
I’m a big fan of binders if you’ve got a long program – the tabs are new technology by me, for which I caught a good ribbing. They worked though…
I’ve seen it time and again, but it never fails to restore my faith in humanity: if you gather smart, hardworking teens together under a conductor every week with their chosen instruments and good music to play, magical things happen. Add 40 degree heat inside the church, a six-week hiatus from playing and a good audience and impossible magical things happen.
I love these young people and what they can do – sometimes they know exactly what they’re capable of, more often they surprise themselves. I’m feel honoured to bruise my fingers with them (this leads to better calluses and stronger playing). Yesterday we began practise at 4pm, and played straight through until 10pm, with only two 20 minute breaks. That requires a special kind of stamina, especially when playing material that even pro orchestras and soloists find challenging. My fingers are killing me this morning.
If you haven’t heard of this group, I’m happy to introduce you. Keep an eye out for us near Christmas, and again in May of 2013. It’s always worth it to come.
Here’s a link to the website, which only needs a little bit of updating – http://www.gbsyo.ca/
What we played last night:
Symphony #1 in C major, III – Menuetto L. van Beethoven
Violin Concerto #1 in G minor, I – Allegro Max Bruch
Samantha Orr – violin
Horn Concerto #1 in E flat major, I – Allegro Richard Strauss
Paige Mitchell – french horn
Un Moto di Gioia (from ‘The Marriage of Figaro) W.A. Mozart
Kathleen Chayer – soprano
Piano Concerto #2 in C minor, III – Allegro S. Rachmaninoff
Christine Camidge – piano
Intermission
Hockey Night in Canada R. Mascall
He Shall Feed His Flock (from Messiah) G.F. Handel
The Death of Ase (from Peer Gynt) E. Grieg
Pavane G. Faure
Dreadlocks ‘n’ Dreidel R. Mascall
Rob Tite – clarinet
Symphony #9 in D minor, II – Allegro Molto L. van Beethoven

the trickiest bit of the Beethoven for me – I had a mental block on this passage, which appears twice. The notes aren’t difficult – just my mental block….
Encore – Ojibway Songs, IV – Allegro Vivo R. Mascall