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AndrewH said
I'm going to guess that the Sibelius piece is his Andante Festivo. It's a community orchestra staple, and a lovely piece.
I'm listening to it now. Beautiful.
Speaking of orchestras, I have a concert tomorrow (Saturday) night myself. 18 years and more than 120 concerts into playing in orchestras, it still doesn't get old. This one will be fun -- the symphony on the program is probably my favorite symphony of all, Borodin's 2nd.
One of the many reasons I have for playing in an orchestra is to learn more music!
The differences between the two pieces you mention seem at opposite ends. Both beautiful, but for so many different reasons.
- Pete -
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Ahem, I fear I have misled a lot of people. I have been with the same woman for 23 years, but she is not the marrying kind, lol.
And, being a stereotypically MOR-loving German, the only music she likes is Tom Jones and the slow movements of Mozart piano concertos, and I am banned from playing the violin in her house.
So, the search for a wife continues, both in jest and in seriousness, I'm afraid!
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AndrewH said
I'm going to guess that the Sibelius piece is his Andante Festivo. It's a community orchestra staple, and a lovely piece.
You guessed correctly.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
Ahem, I fear I have misled a lot of people. I have been with the same woman for 23 years, but she is not the marrying kind, lol.And, being a stereotypically MOR-loving German, the only music she likes is Tom Jones and the slow movements of Mozart piano concertos, and I am banned from playing the violin in her house.
So, the search for a wife continues, both in jest and in seriousness, I'm afraid!
Hilarious..I know I bit. 
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So glad you have a sense of humor.
The Bumblebee Flies!
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Back to the tolic, @Pete_Violin, have you received any further information on your concert?
The Bumblebee Flies!
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cid said
Back to the tolic, @Pete_Violin, have you received any further information on your concert?
@Mouse
No, the email I received outlines the rehearsal schedule, including dress rehearsal. It does have the performance date, which is October 26th.
The first rehearsal is this Thursday. I promise to give all kinds of details from that first rehearsal, including what music we are playing, what part I will play (likely violin II), what goes on and whether there is any type of seating or auditioning, what the conductor is like, how large the orchestra is, how many violins, what are the experience levels of players, how the rehearsal itself goes and how I feel about it.
Just be patient... it's only 3 days away.
- Pete -
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This is so exciting for you and I am really interested in how it goes. I really wish I could do this. I guess I am hoping that hearing everyone’s experiences here will help in that area, as well as being interested and excited for you all.
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OMG - you guys crack me up....I for one as a girl feel like my sweet hubby is the one who likes to feel needed...then when he is needed, he is somewhere else!.....maybe that's the way we all see our other halves - love em!
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@Mimi Aysha Would you like some Super Glue to put yourself back together?
We have to do something to occupy ourselves while we wait on Pete. I am really interested in this. I am not very patient! LOL
I love to crack my husband up. Love the laugh and smile.
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too funny, its like a little reality TV....between Pete's first big concert experience and Gordons love life - I'm pretty invested in the outcome!
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LOL!!!
I really did not anticipate this would become
- Pete -
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Hey, @Mimi Aysha, can I have that Super Glue back? You and Pete just cracked me up big time.
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ROFL !
Hey - first rehearsal tomorrow @pete_violin ! ( LOL, yeah, in spite of the hilarity I have been following the thread with interest ! )
Good luck with it - I'm sure you'll do fine 
- keep us advised !
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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First Rehearsal
Ok.. first, some stats...
We are playing 3 pieces for this performance. Also, keep in mind that this is a combined orchestra and choir, so the pieces will be sung.
- Over The Rainbow. Written in E♭ major.
- Arranged to accompany the choir, the orchestra plays very little of the actual melody because the choir will sing.
- There is a key change to E major near the end of the song
- You Raise Me Up. Written in D♭ major for half the song, D major for the last half.
- Again, arranged for an accompaniment.
- This is the famous Josh Groban song
- The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Written in G♭ major. No key changes.
