Brass Survey

If you play or used to play a brass instrument, and might be interested in playing "once in a while" or more frequently, please shoot me a reply.

Similarly, if you know someone who plays or used to play, please encourage them to get in touch with me.

Thank you!

Seeking Violinists

[If you know someone (teacher, friend, whom ever) who needs to see this message, please make sure that they do.]

Chamber Music Weekend is very nearly full for our 2008 session. However, we are holding openings for three advanced violinists.

Our description of advanced (for these purposes) is "Confident leader, few technical concerns, solid chamber music experience." If this describes you, or you feel that you might be close to fitting this description, please get in touch with me, or register via the web site.

Chamber Music Weekend '08

String Players,

I want to be sure you're aware of Chamber Music Weekend, a yearly event run by my family. I would love to make music with you there this year.

By the way, the price goes up a little bit one week from today, so you can get in for less if you register before then.

And please keep this event in mind when you're talking with other string players, student or adult, professional or amateur.

Montgomery Phil. Concert

Hello friends,

This year has brought a new thing in our family life: we've all joined the Montgomery Philharmonic. This is William and Beth's first real symphony involvement, so it's something of a milestone for us.

Our first concert is this coming Sunday (March 16) at 7 PM in Gaithersburg. You can check the website for more information.

We hope to see you there!

Bach Cantata for Good Friday and Vigil

The apostle Paul begins one of the most hope-filled passages of all Scripture with the words "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren," and it is in that spirit that I write to you now, because I want you to know about the opportunity before you.

Rockville United Methodist and Trinity Lutheran of Bowie are joining forces to present the Good Friday and Easter Vigil services this year, Friday evening in Rockville, Saturday evening in Bowie.

The music will include Bach's cantata Christ Lay in Death's Dark Bonds, the Crucifixus a 8 by Lotti, and Byrd's Ave Verum Corpus.

Here's the opportunity part: You are invited to sing with us.

Rehearsals are Wednesday evenings in Bowie at 8:15, and Thursday evenings in Rockville at 7:30.

For more information, or to otherwise share words of comfort, send a note to me.

More Specific String & Timpani Needs

I've gotten an update on the needs for the Judas Maccabaeus orchestra:

• 2 violins or violas
• 1 cello
• 1 timpanist with access to timpani

Judas Maccabaeus Winds

Hi again,

In addition to string players, the previously-mentioned Handel oratorio sing-along could use a few more wind players, as follows:

• 1 oboe
• 1 bassoon
• 1 French horn
• 2 trumpets

Let me know if you're interested.

Rehearsal is December 2 at 7 PM, and the event is December 8 at 7 PM.

Judas Maccabaeus Still Accepting Players

I understand that there is still room in the orchestra for the Judas Maccabaeus sing-along scheduled for December 8.

This is a volunteer job, but it's one that I'm jumping on because I've always been curious about this, Handel's second-most-popular oratorio. The schedule is pretty light: rehearsal December 2, sing-along December 8.

If you're interested, shoot me a note.

And, of course, there's plenty of room for sing-alongers.

Brass Quintet Needs Trombonist

I'm aware of a brass quintet looking for a trombonist. The ensemble typically rehearses in the Silver Spring and Columbia areas, and plays occasional money-making gigs.

If this piques your interest, get in touch with me and I'll connect you with the group.

December 8 Follow-Up

I have more information from Ron Isaacson, the director running the Judas Maccabeus sing December 8.

Orchestra: Rehearsal Sunday evening, December 2 at 7 PM. Possible rehearsal Wednesday, December 5 if needed.

Singers: "Non-instrumentalists are invited to sing or to listen, hopefully to sing. . . . If the singers want to come by on Monday, Dec.3 (7pm), and sit in while I work with my temple choir on Judas parts and other stuff, that would be o.k. with me."

This is a fund raiser for their congregation, so all singers and audience should expect to pay about $10 to get in. Sounds totally worth it, to me. I just bought a recording of the work so I'll know what to expect, and just getting to play or sing the final chorus should be quite rewarding.

Judas Maccabaeus Sing

Greetings, fellow musicians,

I hope the summer has been good to you.

I recently became aware of a "Judas Maccabaeus Sing" to be held at Congregation Or Chadash in Damascus December 8 at 7 in the evening. It is to be a fund raiser, and they're looking for volunteer musicians. The director, Ron Isaacson, writes "We can give the players letters of donation of time, for tax purposes."

I'm in, as I've always wanted to make an acquaintance with this oratorio. At last count, they still need 3 violins, 2 violas, and 2 cellos.

If you're interested in playing, send me a note and I'll get you in touch with the director.

Also, if you're interested in singing, let me know, and I'll update you when I've confirmed any chorus details.

Kind regards,

Daniel

Fauré Requiem

Trinity Lutheran Church in Bowie, MD, is presenting the Requiem of Gabriel Fauré as a part of their Easter Vigil, Saturday night, April 7. If you would like to be a part of the choir or orchestra, I would like to hear from you.

S. P. B. H.

Our drive to and from church takes us past a number of housing developments with buildings of significant size. Vicki and I commiserate that we would make much better use of such a house, since most of those owners are almost certainly not trying to host musical rehearsals and festivals, as we would.

This weekend a thought struck me: perhaps we can arrange a program of mutual benefit. Suppose that there existed a Society of People with Big Houses, and a collection of aspiring, dedicated string players. Perhaps we could arrange a program whereby a handful of string players, perhaps twelve or so, could meet every other weekend at another of the big houses owned by members of such a society. Said string players would then have a place to sight-read quartets and other chamber music, and homeowners would get a free afternoon of music in multiple rooms of their big house.

