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WxJeff Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2002 Posts: 2486 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 5:43 am Post subject: Last night's church Christmas concert |
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Just wanted to post this and let those of you who play in similar environments to rejoice with me!
The last several years the church music minister was an elderly gentleman who (my opinion) was accustomed to having collegiate/semi-professional musicians in both the choir and the orchestra. His Christmas programs were long (90 minutes) and both technically and endurance challenging (certainly for the brass sections, but also for some of the older members of the choir.) There have been concerts during the last couple years where we came very close to serious train wrecks.
He retired (again) and early this year the church brought in a very young man (30s) and he has been phenomenal. Great leadership... no doubt who is in charge but very considerate and positive in praising our efforts. Not over the top cheerleading but more along the lines of "...I know this is a challenging piece and you all are working hard on it, here's what I need in order to tweak your performance a bit and bring it to the next level..."
Last night's program was more lyrical in nature than in years past. We did do a Camp Kirkland brass centric orchestra only prelude The Angels' Hallelujah but other selections included orchestrations by Dan Goeller (my personal favorite... we've done several of his pieces in the past) and Cliff Duren. Probably the toughest brass licks (syncopation) were on the kids' ministry presentation of Born is the King (Ray Jones, Amanda Singer arrangement.)
The overall demeanor of the director during the concert was different, too. Lots of smiles, discreet thumbs up, under the breath "Amens" as opposed to a stressed look of concern during the whole thing
Here's to all of you having great playing under "appropriate" leadership this holiday season!
_________________ Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520 |
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Quadstriker Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Dec 2021 Posts: 118
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 6:38 am Post subject: Re: Last night's church Christmas concert |
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WxJeff wrote: |
He retired (again) |
That part made me laugh.
Glad you're all enjoying your new leadership and direction. |
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cgaiii Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2017 Posts: 1560 Location: Virginia USA
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2023 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like a great start with a new director. _________________ Bb: Schilke X3L AS, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Bb Cornet: Getzen 800 DLXS
Pic: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Std
Bass Tr: BAC Custom
Nat. Tr: Nikolai Mänttäri Morales Haas replica |
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WxJeff Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2002 Posts: 2486 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 6:53 am Post subject: |
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Follow up:
This year I was able to participate in a second Christmas program as our church orchestra was invited to play with another.... let's call it affluent... church in the city of Atlanta.
The privilege here was to sit amongst several professional musicians who were hired by the church. We had a young, very personable tuba-ist sitting next to the trumpet section who didn't miss a note, entrance or articulation during either the two hour dress rehearsal or the Sunday morning concert. Similarly, there was an oboeist and a couple violins and a cellist that were remarkable.
I came away honored and inspired to be part of this event. My admonition to you, my fellow comeback players: get involved in a group setting. You never know where it will lead
_________________ Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520 |
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tptptp Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Oct 2001 Posts: 1410 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Where do you go to church? I'd love to hear your group. _________________ Craig Mitchell |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9382 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 8:53 am Post subject: |
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I played in this production with about 150 singers and a 50 piece orchestra at our church. Dress rehearsal was last Wednesday, one performance Thursday, one Friday, three on Saturday, a church service Sunday morning, and the last performance Sunday night. About 10,000 free tickets were distributed, and the sanctuary was packed at every performance. BTW, the orchestra played 3 pieces as the crowd was coming in that aren’t part of the recording.
https://vimeo.com/895431905?fbclid=IwAR0TaKir1JG4zMpTTOfm2gX-qggf2se1iLXkpox3wHMvuuoQC6xCXx2BGTQ _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham
Last edited by Dale Proctor on Wed Dec 20, 2023 1:13 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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OldSchoolEuph Heavyweight Member
Joined: 07 Apr 2012 Posts: 2458
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 9:43 am Post subject: |
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Looks like fun - though twice as many on stage as there will be in the entire building where I play Christmas Eve. The days of packed churches seem to be over in Detroit. _________________ Ron Berndt
www.trumpet-history.com
2017 Austin Winds Stage 466
1962 Mt. Vernon Bach 43
1954 Holton 49 Stratodyne
1927 Conn 22B
1957 Holton 27 cornet
1985 Yamaha YEP-621
1975 Yamaha YEP-321 Custom
1965 Besson Baritone
1975 Olds Recording R-20 |
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WxJeff Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2002 Posts: 2486 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:19 am Post subject: |
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tptptp wrote: | Where do you go to church? I'd love to hear your group. |
Thanks for asking. Here's the Christmas program from Dec 10:
https://www.youtube.com/live/4upiRUexQhk?si=2kahFmhe3g7iDyP6
We are in Decatur near the Northlake Mall on LaVista Rd. We alternate weekly services between the traditional with choir/orchestra and contemporary praise band. Going forward a few weeks, orchestra is scheduled to play Dec 24, Jan 7, Jan 21. _________________ Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520 |
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WxJeff Heavyweight Member
Joined: 10 Dec 2002 Posts: 2486 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:21 am Post subject: |
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That's awesome, Dale. Thanks for posting the link. Very nice videography, too!
Aside: I was really happy this year that our attire was black shirt, black pants and no tux with potentially restrictive collar/bow tie _________________ Kanstul F Besson International 800 Bb
Jupiter SCR-520
Last edited by WxJeff on Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9382 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:22 am Post subject: |
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OldSchoolEuph wrote: |
Looks like fun - though twice as many on stage as there will be in the entire building where I play Christmas Eve. The days of packed churches seem to be over in Detroit. |
Yes, that’s sad. We had about 200 on stage (150 singers and 50+ in the orchestra. All total, around 10,000 attended the presentation. _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham |
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mafields627 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Nov 2001 Posts: 3779 Location: AL
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:03 am Post subject: |
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Really nice! That's the home of Eggbeater Jesus, right? _________________ --Matt--
No representation is made that the quality of this post is greater than the quality of that of any other poster. Oh, and get a teacher! |
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tptptp Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Oct 2001 Posts: 1410 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 11:05 am Post subject: |
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WxJeff, nice music. My daughter lives not far from your church. I may visit you one Sunday.
Dale, colossal event! Did you play Hallelujah Chorus on the wee beastie, or did you use a Bb like a real man? 😀 _________________ Craig Mitchell |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9382 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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tptptp wrote: | WxJeff, nice music. My daughter lives not far from your church. I may visit you one Sunday.
Dale, colossal event! Did you play Hallelujah Chorus on the wee beastie, or did you use a Bb like a real man? 😀 |
Thanks! I played it most nights with a Connstellation 9C-W mouthpiece on my old ML 43 Strad. The last performance I manned up and played it on a Curry 3C. I sold my picc years ago, so a standard Bb trumpet was my only option. _________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham |
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Dale Proctor Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 9382 Location: Heart of Dixie
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Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2023 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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mafields627 wrote: |
Really nice! That's the home of Eggbeater Jesus, right? |
Thanks! Yes it’s the famous Eggbeater Jesus church…lol
_________________ "Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham |
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