Quotes

I am a sucker for good quotes. Heres a few of my favourites:-

"A man should try everything once, except incest and morris dancing" - Sir Arnold Bax

"I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland" - Woody Allen

"Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them" - Richard Wagner

"After Rossini dies, who will there be to promote his music?” - Richard Wagner

"Wagner is a compoer who as beautiful moments but awful quarter hours" - Gioacchino Rossini

"One can't judge Wagner's opera Lohengrin after a first hearing, and I certainly don't intend to hear it a second time" - Gioacchino Rossini

Spring has sprung, and life getting busier

The music scene in the UK is often quiet in January, but I think its been much worse this year. Many musos have been talking of empty diaries, worse than normal. A sign of the economic times I guess. I had only 2 paid calls in Jan, and another two in March, so plenty of time to practice for auditions!

I have started a trial period with the Royal Liverpool Phil. A pair of concerts with Carl Davis playing sporting themes in the Philharmonic Hall and Blackburn's St Georges was my introduction to the band. And a jolly friendly talented band they are too.

And then its back to to Liverpool to do two programs - a concert of British film music with John Wilson then the orchestra accompanies films with some great music, including Night on a Mare Mountain and Janacek's wonderful Cunning Little Vixen.

In May I have a week in Edinburgh doing Beethoven's 9th with Scottish Chamber Orchestra then a month of Walkure with Opera North. So I hope the fuel tanker drivers to not go on strike as I will need plenty of fuel between now and July. Now what was the famous Woody Allen quote......

Websites are funny things. The creator posts stuff up and doesnt really know if anyone is reading it, and if so who. I recently got some feedback that at least one person has logged on and read some of my ramblings. But this means I might need to be more careful what I write. The person will remain nameless, but I would just like to say that Ashley Frampton is a great bloke and amazing bass player!

Did you know? That in my time in the UK two orchestras has asked for a deposit to be paid before being granted an audition, which would be returned if the candidate showed up. I dont have a problem with this as I guess there are quite a few people who fail to show up at little or no notice and this must waste hours of time for the panel, and possibly deny others a chance to play instead. But I just pulled out of one audition that was to be held over two days, one of which I could not do, and I was asked for a cheque without a guarantee of a slot on the only day I could do! So on top of all the preparation work, travel, accomodation etc we put in free for auditions, it looks like we might now be charged a fee for the process.

Lots of auditions

The Liverpool Phil audition was in Feb. That went well and I am about to do 3 small chunks of work on trial in April. Next was the Northern Sinfonia in March - I thought I played well, but the panel didnt agree. And its thier view that counts. The next one was Tuesday, principal audition for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on April 17th.

It is fascinating how different orchestras run auditions. In 2012 to date:-

Liverpool Phil - only one person on the panel

Northern Sinfonia - listened to my solo stuff, then excerpts (can you believe there was no Beethoven on the list!) then they all got up and joined me for some chamber music, in the audition!

The Philharmonia - I didnt even get an audition for a tutti job. I am about to do my 5th audition for front desk jobs in the "provinces", to date the 4 I have done have resulted in 2 trials and I dont even make it to an audition with the Phil.

BBC National Orchestra of Wales - no Mozart on the list
And Opera North have just advertised a no2 job.....yet another front desk job in the UK.

It never rains, but when it does...

...it pours. After one of the quietest months of my professional life in Jan, I am fresh back from a crazy schedule. From Mon 6/2 I did over 1700 miles in 10 days covering Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Helensborough, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and London.

SCO were magnificent, as ever. Andrew Manze is a wonderful conductor, so musical, and lets the players sing, he guides a talented group of musos to bring the best out of them. I will think very differently of Erioca in future. It was wonderful meeting Peter Palotai

The Liverpool bit of the tour was for an audition for no2 with the Liverpool Phil - I have been lucky enough to win a trial. Thanks Marcel. No dates yet, but am looking forward to going in and meeting the section and rest of the orchestra.
           

Cats and bass cover

Harmoniemusik - Conway Hall, 15/2/12

I have had the pleasure of playing with Harmoniemusik since around 1992. The group is a wind quintet plus piano, all of whom have been friends for 20 years or so. They resurrected St Columb festival in Cornwall after it fell into a hole in the late 80s, and set up a chamber music festival in the last week of August, which is quite nice for Nicky as I as our wedding anniversary lands in that week. So I have no excuses for forgetting!! Since 92 the group has performed 3 concerts a week. My first St C was 93 or 94, am not sure. I had a brief break of 15 years when I was in Australia, but was allowed back in 2010.

The Conway Hall concert is a sort of "highlights" of the 3 St Columb shows the previous August. I was in 3 works:-

Nielsen - Serenata Invano. I have done this piece a number of times over the years, at least 5 times, but it never gets tired. Its a quintet for cello, bass, clarinet, horn and bassoon. An odd mix, but it works. Its programmatic, in 3 sections based on a group of musos who spend the first disjointed section warming up and tuning. The next section is a serenade to a beautiful woman. The piece ends with a disgruntled march, as the object of the serenade is not impressed enough. Hence the title, which means Serenade In Vain. Its fun, with lots of solo link passages for the bass.

Vaughan Williams - Piano Quintet. I really must apologise for boring my family and friends about how much I love this piece. It is just magnificent. Its an early work that VW was unhappy with and was not published in his lifetime. Fortunately Ursula was persuaded to publish it when he fell off the perch. Paul Guinery believes there are signs of the mature composer - I am not so sure. It very approachable and a great play for all. I have to thank my in-laws Liz Kilpatrick, Kay Sobey and Howard Jones for introducing me to wonderful piece - Kay and Howard were at the concert.

Telemann - Concerto in E min for flute, violin and oboe d'Amore. Having enjoyed a slushy romantic piece to end the first half it was time to ditch the vibrato and make a cleaner, clearer sound for the Telemann continuo. Janna, Jo and Sarah played beautifully, and I followed Alec for my life!!

It was good fun, music, company, wine and nibbles. What more could you want??

After a quiet January, its back to running around the UK...

January is "dead" in the music world here in the UK. Promotors do not put gigs on, as audiences dont turn up, due to shortages of cash after Xmas. The session scene is drying up in London, the WE shows are toey about how long they will run...doom...gloom. As I result I have one gig in Jan, but it was a ripper, see below.

I have a 12 day period where I am in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Liverpool, London before returning to Bristol. And my accoutant just asked me for my business milage - 90%!!