Beethoven/Shostakovich (gesundheit!)

Part of the reason I haven't been back since Thursday is because I've been in the midst of Hell Week. In this case, it's the week immediately prior to the symphony's performance. That means alot of staff meetings, and generally giving up any outside life (not that I have one to begin with) for the week. Since we have a concert almost once a month, that allows me alot of Hell Weeks during the year. As the personnel manager, I have to deal with all the petty, and not-so-petty, concerns of the musicians. I swear, some of these people are SO clueless! I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say that there are some amazingly ignorant people out there. And I get to deal with that ignorance for each concert. It came to a bit of a head Friday night when I had a minor heated exchange with another staff person. She, of course, has to deal with the same people, so she was also frustrated. There were no punches thrown (though I could have taken her down, if it came to that!), and things are fine, but we both somewhat resented coming to that point, due to other's actions (or inactions, as it were). The one thing about Hell Week is that when it's over, it's a great relief. And so far, everything has worked out, and the concerts have been wonderful, and no one is any the wiser about the hassles going into it.

So how was last night? Great, of course! And exhausting. Beethoven's 5th Symphony (which you've all heard a part of at one time or another) doesn't involve trombones until the last movement. Or in other words, you have to sit there in front of 1500 people and not draw attention to yourself while the rest of the orchestra is playing. Being in the back row also means that you're sitting on risers above the rest of the orchestra in front of you, so every little thing you do can be seen. That means no talking, no nose picking, no crotch scratching, no napping, no slouching, no yawning, no .... Well, you get the idea. Often times you put yourself into a meditative state. Or catatonic state. And after sitting still for 30 minutes or so, you're expected to pick up your horn, and WITHOUT WARMING UP, start playing perfectly. It's a challenge, but those of us in the back row are used to it! But I will say that sitting on your ass doing nothing and trying to look involved is very exhausting! Beethoven would have liked what he heard last night, if he weren't deaf and already dead...

The Shostakovich 12th Symphony, on the other hand, is not as well known. If you were to make a movie about pre-Lenin Russia, this would be the soundtrack to it. Very dark, very unrelenting, somewhat like a like a Communist Steamroller (not to be confused with Mannheim Steamroller) crushing the peasant uprising. Forty minutes of driving, loud, pulsing sound. I swear to God, the tuba player split his lower lip within the first 3 minutes. Blood all over his mouthpiece, and down his chin. It was OK for the night, but after it starts healing, he won't be able to play for a day or two. It was that loud. And sustained. The entire brass section was doing deep breathing exercises before playing, just to expand lung capacity. And it wasn't enough. Fortunately, there's a softer section or two to regain your senses, but then it all starts up again.

But we pulled it off. We got standing ovations after each symphony, and that's always good to see. Not one of those "my butt's numb, I need to stand"-types, or the "oh, everyone else is standing, I should too"-types. Both times it was more of the "jump to your feet after someone makes a basket from mid-court at the buzzer"-type of standing ovation. This was a good performance last night. Very satisfying. And tiring. I don't have to deal with Hell Week again for about 3 weeks, which means now I can spend some time with you!