Transcendental Tunes

(photo by Gabe Guilfoil, entitled Appalachian Spring)

Saturday night I had the opportunity to play one of my favorite pieces, Copland's Appalachian Spring, in a concert at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Oh, the bliss! I was first introduced to the piece at a friend's funeral, but since then I've come to appreciate the piece for "its own sweet sake." There are time in music when, as I listen, I have a sensation of having been thirsty and drinking in draughts of pure light. Appalachian Spring has many such moments. I wish I could make you all listen to the piece over and over until you loved it as much as I do.

Even better, I worked on the score a lot with the conductor in the weeks before the concert, and I got to play off a rare copy of a reduced score written in Copland's handwriting. And since the piece is a ballet, dance cues were written in--a particularly lovely chord might have "embrace" written above it., making that musical moment more meaningful. Even better, the piece was programmed with "Fanfare for the Common Man" and an arrangement of "Amazing Grace," two more transcendent pieces. I was so thankful for the opportunity to do something classical again...it's harder work to find.

Actually, I was terrified of the performance, particularly because of the Amazing Grace piece, actually. It is scored for orchestra, solo viola and piano (me!). Everything was fine until the composer came to the rehearsal the night before and said it needed to go faster (what?!!). I didn't play too well that night. The night of the performance, nobody I knew was coming to watch (yeah, I don't think I told anyone...too busy practicing), and I was feeling kind of down. But the conductor was really supportive, and then at intermission Amy (who got me the job) and James showed up, fresh from the RS broadcast! That truly made all the difference. Though my own playing wasn't quite as transcendent as the writing, I was pleased with the way things turned out. Thanks!