Visions no fear

Maruki always aims for a challenge and this concert was no different.  Strangely, we started with a symphony, then ended with smaller works, smaller but still with their challenges.  Suffice to say, Tchaikovsky symphony no.4 is no lightweight outing.  Mvt.1 is all odd counts and offbeats and rapid unexpected phrases; mvt.2 is comfy, then a fast mvt.3 played all pizz is strange but attractive and inviting; mvt.4 is rabidly rapid from the very top.  Get that bow moving and you care for the notes later although you do still care for the notes.  Then a 15min break, strange given the big work as a starter, and a return to Grieg, Berlioz and Borodin, all pretty turgid at times.  The Grieg was Peer Gynt suite no.1 in full, then Berlioz March to the Scaffold from Symphonie fantastique and an end of Borodin Polovtsian dances from Prince Igor with its lovely theme that was borrowed for Stranger in paradise, the lovely film theme we all know.  I'd played it all before, but still found plenty of challenges and great joy to return.  Again, big programs, big visions and no fear; go Maruki.

Maruki Community Orchestra performed Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Berlioz and Borodin at the Lyneham HS Performing Arts Centre under Paul Hubbard (conductor).

John and Maruki

It's somewhat strange but lovely that a principal from the LSO and violist from a significant string quartet formed the Maruki Community Orchestra with its invitation to all to take play, regardless of expertise, and to take on major works.  But that was John Gould.  My first Maruki concert was my second orchestral concert and it featured Beethoven Symphony no.5.  I will always remember how John would recount stories of famed conductors and performers through practice.  But John died sometime back and now we record his loss with a musical biography from PC (Paul) Hubbard, now conductor.  The book was launched over the weekend with a film, String Quartet, about his Carl Pini String Quartet, a discussion with author Paul led by Andrew Leigh, and a short violin play by Winsa Daniswara on  John's old violin, now Paul's.  I have yet to read the book and I look forward to it but the discussion already was informative.  Interestingly, Paul used AI in writing the work, so that too will be intriguing.  A mark of respect for John.

John Gould and the Maruki Community Orchestra was written by PC (Paul) Hubbard and launched with a film, discussion and short violin recital at Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre.

Red shirting

Never let it be said that Maruki shirks. I've said it before and this latest concert is just further proof: Dvorak Slavonic dances 1,2,8; Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue; Tchaikovsky Symphony no.4 Fmin op.36. Anne Stevens soloed for the Gershwin then took up her normal position in the violas. The turnout was good with visitors from NCO and elsewhere and the audience was solid, partly there for Gershwin. It's a popular piece, and as I recognised while Anne worked through the syncopations and diverse key signatures, not easy. It wasn't too bad for the orchestra (although I was pleased to get the offbeat triplet scalar runs towards the end: they were a doozy). The big challenge was kept for the Tchaikovsky, especially the first movement. At first blush, the fourth movement looked scary with its quick semi-quaver scalar sequences, but the varied syncopations of the first movement were killers. The time was 9/8 feel at a reasonable speed so that was not the issue but the dotted feels were. As for the bowing, that can await my next take on this very big challenge. The Dvorak was more presentable, as Dvorak seems to be. I never seem to find him an insurmountable challenge. But as always, when John puts on his threatened red shirt, we do our bit. Not perfect but decent and performance is the best way to get to grow accustomed to any piece of music. Again, a big program and a decent take on it.

Maruki Orchestra performed Dvorak, Gershwin and Tchaikovsky at Albert Hall under John Gould (conductor) with soloist Anne Stevens (piano) and Paul Hubbard (concertmaster).