Brian T Lewis

March 2024 Concert Log

February 29

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

February 26

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

Concert order

February 19

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

First run of the program (with some stops and starts) in concert order.

7:30:   STRAUSS (Josef, that is)

PLANETS
Mars
Venus
Mercury

BREAK

Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

E.T.

NOTES:

1) PLANETS TEMPO BENCHMARKS

  • MARS: quarter = 142-150
  • MERCURY: dotted quarter = 152.
  • JUPITER: quarter = 116
  • URANUS: 6/4 time means the beat is dotted half, 2 beats to the measure at 112-116.

2) PROGRAM NOTES

You can read Roger Selya’s program notes here.  From what I learned from Roger, it seems to me that The Planets cries out for a slide show. Anyone interested?

February 12

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

7:30:   STRAUSS (Josef, that is)

8:00    PLANETS
Jupiter
Uranus

8:45    Break

9:00    Mercury
Saturn

NOTES:

1) PLANETS TEMPO BENCHMARKS

  • MARS: quarter = 142-150
  • MERCURY: dotted quarter = 152.
  • JUPITER: quarter = 116
  • URANUS: 6/4 time means the beat is dotted half, 2 beats to the measure at 112-116.

February 5

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

7:30:   PLANETS
Mars
Uranus
Saturn
Mercury

8:45    Break

9:00    Neptune
           Venus

NOTES:

PLANETS TEMPO BENCHMARKS

  • MARS: quarter = 142-150
  • MERCURY: dotted quarter = 152.
  • JUPITER: quarter = 116
  • URANUS: 6/4 time means the beat is dotted half, 2 beats to the measure at 112-116.

Jan 29

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2024

7:30:   E.T.

8:00:   PLANETS
Jupiter
Uranus
Saturn
(and a moment of Mercury)

8:45    Break

9:00    Strauss
           Venus (if there is time left over)

NOTES:

1) PLANETS TEMPO BENCHMARKS

  • MARS: quarter = 142-150
  • MERCURY: dotted quarter = 152.
  • JUPITER: quarter = 116
  • URANUS:
  • 6/4 time means the beat is dotted half, 2 beats to the measure at 112-116.
  • Metronome calculations: 112 with triplet subdivisions works out to 336 to the quarter. THE TEMPO/QUARTER NOTE NEVER CHANGES.
  • WOODWINDS who want to get detailed about the 8th-note business at 4: metronome in 3/2 half-note = 168. (gives you the same quarter note = 336). Clear as mud?

2) MERCURY

I continue (humbly) to suggest that a person wants to give the cross-rhythms issue some practice time between rehearsals—that is, these patterns are too intricate to master if you live with them only once a week.

To clarify the practice suggestion I made (there were some questions)

  • Practice 6/8 8th notes against a metronome playing 3/4 quarter notes, as in:
  • If you are playing 6/8 at 180 to the dotted quarter, set metronome to play 3/4 quarter notes at 270.
  • Flip it the other way:
  • Play the cross quarters [on the page as 8th note-8th rest-8th note-8th rest-8th note-8th rest] at 270
  • Have metronome play 6/8 at 180 with 8th note subdivisions

I often practice this when I am walking: Steps in 2, sing/hum/bark in 3. (In my building this is not considered weird, so…)

3)  You can find a recording of the E.T. arrangement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhWzaXtUvs

(Performed by the Empire Film Music Ensemble. Heaven help us.)

YouTube | Empire Film and Media Ensemble

Empire Film Music Ensemble (EFME) plays Selections from E.T. by John Williams 

Jan 22

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024
Cover Conductor Maureen Hickey

7:30 Jupiter, Mars, Saturn

8:45 Break

9:00 Neptune, Venus

NOTES:

1) PLANETS

Holst’s Planets is a shining example of well-known orchestra repertoire that is harder than it sounds. Pulse and rhythm are deceptively complex, as we are already experiencing. One suggestion: if you are listening to recordings, open up the score and follow as you listen. There is an abundance of recordings out there; I have no particular favorites to suggest.

2) MERCURY

Great work last week on the challenging cross-rhythms. I want humbly to suggest that a person wants to give this issue some practice time between rehearsals—that is, these patterns are too intricate to master if you live with them only once a week.

To clarify the practice suggestion I made (there were some questions)

  • Practice 6/8 8th notes against a metronome playing 3/4 quarter notes, as in:
  • If you are playing 6/8 at 180 to the dotted quarter, set metronome to play 3/4 quarter notes at 270.
  • Flip it the other way:
  • Play the cross quarters [on the page as 8th note-8th rest-8th note-8th rest-8th note-8th rest] at 270
  • Have metronome play 6/8 at 180 with 8th note subdivisions

I often practice this when I am walking: Steps in 2, sing/hum/bark in 3. (In my building this is not considered weird, so…)

3)  You can find a recording of the E.T. arrangement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhWzaXtUvs

(Performed by the Empire Film Music Ensemble. Heaven help us.)

Jan 15

First Half
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First Half

Second Half

MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024

7:30    Planets

  • Uranus
  • Jupiter
  • Mars

8:30    BREAK

8:50    More Planets

  • Mercury
  • Working the “pure” 6/8 sections: opening through III and VI to end
  • REHEARSAL TEMPO: 92 to the dotted quarter.
  • Venus

NOTES:

1) PLANETS

Holst’s Planets is a shining example of well-known orchestra repertoire that is harder than it sounds. Pulse and rhythm are deceptively complex, as we are already experiencing. One suggestion: if you are listening to recordings, open up the score and follow as you listen. There is an abundance of recordings out there; I have no particular favorites to suggest.

2) You can find a recording of the E.T. arrangement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMhWzaXtUvs

bxlewi1

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