Hi all!!

I enjoyed our rehearsal on Sunday, October 6th. By the time we get to our next rehearsal (this Sunday, 10/13), we’ll be less than a month away from our first concert. Please continue planning your practicing very strategically, so that concert week is enjoyable and not stressful.

RECAP of 10/6 rehearsal

• We read the first draft of Elishiya Crain-Keddie‘s piece Innamorata. Thank you for your great reading and very valuable input for the composer. We will hand out the final parts this Sunday. The next rehearsal of this piece will be on Oct. 20.
• We worked on Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone. We worked backwards from the end of Part 1 back to letter [X]. Good work on this. Keep practicing!
• SECTIONALS
  • Woodwind sections worked on Mazzoli and Tchaikovsky as needed.
  • Strings, percussion and brass worked with me on Tchaikovsky, focusing on the following sections:
    • Q to U
    • 508 to end
    • J to K
    • M to 367 (playthrough only)

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 13

• 4:00pm-4:45pm – tutti: Part 2 of Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone
• 4:45pm-5:15pm – tutti: Tchaikovsky (entire piece)
• 5:15pm-5:30pm – break
• 5:30pm-7:00pm – Beethoven!! (entire piece) — we need to make a ton of progress on Beethoven. Please practice and listen to recordings!

Reminder: LISTEN to our repertoire constantly

It’s always a good idea to find several different versions of each of the pieces we’re playing. Add them to your regular listening rotation. You can always start with the recordings that I’ve shared on the sidebar of this blog. The more variety you find, the more informed your own performance will be.

Reminder: Concerto Competition

The webpage for our Concerto Competition is now live. You’ll find all the information you need, including deadlines, rules and forms. The registration deadline is Monday, October 14. Video entries are due Friday October 18.

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Musicians photographed by Sheepscot Creative | September 2024

Hi all,

Thank you to Mr. Adam Eccleston, who subbed for me on Sunday 9/15. I don’t expect to miss any more rehearsals! We will begin sectionals this coming Sunday, and will have them for the next three weeks in different combinations.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 22

• 4:00pm-5:30pm: Work on Missy Mazzoli‘s Orpheus Undone, Part 1: Behold the Machine (O Death).
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm: SECTIONALS on Tchaikovsky. All sections should aim to cover the following passages:
  • Allegro giusto (m. 112) to m.164
  • Letter K to m.285
  • Letter L to m.307
  • Letter O to m. 368
  • Letter S to Letter U.

Sectional split for 9/22:

• Violin 1
• Violin 2
• Viola
• Cello/Bass
• Winds/Brass/Percussion – Tchaikovsky (whole piece) with Dr. G.

LISTEN TO “Orpheus Undone” as you practice for Sunday

Please listen to the whole piece and follow along with the full score. Here’s Part I and here’s Part II. As you read above, we’ll focus on Part 1 this coming Sunday (9/22). You can also find links on the side bar in this page (or at the bottom if on mobile).

Concerto Competition

A reminder that the MYS Concerto Competition will be earlier this year. Pieces must be approved by me (e-mail me with questions). They should be 10 minutes or shorter. More details will be e-mailed in the coming days.

• Friday, October 18: videos due for preliminary round (accompanist required)
• Friday, November 1st (evening): final round (with live audience)

Extra/replacement parts on the MYS website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

Program Note for “Orpheus Undone”

Orpheus Undone, an orchestral work commissioned in 2020 by the Chicago Symphony, is an exploration of two brief moments in the Orpheus myth – the moment that Eurydice dies, and the moment that Orpheus decides to follow his lover into the underworld. Constructed of two connected movements, Behold the Machine, O Death and We of Violence, We Endure, this work explores the baffling and surreal stretching of time in moments of trauma or agony. The movement titles come from Rilke’s Sonnets to Orpheus and this work uses small fragments of material from my 2019 ballet Orpheus Alive. 

-Missy Mazzoli

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Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra Musicians photographed by Mike from Sheepscot | September 2024

Hi everybody,

Great to see you again! Please read below.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 15

• 4:00pm-5:30pm: Tchaikovsky, Romeo & Juliet: beginning to letter [K] (goal tempo for fast passages for now: quarter note = 112)
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: break
• 5:54pm-7:00pm: Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3: Allegro (m.37) to m. 272. Goal tempo for now: half note = 100)

Optional Leadership Auditions due Thursday, 9/12

• If you’re interested on principal chairs, solos, or just want to show me your progress for future assignments, you’re welcome to send me a 3-minute video of your current best playing by the end of Thursday, 9/12. I will update our seating charts based on these optional auditions. Send your links to rgomez@playmys.org with the subject line “Leadership Audition.”

PDFs for “Orpheus Undone” now on the MYS Website

• As always, you can find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.
• Missy Mazzoli’s Orpheus Undone is now on the online PDF library.
• Please listen to the whole piece and follow along with the full score. Here’s Part I and here’s Part II.

Program Note for “Orpheus Undone”

Orpheus Undone, an orchestral work commissioned in 2020 by the Chicago Symphony, is an exploration of two brief moments in the Orpheus myth – the moment that Eurydice dies, and the moment that Orpheus decides to follow his lover into the underworld. Constructed of two connected movements, Behold the Machine, O Death and We of Violence, We Endure, this work explores the baffling and surreal stretching of time in moments of trauma or agony. The movement titles come from Rilke’s Sonnets to Orpheus and this work uses small fragments of material from my 2019 ballet Orpheus Alive. 

