I am playing for Music in the Mountains this weekend, in their annual Christmas concert set. We had a rehearsal this evening, and have a short (really kind of a half) rehearsal and short children’s concert tomorrow morning, a full concert tomorrow night and a final concert Sunday afternoon. I can tell already this weekend is going to fly by. I am guessing someone had to cancel out at the last minute (whoever you are, I thank you!), as I was contacted rather late: I am happy to get the work, although two of my four students couldn’t reschedule and I found out after accepting the job that another had to cancel out of her rescheduled lesson so I’m probably not even breaking even on this job. Such is life. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the music festival and while the summer festival, which is much larger, is more of the “real thing” this was a fun opportunity. The group is great to work with, and I’m feeling fairly comfortable, even while I’m such an outsider.
A chorus member is sharing her home with me. She is so very gracious and easy to be with. So far, I’m two for two in that — my host at Mendocino was wonderful as well. I’m always nervous about invading someone’s house, and I try to keep a very low profile. I hope that doesn’t come across as just rude. I do wonder about that a bit!
Anyway, back to the music … there are a LOT of notes! Some people might think, “Oh, Christmas music? John Williams Home Alone tunes? Fun and easy!” But no, John Williams isn’t necessarily easy, and there are other works on the program that are quite “notey” as well. In addition we are a reduced orchestra, so I have both the first and second oboe parts and I’m reading from both sometimes, choosing which seems more important to play. It’s a challenge, but it’s a fun challenge in its special little way!
The conductor is quite easy to work for … and so young he is actually younger than our older son. Ack! Does that mean I’m old? Hm.
This year there is no Nutcracker since Ballet San José is using taped music due to budget woes (I hope it helps with their money problems, and I hope they survive, AND I hope we are back in their pit sometime soon!), so these are the only Christmas related concerts I will play. I didn’t think I’d miss Nutcracker — although I most definitely knew I’d miss the Christmas time income — but I kind of do. Enough so that I just might, for the first time in my life, attend a real live Nutcracker performance (nope, I’ve NEVER been!).
If I go, I promise you they will have a live orchestra.
And now I will say goodnight. This is the longest PattyRamble™ I’ve had in eons. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing!
Just as I leave readers on my photography blog a flower photo, I think I’ll leave you one tonight as well— something other than what I’ll post there, though — just because.
