It has been a while since I have posted anything, mainly been busy preparing for the recital (including the hearing), grading concert reports, and gigs. I had some pretty nice gigs, including playing Liszt
Les Preludes and Brahms
Symphony No. 2 with the ONU Symphony Orchestra as a gig. I used CC on both pieces, and both, especially the Brahms appear on major audition lists. I also played an Palm Sunday Cantata on CC and a nice Easter gig on F tuba. Making over $700 in a month for playing is good, but very busy.
So last Monday I had my Master's recital. I was freaking out about it and the hearing, all the stress from last minute scheduling, finding a pianist, and learning the repertoire nearly sent me over the edge. On the night of the recital, I had a rehearsal with the Hamilton-Fairfield Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the parts they gave were string bass parts. I could have skipped this, but the young man who was playing tuba in there had auditioned here at Miami and it was a joint event. I played with the group on the string bass parts, told him the situation, and still played a long rehearsal. As a professional who gives recitals, sometimes it is good to give service.
I cut my bottom lip while shaving, then while transporting the cake to the green room, I got cake all over my suit. Luckily it didn't get on my shirt so I had to lose the jacket only. Nothing else could possibly go wrong!
I was extremely heavy on the Corelli Violin Sonata I transcribed on the hearing, but after listening to the recital, it sounded like a different player, much more style appropriate and lighter. I am happy with this one (and the whole recital)
I talked about the Penderecki and the "passion" behind the work. I spent a great deal talking about what music is (that it isn't always pretty, etc...might make a blog just on this), but I honestly don't remember playing it. I (of course) did not play it perfectly. I have not EVER heard this work played perfectly live, even by some highly respected professional tubists. However, I had command of my intrepretation. I guess the talk before allowed me to express some emotions I have about Eastern European music. I remember playing one point where I thought Souers Recital Hall was going to explode due to being extremely loud, and just let the music take control. I am very happy with this.
I had a very rough horn change going to CC on the Lebedev Concert Allegro, but it didn't sound as bad on the recording. It started too fast and I have to take what the accompaniment gives me.
The DeMars Tapestry III was a cool piece, turned off the lights, not perfect, but the parts I was worried about clarity actually sounded pretty clean on the recording...maybe I need to record more. The Ewazen went pretty well, had some intonation issues due to being tired, but as always with my playing, the energy (3rd movement especially) was ever present. I ended up by playing Dumitru Ionel's Rumanian Dance No. 2 memorized and standing, I sounded brighter from standing but it was energetic as well. Had some fun times at Steinkeller's German Restaurant afterwards, and was real enjoyable.
I listen to the recordings, and upon first listen, they sound great, then on the next few listens, they sound horrible, but then they sound good again. I guess I am critical on my playing more than any other person. I mean, I complained today for having too dark of a sound because it wasn't what I perfectly envisioned. I am an extreme perfectionist, and my ear grows fast...
But it doesn't matter what I think right? (Well it does, but as a performance major, I will never be happy...I have heard the best of the best in the tuba world play...one of ones even played on my F tuba....in tune...with an amazing tone). Everyone at the recital said I should be happy of the recital, that it was a great recital, high level of playing, etc. I guess that is what matters most, that I entertained a crowd and they enjoyed tuba playing...thats why we do music....right? I even heard some students singing the Rumanian Dance no 2 as they were leaving; people who are in intro to music classes who are not majors.
NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT PART!
So this weekend, one of the graduate pianists, Carolyn (one of my recital's accompanist) organized something where all the graduate students can perform as a big group one last time, before everyone goes to their next life destination, all across the world. For this, I chose the Lebedev. I rehearsed it today, and it sounds like a different player. I was having tone issues due to lips or whatever, but I was told I sounded much darker than at my recital (and I generally am told I have a dark tone), and that I sounded even more relaxed, more musical, more accurate, etc. on this. I asked myself why. I know why...because this is something I do for fun! There is no stress no need to worry, etc. I need to do this...I mean several places where I auditioned at for DMA, my current professor, and one of the biggest names in brass pedagogy (who teaches at a place nicknamed "Tuba Mecca") said this is the main thing I need to work on...and I just proved everyone right.
Oh, I decided on a school for next year :)
