Brass Practice for October 31 - November 6

Hi guys,

Practice schedule discussion was incomplete for future weeks (among the difficulties prominent in my memory: Wes has meetings the second and third Mondays of each month) but for this week, with our upcoming performance for church, we agreed to meet Monday night with a good chance of also meeting Wednesday and/or later in the week.

I'm wondering, for future weeks, whether the meetings and our rehearsal could be dovetailed, with our practice session beginning an hour before the meeting, perhaps?

Personal Practice 10.29

Comment here when you've practiced, or missed practicing, Friday 10/29.

Personal Practice 10.28

Comment here when you've practiced, or missed practicing, Thursday 10/28.

Brass for church 11/6

OK folks, here's what I see us playing for church November 6. I'm putting this out here so you can discuss and consider it and offer your opinions and suggest alternate plans. Please do!

Call to Worship:	Es ist genug - Bach
Offertory:	Augsburg Hymn - Kugelmann
Special:	Amazing Grace - Wagner
Postlude:	Little Fugue - Bach

I'm assuming (could someone find out for sure?) that we won't be playing for Sabbath School.

Let me know what you think: are we up to this? Should we do less? more? other pieces?

Personal Practice 10.25

OK, I did it. It wasn't long or pretty or strenuous (for me, that is: can't speak for the rest of the family) but I did have my lips on my trombone for a few minutes this evening. You practiced too? No? Leave a comment!

Rehearsals moving to Monday evening

Hello all,

This is the week in which David's class switches to Wednesday evening, such that our brass practice needs to switch to a different night. Sunday and Monday nights are options. What can we do for this week? Can we actually get ourselves together tonight?

update 9:30 PM
Given the overwhelming(ly silent) response, and our upcoming performance November 6, I think we'd best be planning to rehearse this Wednesday evening. See you then.

David, we play in two weeks. Um, is there any way you could, um . . . ?

Who wants to do a vespers?

Westminster church is now scheduling their musical Sabbath vespers series for 2005. (Geri's group has done this program in recent memory.) Are there any who would be interested in doing a vespers service? I think the brass does not currently have the stamina for a full program, but we can fix that between now and then or add other types of numbers if we're interested. What have we been wanting to do that's just waiting for such an opportunity?

Brass @ Triadelphia 11/6

Under the current recommendation, we'll be playing for church at Triadelphia on November 6. Please respond here ASAP if you have a schedule conflict.

Because this is Family Sabbath, we may not be needed to play for Sabbath School.

Thanks!

Gone Oct. 30

Contrary to my statements on Wednesday, I'm actually scheduled to play organ for Burnt Mills on the 30th. If it matters, I'm ALSO not at Triadelphia on the 23rd.

I shouldn't be confused, since I've got a copy of the music schedule. It might be helpful to keep our upcoming schedule in the "Dates" area of the blog, for a reality check. Really, though, I'm just confused in general lately. :-)

Music Retreat 2005

After spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, I find myself wondering if we want to try an en masse retreat next spring/summer, some sort of pre-CMW. The "cottage" we stayed in has a great room easily large enough for a string quartet. I'm making inquiries about the house on that property, which could be large enough for several families to share.

What would such a vacation be like? I can imagine string ensembles, if we bring the right people, but we may not have access to a piano. I think we could read recorder or flute ensemble music pretty much anywhere. I'm not sure whether the property is sufficiently sound-proof to politely manage brass ensembles.

What are some things we would need? Repertoire is the show-stopper we face here or anywhere, specifically having a good match between players and parts. Nice chairs and music stands would help.

What extra-curricular activities would we want to plan? I have some info on cruises, including whale-watching. There's a state park nearby perfect for Laser/Sunfish sailing, and we watched people kite-boarding. (Looks awesome!) The boardwalk and beach are a very short walk away, and it was nice to have our bikes along.

Who and what instruments (beyond the current members of this weblog team) should we try hard to include? (e.g. I'd like to make sure Jeremy is there for recorder sessions, Ellen for violin/viola, Anastasia as an additional cello)

Brass Practice tonight…

…as usual at the church. I'm still trying to find out whether we can swap with the dulcimers for 10/30.

