Dress rehearsal part two

by | Apr 22, 2006 | Mahler

Dress rehearsal finally starts with plain old rehearsing. Humbled by yesterday’s difficulties with the third movement, we start with a few minutes on that first. We spent some considerable time on it in each of the sectionals, but we need to integrate the percussion...

Dress rehearsal part one

by | Apr 22, 2006 | Mahler

Miles Davis said it best- that “writing about music is like dancing about architecture, and as the Mahler Journey enters its last 24 hours, I find it harder and harder to write anything meaningful.We had only the shortest of breaks between the string sectional...

Sectionals

by | Apr 22, 2006 | Mahler

As always, the morning begins with coffee. The Northwest is an area that takes beverages seriously- we have some of the best wine, beer and coffee in the world, and we’re very lucky in Pendleton to have a fantastic local coffee roaster. I’m very lucky that that coffee...

Friday Night

by | Apr 21, 2006 | Mahler

Just getting everyone on this stage is half the battle, it seems, and finally tonight, we have our full compliment of players for the first time, as our last few imports have arrived. Fifteen minutes before the downbeat and it is quite chaotic. Everyone is trying to...

Last of the Flakes

by | Apr 21, 2006 | Mahler

Late start after long night at the Rainbow on Thurs. Suzanne and I make the trip down to the local coffee shop for much needed caffeine and bagels, before I head into the office.  It is the last weekday of our concert preparation, which means I am greeted by the final...