37: Rehearsal (2)

Today’s rehearsal of Lightfall was quite short (less than 50 minutes) because the orchestra needed to look at the Dvorak Cello Concerto.

Rehearsing Lightfall (08:09:09)

Richard Gill took the orchestra without soloist at a slow tempo from letter T in Part Two, then from letter R at correct tempo. Everything locked in nicely. Then they ran through the entire concerto.

I asked that the orchestral horns in Part Two between letters N and O be softer so that they echoed the soloist more, with the added advantage that the piano solo at Letter O could soar over the orchestra without competition.

Also that the last three bars of Part One maintain the relentless tempo and dynamic. There should be no indication that the piece is about to end. Rather a sudden cut, midstream, to black.

I have mentioned the tests going on to improve the acoustics of the concert hall by Kirkegaard Associates. Larry Kirkegaard asked me if the woodwinds were sounding stronger now that he had moved the ceiling reflectors closer together. I said that yesterday I couldn’t hear them at all while today they were audible but still too quiet; an improvement but not enough. How many composers get their own acoustician to tune the actual hall for their piece? Quite amazing.

Robert Gay attended the rehearsal hearing the piece for the very first time. He enjoyed it very much and is looking forward to tomorrow’s rehearsal, as well. He says it was a done deal that he would like Lightfall but I must admit to feeling relief and excitement when he applauded.

The orchestra’s new assistant conductor, Nicholas Carter, has been very helpful as an extra pair of ears during the rehearsal, particularly with regard to balance between instruments. I am afraid that when they are playing well I tend to float along with the music and forget to listen critically. You could bet your grandmother that it is always at those moments that Richard stops the orchestra and asks me an important question like “are the second violins staccato enough”.

Afterwards there was a meeting with Kim Waldock (education manager with the SSO) and Robert Johnson to discuss what we would chat about at the pre-concert talk. Robert Gay also came. We talked about composers and orchestras being a part of their community, rather than an outpost of European and 19th century traditions. The talks are in the northern foyer at 5:45 pm on Wednesday and Thursday (no talk Friday).