This was the first rehearsal night. Some players who plan to be in the orchestra did not show tonight. We had a total of 10 players at this rehearsal.
Strings: 2 violas, 2 violins, 1 cello. I am playing Violin II.
Ok.. those are the stats.
Now, here's how things went. I arrived and, at first, I was the only violinist. I got my music and sat down in my section.
There was no audition. There will be no seating selection. You simply play the part you want to play. This is a community orchestra and it is not any specific level of players. There are some experienced players. Probably all of them are more experienced than I am, but this is not a factor in the makeup of the orchestra. The objective is to provide a good performance for the community. There is no fee to attend the performance.
My teacher is playing in the orchestra, but she did arrive late because of kids. But there was no problem at all. We are playing the same part, so she will be able to give me lots of help. But when I arrived I was the only violinist playing. It was a little odd. For a moment, I wondered if I was to be the only violin in the orchestra. That would be the least representative orchestra for violins ever!
Once my teacher arrived, I was a lot more relaxed.
I did ok. It was the first run through. Essentially a site reading. I was able to follow and keep up, although there are some challenges. Some of the notes are much higher than I have ever played, in positions I have not really played in. But my teacher will be helping me through those.
The conductor was easy going. He is not demanding or has any odd requests for the music.
The music does not have anything written that I have not seen before so I believe all it will take is some practice and a little help from my teacher.
Everything is in 4/4 so no surprises with timing. There are a few runs with 16ths and 32nds that I will need to work on.
Overall I had a good time. Me and my teacher joked a lot. I wasn't overly stressed. The music for me seems to be something I can handle, but with learning opportunities. I am using every bit of what I have learned, and then some. But I am very glad to be in the orchestra!
Oh! The flutes sit right behind me and they are loud. Louder than I though flutes play. But the good news is their parts are similar to mine 
If there are other questions I will be happy to answer them. I can't think of much more to cover right now. Let me know, and I will answer anything.
- Pete -
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I apologise for hijacking your thread without reading it, Pete. I will read it now!
Pete_Violin said
Percussion music is, for the most part, very rhythmic and there is not a whole lot of notes on the staff.
(other) Musicians joke about percussionists, but it is a definite skill. We attempted Don't Fear the Reaper at our uke group, and so I bought a cheap cowbell on Amazon, but hitting that thing with perfect rhythm is not as easy as you might think!
Andrew
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@Gordon Shumway
LOL!! Non-sequitur. This does not compute...
Andrew, in no way did I take your comment as a hijack. Hijack denotes some kind of maliciousness, and I don't believe you'd ever post a mean thing.
- Pete -
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Pete_Violin said
Andrew, in no way did I take your comment as a hijack. Hijack denotes some kind of maliciousness, and I don't believe you'd ever post a mean thing.
I was referring to all the stuff on previous pages about wives and gfs!
Pete_Violin said
Over The Rainbow. Written in E♭ major. There is a key change to E major near the end of the song.
You Raise Me Up. Written in D♭ major for half the song, D major for the last half.
The Lord Bless You and Keep You. Written in G♭ major. No key changes.
Lol. You wouldn't want a key change after Gb, would you, that would spoil it!
We are playing
1. Sibelius in the key of G
2. Vaughan Williams in the key of G
lol!
Andrew
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Separate response:
@Fiddlerman , @AndrewH and others, do you have formal checklists? As I pack my case/bag, I fear arriving with something important missing. I've squeezed in reading glasses, pencil, diary, rosin, bows, spare strings, mute, tuning fork, Snark, music.
But I hate travelling without something to read, and there's no room for a book, so I'll probably have to take a bag too. I need to buy black shoes for concerts, and I don't know if I'll wear them to the concert or wear sneakers and carry the shoes, lol!
Andrew
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Congratulations on getting through your first rehearsal, Pete! Sounds like an excellent start. G-flat major is a bit of a surprise for this level, but it sounds like you're doing fine with it.
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