Slow Entertainment

We held a fundraiser for our newly formed orchestra Friday night. We screened the film, Radio Cape Cod, which is set in Woods Hole (here on Cape Cod), and the director, Andrew Silver, and his son Julian Silver (both appear in the film) came to the screening to introduce the film and answer questions about it. Among other things, the film promotes slow food and a gentler, more laid back lifestyle. In addition to being the opposite of fast food, slow food is an actual movement, promoting natural foods, local foods, sustainable agriculture, and taking time to enjoy cooking and eating.

Our orchestra, which rehearses in an auditorium that used to be a research center for renewable energy, organic agriculture, aquaculture, and housing alternatives, seemed a likely choice for showing this particular film. We added a string quartet prior to the screening, and a brass quartet afterward, and lots of reasonably nutritious foods to munch on. It was a very nice evening of, as one of our members put it, slow entertainment, with lots of time for socializing, and a very community feel to it all.

Time will tell if we can play music together (I do think we can), but clearly we can throw a party.

A little touch of elegance at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. This is taken from the top of the hill. The main stage is behind me. Other performance tents, the food and craft vendor are in front, down the hill, surrounded by a sea of tents, campers, RVs, and cars. It is a weekend jam-packed with all sorts of bluegrass music, and even a few cellos.

I wrote about it a little on my other blog (http://capecodnow.net/artsblog/), but will probably add another word or two here, when I find a minute!

First Orchestra Rehearsal

Our new orchestra met for the first time last night. We had a good turnout of about 33 people, including 9 cellists, violins, violas, a bassoon, a bass clarinet, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, several trumpets, French horn, and possibly others. We should perhaps change our name to the mostly all cello orchestra.

We played "Sonate 2 da Chiesa" by Corelli and the Rosamunde Overture by Schubert. Both of these are free scores we found online. We were uncertain how many people would show up, and what instruments they would bring, but the random assemblage of players seems to be working out well.

I chanced to meet a young woman visiting from Scotland, a cellist, and invited her to join us (luckily, I have two cellos). She is a great musician, and it was a treat to sit next to her. On my other side was the bassoon player, also a strong player. I didn't get every note, but I played better with their help.

We were pleased with the turnout, with our conductor, and with the beautiful music we produced. It's a good thing, a community orchestra!

Things have been so busy...

This must be my longest lapse in writing. Here it is July 12, and I am making my first blog entry of the month. And my last cello photo was of cello in May. Work has been hectic; I haven't been practicing. I have a slightly less busy week this week, although we have our first orchestra meeting on Monday night, and I am leaving Friday for the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York.

I usually spend Wednesday through Sunday at the festival, but this year I am going a little later, but should still be able to enjoy two full days of music. There should be one cellist, at least, Ben Sollee, in The Sparrow Quartet. And me. I am bringing a rental cello and some violins and a viola to offer an "instrument petting zoo" in the kids bluegrass academy. This will be my fourth year doing this; it's fun, and the kids are very enthusiastic.

It is not that I am a huge bluegrass fan, but I enjoy this annual immersion in it, and I am looking forward to meeting my friend Doris there, to play a few fiddle tunes together, and to catch up on all that has happened since last year.

Jury Duty

I really didn't think my jury group would even be called in yesterday, so did not really make preparations to attend. I am straight on on six different projects, and just didn't have time!

So I got called in, stayed late to try to get in order what I could, and headed out at 7 am. About 14 of us (6 or 8 people did not show up) sat in a room until nearly noon, but there were no trials that day, so we were released. I brought work with me, and, incredibly, had a very productive morning with no phone or computer or musical distractions!

I almost signed on for daily jury duty, though I might have been testy, had we had a trial. I did sit on a jury a couple of years ago. It was interesting, but very time-consuming, as my jury took pains to make sure we made the proper decision, which is, after all, the right thing to do.

The Arts Festival

We all agreed this was the best festival we have played and the best we have played in a festival. We have been playing as a quartet, and during the last week or so, added three very good players, doubling parts. In the past our flute choir has consisted of up to 8 players and we have tried not to double parts, but the doubling of parts made everything sound so much better, fuller, richer.

Our tent was well situated, and you can see we have attracted a small crowd. Sometimes our tent has not been so centrally located, and we have played mainly to relatives and friends. They were quite appreciative, calling us "excellent." The best part, for me, was a former flutist in the audience who came up and said the cello was the best part (even though I made plenty of mistakes).

You can't actually see me in this photo, just the cello, between the first and second flutes on the left.

Ok, here is what I look like, intensely intent on the Haydn, London Trios, as interpreted by 5 C flutes, 1 alto flute, and me.

Concert tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big arts festival, and I am playing with my flute choir at 11:20 AM and the fiddlers at 4 PM. I play mostly flute with the flute choir, but am also playing cello on the first of Haydn's London trios (3 movements) and an energetic tune called "Little Red Monkey."

We're playing the London Trio with seven instruments, 2 flutes on first, 3 flutes on second, and an alto flute and me on cello on the third (cello) part. I was a little worried about having so many people play a trio, but it sounds good to me. I love the London Trios anyway. I do have a CD of the trios as played by a flute choir (bass flute instead of cell0). It sounds good, but the cello part makes it sound so much better, to my ears anyway.

It looks like the weather will be perfect tomorrow. I am looking forward to the event (it is a three-day outdoor arts and entertainment festival, with three performances going on at all times, and 2 large tents full of artists and artisans), even though I still am not getting every note, every time.