varied year.
8/01/2007
Band BBQ / Social
Just wanted to say a big Thank you to Peter for his hospitality on Saturday.
Also - thank you to all those people who brought along some truly fantastic puddings.
YUM!!
Also - thank you to all those people who brought along some truly fantastic puddings.
YUM!!
Four Scottish Dances - Who are ya!!
Why does the bit in the second movement sound like a football chant.........
and why are there so many nasty key changes, I mean come on......six flats????
Urgh!!
Other than that a good rehearsal last night. It was good to see (and hear) a full horn section - well done boys!! :)
We are preparing the pieces ready for the Autumn concert - all on a dance theme. Once again Peter has raised the standard with some trickier pieces to play, which basically means that the post rehearsal drink down the pub was all the more appreciated.
Cheers!
and why are there so many nasty key changes, I mean come on......six flats????
Urgh!!
Other than that a good rehearsal last night. It was good to see (and hear) a full horn section - well done boys!! :)
We are preparing the pieces ready for the Autumn concert - all on a dance theme. Once again Peter has raised the standard with some trickier pieces to play, which basically means that the post rehearsal drink down the pub was all the more appreciated.
Cheers!
5/30/2007
Trinity does Wagner!
Last night's rehearsal was REALLY hard work!
The Wagner went well, but it is quite a blow. This piece is really quiet at the beginning and it is quite hard work to keep it controlled. The phrases are also quite long so breath control is vital. Its almost a releif when we get to play a "Forte" at the end, but by then the lips have gone!
The weekly visit to the pub after the rehearsal was definitely needed, especially as there are so many Trinity Geminis all celebrating their birthday this week.
Happy Birthday Trinity Geminis!!
L xxxx
The Wagner went well, but it is quite a blow. This piece is really quiet at the beginning and it is quite hard work to keep it controlled. The phrases are also quite long so breath control is vital. Its almost a releif when we get to play a "Forte" at the end, but by then the lips have gone!
The weekly visit to the pub after the rehearsal was definitely needed, especially as there are so many Trinity Geminis all celebrating their birthday this week.
Happy Birthday Trinity Geminis!!
L xxxx
5/04/2007
The theiving magpie
Its been a while since anyone updated this Blog so I thought I'd give it a go. Thanks to Gill for giving me access to do this.
Since Peter took over as muscial director I think the pieces we've been playing have got a lot more technical, and Tuesday's rehearsal was no exception. The rehearsal was hard work, but still good fun.
We warmed up with some Hymns to get us playing together and then played (gulp!!) scales to listen to our tuning and intonation. To make sure we were all thoroughly exhausted at the end of the rehearsal, out came Rossini's Theiving Magpie. This is a brilliant piece, although quite a tricky one to play.
Personally..I'm going to have to do a lot of private study on this one.
I don't know about the rest of the band, but I was pretty tired after this rehearsal.
Since Peter took over as muscial director I think the pieces we've been playing have got a lot more technical, and Tuesday's rehearsal was no exception. The rehearsal was hard work, but still good fun.
We warmed up with some Hymns to get us playing together and then played (gulp!!) scales to listen to our tuning and intonation. To make sure we were all thoroughly exhausted at the end of the rehearsal, out came Rossini's Theiving Magpie. This is a brilliant piece, although quite a tricky one to play.
Personally..I'm going to have to do a lot of private study on this one.
I don't know about the rest of the band, but I was pretty tired after this rehearsal.
2/23/2006
New Year's Concert and Rose St. Concert
Both these concerts featured the same programme and played to enthusiastic audiences. The Rose St. Church concert was particularly cosy and the acoustics were tremendous. Because of the building works taking place on one side of the church, inhabitants of Rose Street were treated to the amusing sight of the band members filing out of the band room onto the street in full uniform and carrying instruments, and filing around to the main door to the church to enter the stage area. Having tuned up carefully in the band room, it was a bit of a worry that the instruments might detune in the cold so the band scampered as fast as they could. It didn't seem to cause any problems thought and must have added a bit of excitement to the neighbours.
12/25/2005
Christmas Concert 2005
Brilliant time. The audiences for both the matinee and the evening performances were very appreciative, and seemed to really enjoy themselves. Band and audiences all went home in an extremely festive spirit, ready (in the case of the Band) to start on the sparkling repertoire for the New Year's concert.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all.
10/16/2005
Fascinating Rhythm's Concert 15/10/2005
Although tinged with sadness, this concert went extremely well. It was dedicated to the memory of Angela Steele - Michael's wife and our Band Secretary, Librarian and Principal Euphonium player - who passed away on 22 nd July at the age of 57, after a short illness.
Many of Angela's friends came along and we all enjoyed the exciting music and varied rhythms.
Ann Zebedee, good friend of Angela's and fellow euphonium player, made a wonderful flower arrangement in Angela's euphonium which provided a lovely focus.
The Alpine horn solos were an unusual addition to the usual concert repertoire and added an extra dimension to the proceedings. Whatever others might say, Alpine horn players are clearly of the opinion that "size matters". Francis brought the horn in in its collapsed state - it would be impossible to transport otherwise, and assembled it in front of an amazed audience (the Band were pretty impressed for that matter).
