A quite different set of challenges from yesterday’s Mahler – and only two horns this time. However from the “no room for error” opening bars and thoughout this long symphony there is plenty to keep the horn players on their toes.
George McConnell
Dominating Horns
Continuing my “symphonies I have played with good horn parts” today I link Mahler. I think every horn player would agree that they are good parts – if a bit scary at times 😱😱
My First Symphony
(No not one that I composed 😂) A few weeks ago I “featured” the horn solo from the 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony. That was the second symphony that I had played – my first ever symphony was Dvorak’s 8th. Less well known than the “New World Symphony” I have played it more often.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Like last Sunday, my link is to an a capella song – but the music is very different from last week’s offering.
Flying Sticks
Its time that my “funny moments” anecdotes included something from the percussion section. I have certainly had my fair share of flying stick moments and an assortment of other mishaps. I suspect that there are a couple of songsters at Cardiff who are still having nightmares about the close thing they had with the bouncing bomb that was my double headed bass drum mallet 😲😂
Remembering
When I started my daily music posts I mentioned that it was partly inspired by a radio programme. I well remember on a Saturday afternoon walking from home to Ibrox stadium to watch the football – my transistor radio (yep it was that long ago) held to my ear listening to that programme.
Discovery
This week would have been my turn to give a short ‘thought’ at the end of band rehearsal and given that we are not having rehearsals at the moment I have been asked to deliver it at our zoom get together instead. This is a new experience!
A Moment Of Reflection
Tonight would have been my turn to provide the closing thought at our Band rehearsal. Instead I am doing “virtual devotions” for our band on a zoom call. Thursday is our usual rehearsal night and we have started having an online get together after the “Clap for the NHS”.
A Spinning Stand
For a few years I had the pleasure of playing in the orchestra for the end of term show at one of the Glasgow Schools – and very good productions they were too.
No Air Getting Through
It was a youth meeting at Clydebank SA and I was to play a couple of solos. The first one was announced and I stood up – my accompanist (I can’t remember who it was) played me an A and I blew into my horn to check the tuning.