I’m playing only the Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune for this week’s Symphony Silicon Valley concerts. It’s the first work on the program, so I’ll be done early, and I plan on sitting in the audience for at least one performance. I’m looking forward to hearing the orchestra because the winds have been rearranged; the first row of woodwinds are on a higher riser. I’m hoping this will bring out the first row more. I think the hall is the most difficult for the oboes; we really have to blast to reach the audience. Or at least that’s how it feels much of the time. So we’ll see how this seating arrangement works.

Meanwhile, even with the short amount I’m playing, I’m not yet comfortable; I need to get my seaEnglish horn legs back. They are a bit on the weak side. Not playing EH as much as I used to, I feel just a tad insecure with pitch and projection. Such is life.

And while I’m trying to feel more comfortable on EH, I have the recital on Sunday evening. I only play oboe. Wouldn’t ya know?