Jonny’s Blog

Last week was a little hectic musically. Friday, Saturday and Sunday all contained concerts. Details:

Friday
A program of Constant Lambert (Rio Grande), Percy Grainger (Tribute to Foster), Stamford and other choral works for the annual school choral concert in the cathedral. This was basically all sight-reading despite a tiring rehearsal the previous night. It went alright I thought, but the distance between instruments (orchestra, choir, piano, organ) was too much and sometimes slipped. I didn’t mind.

Saturday
The Huntingdonshire Philharmonic invited me back yet again to play with the choir. This is rather embarrassing because every time I get asked to play, I think to myself “I really should practise this time”- it never happens, and I feel quite guilty. There was a rehearsal in the afternoon, straight from school, and concert normal time. We played:

• Mendelssohn - ‘A Calm Sea & Prosperous Voyage’
• Handel - Excerpts from ‘Water Music’
• Vaughn Williams - A Sea Symphony

I was asked whether I could play in the next concert in May, and I wasn’t sure. I later found out that I was playing in a Ramsey Choral Society concert that exact day in May so couldn’t do the next Hunts Phil one. I didn’t mind too much until I just found out that they’ll be playing Beethoven’s Mass in C, and the Eroica. I am very, very annoyed now.

Sunday
This was the concert for the Chamber Orchestra of St. Ives (COSI). We aren’t a particularly well-known group but this time the program was a cracker. Again, a rehearsal in the afternoon and concert in the evening. We played:

• Beethoven - ‘Egmont’ Overture, Op. 84
• Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466
• Haydn - Symphony No. 101 in D «Clock»

We’ve been rehearsal for this concert for a few months now and meet the second Thursday of every month. It’s nice.

Basically, the end of last week was very busy.

Oh, and I just realised that I’m on the second page of the school newsletter. Fun stuff.