Birthday Plans

We're rapidly approaching the end of my 37th year on earth, and the 3rd anniversary of our move to Maryland, which made it possible for us to get to know you or renew our acquaintance with you, as the case may be. I'd like to celebrate with an early-evening meal together with you. The questions are where and when. (Oder wo und wann, if I remember correctly.) (No gifts needed: just come share your company with us.)

For where, I suggest Romano's Macaroni Grill in Gaithersburg. Romano's menu offers six vegetarian entrées, according to our recent count, as well as a handful of vegetarian appetizers. If we're there early enough in the evening, perhaps 5:30 or 6:00, we should be able to quickly get a table in the quieter section of the restaurant.

Regarding when, I think we must decide on what works best for the most people. My b-day is the 24th of this month, but that's Friday (a busy night for restaurants) and Corey will not be experiencing perfect dental comfort. So I think we must choose an evening a few days later.

I know that Tuesday evening is tied up for at least four of us. I would be willing to see our brass rehearsal time exchanged for this event, if people would find Wednesday to work well for the most people. Or we could look at Monday or Thursday.

So, please reply here: let me know what evening after the 24th sounds like a good fit for your plans, and also let me know whether you could be in Gaithersburg as early as 5:30 on that evening. Please remind us, too, if your birthday falls in this time period, so we'll know we're celebrating for you as well. (Jamey? Others?)

Thanks!

ALL BRASS AT 11: Details Below

(Sorry for the local news joke)

All brass players are invited to play with the hymns next Sabbath, September 11, at Triadelphia SDA. The hymns will be 1, 17, 25 and TBD.

Know a brass player? Spread the word!

PS. I think I should save De De the trouble of stating that we should soon have a woodwinds-welcome Sabbath.

TriBrass Rehearsals Move to Wednesdays

This week we agreed to move our rehearsals to Wednesday evenings, same time, same place, to accomodate David Greene's class schedule. According to current plans, this will remain for 9 weeks, then switch to Mondays for 9 weeks.

To clarify: our next rehearsal (as of the time of posting this blog entry) is Wednesday evening, September 8. Brass players, family and friends, I'll see you there!

Personal Update

As you have heard by now, I'm seeking a new project within IBM, or another place of employment. Some of the entries in my weblog talk about my job hopes, opportunities and interviews. Both my weblog and my resumé are linked from my homepage.

I've recently added to my weblog a list of other weblogs that I follow, including Corey's Life, The Universe, & Everything. See the bottom of my weblog's left-hand sidebar. If/when you have a weblog or website, let me know: I'll be there, reading what you write.

Sept 4, Sept 10, Sept 11

For September 4: Geri has asked that some string players, specifically including Beth and William, among others, provide offertory, and some players (including or not including these two) provide special music. I have a couple of numbers from the Sheila Nelson Quartet Club that could be used, or it might be better to play a hymn a couple times through.

This might also be a good time for Jamey, David and I to play a cello-cello-bass trio. We'll bring instruments to practice Tuesday evening. If anyone wants to call and invite others (Becky? Carla? Christina? others?) please do so. We've already talked with the Possingers about having Leo H. practice and play with us. Jamey fired off an e-mail to Enno, but a follow-up call may be in order.

For September 10: Don Crane asked us to play something at Elternhaus. I suggested filling the program with a very long song service, and that seemed acceptable. David, if you'd like, perhaps we could throw in Meditation or Adoration or some such.

For September 11: Ekkehardt mentioned that he's planning to have Ryan and trumpet on hand for special music, and asked if the lower brass would join in for the hymns.

Brass Sept. 25 - Triadelphia

[Posted on behalf of Geri]

September 25: Brass is playing with all the Hymns.

Strings Sept. 4 - Triadelphia

[Posted on behalf of Geri]

September 4: Offertory and Special Music with all the strings. They can just play the favorite Hymns that were played on August 14.

Potluck vs The Community of the Involved

Potluck diatribe moved to my personal weblog.

Potluck this week

Hi everyone, just letting you know I am on for potluck this week. Come keep Danny company. :)