Hi Folks!
Next week’s rehearsal will run a bit differently than we’re used to as it is a dress rehearsal. The following two weeks (July 16 and 23) are both concerts. I’ll send out further information as far as times, addresses, special instructions, in the blog entry for the appropriate week. (So next week’s blog – which will be published no later than the Saturday after rehearsal – will include logistics and details pertaining to the July 16 gig at Lindenwoods).
We’ll run the concert in the first half of next week’s rehearsal with minimal stops. After the break, we’ll spot-correct anything that needs it. You will have an opportunity to request any sections that you’d like a look at – make sure you note them during the run-through.
I would encourage you to take look at Dragonheart this week – it’s an unusual key for concert bands to play in, for one thing. Please double check the key signatures as well as accidentals. Also, I would recommend checking in with a tuner to make sure you understand what adjustments you may need to make, especially for some of those notes that may be less familiar. (Some notes on each instrument tend in one direction – it’s not a matter of adjusting the instrument unless all your notes trend in that same direction). The intonation in this piece is tricky because it’s scored heavily in octaves, which are surprisingly hard to tune.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you can’t attend a performance.
We’re pretty casual about attendance – it is a summer band, and summer’s gonna summer. Having said that, if we are missing critical parts, I’ll have to do some analysis to ensure coverage of critical parts and that may include writing cues for other instruments.
Concert dress is, as per our brand, more casual than other ensembles. While we do have Millennium Band polo shirts available (as the “official” uniform – $25 each), you are under no obligation to purchase a shirt from us. Any (modest) forest green top will do. If forest green is not available, we prefer (modest) black on top. As far as bottoms go, we prefer (modest) black. If your version of concert attire has logos or messaging, please bear in mind that we are all representing the band and any messaging should be appropriate in that context.
We take your safety very seriously. Dress for the weather – both these July gigs are intended to be outdoors, weather permitting. (Though indoor locations are available so the show will go on for us regardless of weather conditions). All this to say, please make sure that you have what you need to perform safely: insect repellent, sunscreen, hats, sandals, shorts, plexiglass or clothespins, etc.
Here’s what I expect our concert order will be – this is the order we’ll rehearse with minimal stops and few pauses between (feel free to organise your music in this order temporarily):
- Bb Scale
- 75 – Fanfare for the Unsung Hero
- Bb Scale
- 21- A Disney Spectacular
- 35 – Roseland Tango
- 78 – Baba Yetu
- 83 – cross-fire
- 60- Dragonheart
- 79 – Zoolantis!
- 82 – Hymn to Freedom
- 81 – A Gathering of Eagles
If everything is perfect, we’ll keep working at 59 – Super Mario Brothers (recording) in the second half.
Please take a moment to check out: Administrative Operations if you haven’t already done so. This page contains information about the way we operate as an organisation (the binders, attendance expectations, concert wear, etc).
See you on Thursday!
Elizabeth.