If you play a stringed instrument, would you be interested in spending up to 26 Sunday afternoons a year reading chamber music?

I have a feeling that this is not far from a good idea. Unfortunately, I don't know how to proceed in making the idea even better, or bringing it to fruition.

Suggestions?

Seeking A Violinist

A small, mostly string ensemble is preparing to play for the Williamsport SDA church this coming Sabbath, July 8. We could use an additional violinist. The music is simple, and we can send you a PDF to review ahead of time.

We offer lunch, good fellowship, and transportation from Germantown to Williamsport and back. Other terms negotiable. If you're interested, please send me a note.

Thanks!

Brasscast

During my commute each day I have been listening to a podcast from down under called Brasscast.

A podcast is like a radio program, delivered (typically) as an MP3 file that you can download to your computer. You can use your computer to listen to it, or use any of the host of MP3-playing portable devices, such as an iPod or certain cellular phones. Some recent car radios can play MP3 files, including podcasts. The Brasscast shows are typically around 20 minutes in duration, so listening on a weekly basis doesn't require a major investment of time.

I find Brasscast to be instructive, as well as pleasant listening and entertainment. The show is focused on the music of bands, mostly all-brass bands, and, more often than not, bands that are conformant with the British Brass Band instrumentation. Each show features an interview with one of the featured musicians, and some of these are very instructive and encouraging.

I recommend this podcast to each of you, whether you are a brass player or not. The show features a wide variety of bands, many of whom are repeat competition winners. I find it interesting to compare the bands from week to week. Some are simply good bands playing challenging music, but some are truly remarkable in their sparkle and professional performance. I suggest that you listen to these podcasts as a means of training your own ear, giving thought to why some bands sound so much better than other winners.

If you know of other podcasts that relate to music performance, whether band, chamber music, orchestra or choir, please post a comment here.

Brass Blast!

As I described in this earlier post, the Washington Symphonic Brass are presenting concerts at three locations this month, with the final concert being Sunday evening. My family and I attended the concert this evening in Annapolis, and it was a fantastic experience.

If you play a brass instrument, you owe it to yourself to hear this ensemble. If you play in the MCO Brass, please rearrange your schedule and shake out your piggy bank and meet me in McLean, Virginia this Sunday evening at 7:30. Brass players, if you have ever needed to have the "brass dream" refreshed in your heart and your imagination, this concert will do it for you.

If you are familiar with string repertoire, this will be a moving experience for you no matter what instrument you play. The concert this evening contained the following numbers, and I expect to hear the same Sunday evening:

• Holst - Jig from St. Paul's Suite
• Albinoni/Giazotto - Adagio in g minor
• Vaughan-Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
• Schostakovich - Chamber Symphony from String Quartet No. 8
• Barber - Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
• Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 (although omitting the third movement)

Four of the six selections were arranged or adapted by WSB founder Phil Snedecor, so the arrangements are perfectly suited to the instrumental forces of this ensemble.

This concert was particularly moving for me because I am intimately acquainted with these works in their original string settings, and observed with amazement and joy the way in which the brass transcriptions met the challenges presented. The opening Jig by Holst set the scene perfectly, showcasing the technical abilities of these musicians. And I was moved to tears again by the opening and closing of the Tchaikovsky Serenade. The full brass presention of those opening and closing chords would surely have met with approval from the composer.

The conductor, Milt Stevens, gave very appropriate commentary on the background of each of the works, and I'm glad to have thus become acquainted with Schostakovich' 8th quartet.

Overall, this was an experience that I cannot put into words. I urge you to make time in your schedule to catch their last performance Sunday evening.

See you there!

Worthy Student Recital

I received notice today that Gabrielle Liverpool will be presenting a recital this weekend, at five o'clock in the evening of April 29, at the Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist Church, 6307 Riggs Road, Hyattsville, MD.

Gabrielle was one of the student violins who played for our recent Messiah performance, and I think she attended as many rehearsals as any other orchestra player. She supported us, so lets take time to support her in this recital.

Washington Symphonic Brass

I have avoided WSB concerts in the past not because of their quality: on the contrary, they play very professionaly and their concerts are a pleasure to experience! Rather, most of their recent concerts have featured explicitly anti-sacred music (such as Carmina Burana) performed in the dedicated sanctuaries of churches.

Although they are still performing in church sanctuaries, their current repertoire, as listed in their advertising, does not apparently include such overtly secular music, and so I am very eager to hear their next performance, and I recommend them to you. The remaining concerts are Wednesday evening, April 26 and Sunday evening, April 30. You can find more information on their website.

Their tickets are a little pricey, perhaps, but the performances are worthwhile and awe-inspiring.

Seven Last Words, Seabrook SDA, April 8

Hello fellow musicians,

As some of you have heard, the Seabrook SDA church choir is presenting Dubois' Seven Last Words of Christ for church this coming Sabbath morning. An orchestra is forming to support the choir in this performance.

• Rehearsal - Tuesday, April 4, 7:30 PM
• Performance - Sabbath, April 8, morning service

We have openings for a few more musicians. If you are interested, please let me know.

Thanks,

Daniel

Singing Sundays

Hello music lovers!

I am scheduled to direct the choir at Rockville UMC for the next two Sundays, April 2 and April 9. The music will be as follows:

• April 2 - Farrant - Hide Not Thou Thy Face From Us, Oh Lord
• April 9 - Randall Thompson - Alleluia

If you know either of these pieces, I invite you to join the choir.

• April 2 - 11 AM service, arrive around 10:15
• April 9 - 9:15 & 11 AM services, arrive around 8:30

There's no pay involved; just an opportunity to sing some great music. I hope to see you there!