Return to rehearsals, ponderously presto
We're back at it! Time for our indoor season, which felt pretty much like the outdoor season, given that it was probably in the 70s when band started so we had the door open. That, and a crew was there to look at our amplification equipment, since we've been using the interior sound system for our concerts. They want to see what they can do to make it work better. It was breezy last night, and we definitely needed clothespins, but for the most part it was fine.
We have a new oboe player, at least for this next concert. This older gentleman came over and plopped down in what would normally be the piccolo player's chair, then started setting up both an oboe and English horn. He's of a certain age, and I guess when he talked to the director, there was a question of if he was too old to join. Considering the director is over a decade older than this guy, and the person who just retired over the summer is 95, no, no you're not too old. I think he's around 65. First impression, he kind of seemed like the old guy from Up, but it was his first time with us and we can be intimidating.
There was also a new member in the flute section…well, sort of: The gal I share a stand with is pregnant. She's due in December. I've known for a number of months, but at the same time she found out she was pregnant, she had to have surgery in that area, so she wasn't really telling people in case the pregnancy didn't hold. Well, it held! This was the first time we've seen her in several months, since she goes away for the summer, so when she walked past the Eb clarinet player (who had no idea), that person just looked at her wide-eyed. She then started asking all sorts of questions, asking how her pregnancy was going, relating things that happened to her (she has two kids), and all of that. Of the three of us, I'm the oldest, but we're within a few years of each other, and they're both band directors, so they can relate to a lot of things. We also had a couple funny moments. One song we played--which I believe helped inspire this post's title--is pretty spirited, and bonus, I'll get to play piccolo on it as there's a second picc part. Apparently the baby got in the mood and she started moving around during it. Okay, well, we know what she likes! Heh. Also, toward the end, there's one measure with a fermata and the marking for it is "ponderously." However, the very next measure is marked "presto." The way they're written makes it look like it's one phrase, and since they mean opposite things, it was very confusing at first glance. In a different song, the Eb player has to hold a note for approximately ever (like six bars in 4/4 time, and not a fast 4/4). She managed to do it, which we found really impressive--she's the only one holding the note, and it's a higher pitch so it's clearly her playing it. My stand partner and I actually turned to watch her for the last two measures, and she'd turned to look at us a little with these eyes that said, OMG am I gonna make it?!? No lie, we actually missed our entrance because we were so busy watching the Eb player. :P But, hey, she did it.
It was check day, the most exciting day of the year. I have to remember to pull out my check from where I put it. They passed out checks differently this year, which was nice. Normally there's a table set up in the little vestibule just off the band setup, and a huge line forms with everybody going to see the treasurer, and it takes a long time for everyone to get through it. This year, for whatever reason, the band secretary handed out the folders of checks to the section leaders and had them pass the checks out. I think this worked out well. However, it led to a conversation between the secretary and someone near me, in which we learned our secretary was stepping down from her post for at least a year. I guess she's been secretary for close to two decades, so this was a big surprise. I know, from the director, that she's having vision or headache issues so I wonder if this is related. She has a thyroid issue that affects her eyes and therefore her vision and I think she has to attend to that. I hope she'll still be with the band, because she's a good player and part of the flute section; she sits in front of me.
Overall it was a good night, and I now have music to practice again, and while I'm sure I'll miss being able to come home on Monday nights, I enjoy being a member of the band and seeing everyone.
We have a new oboe player, at least for this next concert. This older gentleman came over and plopped down in what would normally be the piccolo player's chair, then started setting up both an oboe and English horn. He's of a certain age, and I guess when he talked to the director, there was a question of if he was too old to join. Considering the director is over a decade older than this guy, and the person who just retired over the summer is 95, no, no you're not too old. I think he's around 65. First impression, he kind of seemed like the old guy from Up, but it was his first time with us and we can be intimidating.
There was also a new member in the flute section…well, sort of: The gal I share a stand with is pregnant. She's due in December. I've known for a number of months, but at the same time she found out she was pregnant, she had to have surgery in that area, so she wasn't really telling people in case the pregnancy didn't hold. Well, it held! This was the first time we've seen her in several months, since she goes away for the summer, so when she walked past the Eb clarinet player (who had no idea), that person just looked at her wide-eyed. She then started asking all sorts of questions, asking how her pregnancy was going, relating things that happened to her (she has two kids), and all of that. Of the three of us, I'm the oldest, but we're within a few years of each other, and they're both band directors, so they can relate to a lot of things. We also had a couple funny moments. One song we played--which I believe helped inspire this post's title--is pretty spirited, and bonus, I'll get to play piccolo on it as there's a second picc part. Apparently the baby got in the mood and she started moving around during it. Okay, well, we know what she likes! Heh. Also, toward the end, there's one measure with a fermata and the marking for it is "ponderously." However, the very next measure is marked "presto." The way they're written makes it look like it's one phrase, and since they mean opposite things, it was very confusing at first glance. In a different song, the Eb player has to hold a note for approximately ever (like six bars in 4/4 time, and not a fast 4/4). She managed to do it, which we found really impressive--she's the only one holding the note, and it's a higher pitch so it's clearly her playing it. My stand partner and I actually turned to watch her for the last two measures, and she'd turned to look at us a little with these eyes that said, OMG am I gonna make it?!? No lie, we actually missed our entrance because we were so busy watching the Eb player. :P But, hey, she did it.
It was check day, the most exciting day of the year. I have to remember to pull out my check from where I put it. They passed out checks differently this year, which was nice. Normally there's a table set up in the little vestibule just off the band setup, and a huge line forms with everybody going to see the treasurer, and it takes a long time for everyone to get through it. This year, for whatever reason, the band secretary handed out the folders of checks to the section leaders and had them pass the checks out. I think this worked out well. However, it led to a conversation between the secretary and someone near me, in which we learned our secretary was stepping down from her post for at least a year. I guess she's been secretary for close to two decades, so this was a big surprise. I know, from the director, that she's having vision or headache issues so I wonder if this is related. She has a thyroid issue that affects her eyes and therefore her vision and I think she has to attend to that. I hope she'll still be with the band, because she's a good player and part of the flute section; she sits in front of me.
Overall it was a good night, and I now have music to practice again, and while I'm sure I'll miss being able to come home on Monday nights, I enjoy being a member of the band and seeing everyone.