We have now had 4 rehearsals in preparation for our next Orchestra concert. I had to miss one of them due to work so have only had 3 but still plenty of time to get a feel for the new programme.
So what are we playing?
1. Bizet - L'Arlesienne Suite No 1.
A piece forever associated in my mind with school assemblies. Every Thursday our school orchestra would play for assembly. They accompanied the hymns and then played an exit piece as we filed out of the hall. I am sure they must have played other music but it did feel like the only piece they ever played was the Prelude from this suite. In honesty, I don't really mind it and I quite like Carillon - there are some lovely sections shared by the oboe and flute.
2. Peter Warlock - Capriol Suite
We haven't attempted all the movements of this yet. It does seem fairly straight forward to play though there are some very discordant parts. I am undecided on whether I like this or not!
3. Schumann Symphony No 1
This wasn't our first choice for the Symphony, apparently we were meant to be doing a Max Bruch one but the parts were just too expenstive for us to either buy or hire. This one is nice enough. We haven't tried the second movement yet but the other movements are very playable and generally pleasant. I rather like the Scherzo/ trio section.
4. Rossini - The Thievish Magpie.
I think elsewhere it is translated as The Thieving Magpie but my score says "Thievish" which is a much more evocative word. This is, for the oboe, the hardest of the pieces we are playing. It is fast and requires a lot of stamina to get through. There are some awkward, quick, triplet figures that I'm struggling to get my fingers around. Fortunately mainly lost in a tutti section so not so prominent. There are some other more exposed twiddly bits that will require some dedicated practice before March too. This is good fun to play though and is one that most of the audience should know.
Our concert is not 'til March so we should have plenty of time to lick these into shape.
For a bit of interest in the meantime, I've also been asked to play 3rd oboe with another local orchestra when they do Shostakovich Symphony no 4 in January. This is the same orchestra that I did Mahler 3 and The Rite of Spring with earlier in the year. First rehearsal for this will be on Monday with a full day of rehearsal a week before the concert. I'm looking forward to doing something this challenging again. Should be fun.
