Being community again

There’s a certain desperation that goes with a Community Play Day with a challenging piece and this suffered from that. It’s a mix of people you have or have not played with, learning and then performing a piece on one day, perhaps not really adequately prepared despite best intentions, and when the main piece is a challenge like Tchaikovsky 1812 overture with its chromatics and variously 6 sharps or flats along with some other keys, and those explosions (although just drums for our outing) and various odd timings, you can be somewhat wary. Certainly, the first run through showed some work was needed. But by the end, with some warmth in Albert Hall and a small audience and more readiness, the performance was still a challenge but also a great joy. It’s such a good piece and luckily pretty well known although that awareness can be tricky; counting is ultimately safer. I chatted with Canberra visitor Stephen at the after-party and he was very positive, enjoying the intimacy of the small gig, perhaps 40 audience for 80 performers, the impressive performance, the informality of the event and the dress, with no performer dress codes. I recorded and I caught a final shouted audience quip after the 1812 “do it again!”. It was like that, playful and entertaining while deadly serious. Great fun and a terrific sometimes terrifying outing. The opening piece, Miriam Hyde Village Fair, was much more sedate and still much loved; just not feared. We were 3 basses, there were plenty of mates from Maruki and Alan who sat in on bassoon truly at the last minute. I think this is just the second NCO Community Play Day and not quite as large as the last, but plenty of fun and inviting for external players and much fun had, so I expect it will continue. And as for those ringing tubular bells at the end of the 1812 and the rousing melody, just fabulous.

National Capital Orchestra and guests practised then performed Miriam Hyde Village Fair and Tchaikovsky 1812 overture at Albert Hall for a Community Play Day. Shilong Ye (conductor) led the proceedings.