Greetings Capital Crescendos,
Theme for the Week: Dress rehearsal. We’re ready! After a wonderful 10 week session, our pieces and the ensemble playing have really come together. It’s all about teamwork and the joy of playing music as a group. We’ve done the work and we’re ready to play for our family and friends. Continue to practice (but not too much) and listen to the links.
This Week’s Dress Rehearsal
In preparation for our concert this Sunday, we rehearsed in the Sanctuary. To start, Dominique demonstrated a new percussion instrument – the gong – that will be used in Land of the Midnight Sun. We had a complete run through of our pieces, in the order for which we will play at the concert on Sunday: Land of the Midnight Sun, followed by Air for Band and finally Birdland. Remember that we’ve added an 8 bar intro for bass and percussion at the beginning of Birdland. MARK your music so as to avoid any unplanned solos. Watch the conductor for the downbeat of when to start. Sheila reminded us: start our pieces with confidence, always keep an eye on the conductor — and most importantly, enjoy the experience.
Preparing for the Spring Concert
Sheila suggests that as preparation for our concert we listen to our pieces using the musical links below as well as doing some light, focussed practising. Relax, eat well, sleep well and brush your teeth (she really did say this!). And be ready to have fun at the concert!
Spring Concert
The ONHB spring concert will take place on Sunday April 9 at 3:00 at Dominion-Chalmers. Plan to arrive at 2:00 (percussion should plan to arrive at 1:00). Our Warm up will take place in Room 6 at 2:15. Please have your instruments out and ready to start at 2:15. For those in multiple bands, warm up first with the Capital Crescendos followed by your other bands. We’ll proceed to the Sanctuary shortly before 3:00 with our sheet music and instruments in hand. FInd a seat on the right hand side (as you face the stage ), as we will be going up on stage from this side. We do NOT need to bring our music stands with us, although we may want them for our warm-up in room 6. We will be playing third following the Bytown Beginners and the Elgin Encores. Please make sure to leave any valuables at home as the warm-ups rooms may not be locked while we are performing.
Dress code is all black with a splash of colour (a colourful scarf or necklace or tie).
Felicia will be the stage manager for the concert. She has asked that we all vacate the stage between band performances, even if we are playing in sequential bands.
Remember to invite your family and friends to our concert so they can see the results of all that practicing. There will be a reception following the concert and all are welcome. Everyone is invited to bring a plate of cookies or squares or some juice, to help make the reception even more special. Please make sure any food can be eaten with your fingers and is already cut into serving pieces. It is greatly appreciated if you identify the ingredients in your food contribution so people with food sensitivities know what they can enjoy.
Community Concert
Our community concert will take place on Thursday, April 13 at the Duke of Devonshire residence located at 1098 Carling near Holland. Plan to arrive at 2:15. Dress is black New Horizons shirts or plain black shirt and black pants. We’ll need to bring our own music stands. Please note that the concert will start at 3:00 and last about 45 minutes. Our program has been sent to you via email. Remember to contact Gail if you need to reserve a parking space at the Duke of Devonshire. Following the concert we’ll be gathering at Monkey Joe’s in the Westgate Shopping Centre for our end of session celebration.
Administration
A spring extension band is going to be held on Tuesday evenings at Dominion-Chalmers. It will run for 7 weeks from May 9 to June 20 at a cost of $70. Instructions regarding registration will be sent out shortly and posted on the ONHB website.
Audio links
1, Land of the Midnight Sun by Vince Gassi http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10050559
2. Air for ConcertBand By Frank Erickson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrCsUo1ribI
3. Birdland by Joe Zawinul, arr. L Norred https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWJ0it4TfkE&list=PLd_hfxSSaY8AvhLFyy4MxyRgmJfWjs0e3&index=2
4. Birdland – original, as performed by composer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqashW66D7o&list=RDpqashW66D7o&index=1
5. Birdland – Manhattan Transfer version, with their added lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1nj6Yla_Vg (great choreography and outfits!)
6. Hava Nagila http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10312051
7. Celtic Air and Dance, arr. M Sweeney http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&type=audio&productID=10033567
8. Celtic Air and Dance – the second piece (A Fairy’s Love song) as sung in Gaelic by the Rankin Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nnVxTj_Ujw(go to 1:35 )
9. 76 Trombones, arr. M Sweeney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTB4sCv9HA NOTE: we will be playing at a slower, even tempo.
Social
Following our community concert on April 13, we’ll go to Monkey Joe’s on Carling Ave in the Westgate Shopping Centre.
Important Dates
Sunday April 9 at 3:00: ONH end of Session Spring Concert at Dominion-Chalmers
Thursday, April 13th at 3:00: Community Concert at Duke of Devonshire
Saturday May 6, 2017: ONHB workshop with Potsdam and Montreal New Horizons bands
Tuesday May 9, 2017 at 6:15: First rehearsal for spring band
