those ole solar tides, they are a-flowin'
Ok, the Beltane energy is virtually overwhelming. I'm the most massive horndog on the planet. While I definitely enjoy this feeling, I have my premiere tonight and have to be a successful artist in a suit having his orchestra and chorus piece performed and I have a feeling it's going to be hard to not pop a woody during the event, which is not good form for being a gracious personage in public.
On the music front, the toy piano sounds horrible because there is seemingly no good way to voice the chords/counterpoint in order to emphasize the melody. (I think this has to do with the fact that I couldn't afford a good one. I'm going to have to save up and buy a real top of the line toy piano for future works.) Combine that with the fact that tuning on those things is both one of their biggest charms (the others being their timbre and the cute/coolness factor) and their biggest liability and it will either be incredible or a disaster.
The orchestra is beginning to get the piece pretty well. Still worried about the chimes solo, as it hasn't happened right yet. The oboe/english horn duet sounds wonderful, as does so many other moments (particularly the violin, viola and cello solos and our incredible harpist).
As regards the vocal parts, the choir was only able to rehearse with us last night and they really need more time to come to understand the orchestra's role in the piece. During rehearsal last night, I couldn't get the sound guys to adjust the narrator's volume properly into the mix (because somebody couldn't get the mic on during our first go through and there wasn't enough time to adjust it on the second turn) so I hope it's not too hot.
My next piece for the orchestra will be called earth: you are here and is meant to go with Holst's The Planets. I'm trying to get a total commitment from the orchestra that i can use the full orchestration of Holst's piece so that I can incorporate a bass oboe, alto flute, euphonium, female chorus and other tasty elements. I can feel the Earth Mother's breath at the beginning of the piece, which i think will start with the bass oboe, english horn, contrabassoon and alto flute. I'm also thinking about using a motive based on the notes G-A-E-A to unify the work and incorporating names of earth deities in the chorus part. i think this will make a wonderful counterpart to Holst's piece, which is one of those pieces that set me on my way to being a classical musician, and which is also a way that helps me understand astrology, which is what it's about. we'll see what happens.
On the music front, the toy piano sounds horrible because there is seemingly no good way to voice the chords/counterpoint in order to emphasize the melody. (I think this has to do with the fact that I couldn't afford a good one. I'm going to have to save up and buy a real top of the line toy piano for future works.) Combine that with the fact that tuning on those things is both one of their biggest charms (the others being their timbre and the cute/coolness factor) and their biggest liability and it will either be incredible or a disaster.
The orchestra is beginning to get the piece pretty well. Still worried about the chimes solo, as it hasn't happened right yet. The oboe/english horn duet sounds wonderful, as does so many other moments (particularly the violin, viola and cello solos and our incredible harpist).
As regards the vocal parts, the choir was only able to rehearse with us last night and they really need more time to come to understand the orchestra's role in the piece. During rehearsal last night, I couldn't get the sound guys to adjust the narrator's volume properly into the mix (because somebody couldn't get the mic on during our first go through and there wasn't enough time to adjust it on the second turn) so I hope it's not too hot.
My next piece for the orchestra will be called earth: you are here and is meant to go with Holst's The Planets. I'm trying to get a total commitment from the orchestra that i can use the full orchestration of Holst's piece so that I can incorporate a bass oboe, alto flute, euphonium, female chorus and other tasty elements. I can feel the Earth Mother's breath at the beginning of the piece, which i think will start with the bass oboe, english horn, contrabassoon and alto flute. I'm also thinking about using a motive based on the notes G-A-E-A to unify the work and incorporating names of earth deities in the chorus part. i think this will make a wonderful counterpart to Holst's piece, which is one of those pieces that set me on my way to being a classical musician, and which is also a way that helps me understand astrology, which is what it's about. we'll see what happens.