-Missy Mazzoli

————————

Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra Musicians | August 2024

Hi everybody,

I hope you had a wonderful summer. Welcome back to returning musicians and welcome to new members of MYS Symphony Orchestra!! Also, congratulations again to those of you who were part of our Spain and Portugal tour.

I typically send e-mails to the orchestra on Tuesdays. These e-mails include specific rehearsal plans for the following rehearsal. This information allows you to strategize your practicing so you’ve already learned your individual parts by the time you get to rehearsal.

We’ll talk about this and more topics on Sunday. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the posted rehearsal time.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, September 8

• 4:00pm-4:45pm (approx.): Introductions, welcome message, information about season, etc.
• 4:45pm-5:15pm: Listen to repertoire together
• 5:30pm-5:45pm: Break
• 5:45pm-7:00pm: Read Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet

Temporary Seating Chart for this Sunday

• A temporary seating chart can be found here (or on the sidebar of this webpage)
• Percussionists: We’ll have assignments by Sunday.

Optional Leadership Auditions due Thursday, 9/12

• If you’re interested on principal chairs, solos, or just want to show me your progress for future assignments, you’re welcome to send me a 3-minute video of your current best playing by the end of Thursday, 9/12. I will update our seating charts based on these optional auditions. Send your links to rgomez@playmys.org with the subject line “Leadership Audition.”

Practice PDFs on the MYS Website

• You can always find practice PDFs or print your own replacement parts on your Online Music Library. The password is playmys.

Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Ensemble during the 2023-2024 season

Hi all,

This message is for string players. I’ve updated our seating roster to include rotations for each of our 4 concerts, whenever possible. Please click the button below.

Dr. G.

Cellos!

Hi all,

Long day today! Great job managing your energy and keeping focus. Below is our rehearsal plan for tomorrow (Sunday, 7/7)

Sunday, July 7 – 2pm-4:30pm – arrival time: 1:45pm

• Check spots and transitions in:
  • Castro
  • Haydn
  • Freitas Branco
  • Bretón
  • Martin
  • Ives
  • Gipps
  • Moncayo

Sunday, July 7 – 6pm-8:30pm – arrival time: 5:45pm

• Beethoven only:
  • Mov 5
  • Mov 4
  • Mov 3 (no timpani needed)
  • Mov 2
  • Mov 1

See you tomorrow,

Dr. G.

Lisbon Festival, Portugal

Hi all,

Below are our rehearsal plans for Friday 7/5, Saturday 7/6 and Sunday 7/7. Please be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before the beginning of each rehearsal. All rehearsals are at All Saints.

Please note the change in start time tomorrow (Friday). We’ll begin at 7:30pm.

Friday, July 5, 7:30pm-9:30pm – arrival time: 7:15pm

• 7:30pm-8:00pm: Haydn (with Margaux)
• 8:00pm-8:30pm: Huapango
• 8:30pm-8:40pm: break
• 8:40pm-9:05pm: Portland Beauty
• 9:05pm-9:30pm: Gipps (with Mia)

Saturday, July 6 – 1:30pm-4:00pm – arrival time: 1:15pm

• 1:30pm-2:00pm: Tin Soldier (Amir conducting)
• 2:00pm-2:25pm: Pando
• 2:25pm-2:45pm: Bretón
• 3:00pm-4:00pm: Beethoven

Saturday, July 6 – 6:30pm-9:00pm – arrival time: 6:15pm

Send-off performance for families. Families are free to come and go between each of the 3 parts of the performance:

6:30pm start: Part 1 (35 min)

1. Bretón: En la Alhambra – 8 min
2. Freitas Branco: Alentejana – 7 min
3. Haydn Cello Concerto – 10 min
4. Gipps Oboe Concerto – 10 min

— pause (15 min, approx) —

7:20pm start: Part 2 (25 min)

1. Martin: Tin Soldier – 8 min
2. Ives: Pando – 10 min
3. Castro: Portland Beauty – 7 min

— pause (15 min, approx) —

8:00pm start: Part 3 (37 min)

1. Beethoven – 30 min
2. Huapango – 7 min

Sunday, July 7 – 2pm-4:30pm – arrival time: 1:45pm

• tbd based on how send-off performance goes

Sunday, July 7 – 6pm-8:30pm – arrival time: 5:45pm

• tbd based on how send-off performance goes

See you tomorrow,

Dr. G.

Colegio Real Santa Cruz, Granada, España

Hi all,

It’s concert week! Below are our rehearsal plans. TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE. Please be sure to arrive at 6:45pm. All rehearsals are at All Saints.

Thursday, June 13 – arrival time: 6:45pm

• 7:00pm-7:40pm: Gipps (no soloist) – with tour guests
• 7:40pm-8:20pm: Cartoon Music
• 8:20pm-8:30pm: break
• 8:30pm-8:50pm: Capriccio Espagnol
• 8:50pm-9:30pm: Avsker

Friday, June 14 – arrival time: 6:45pm

• 7:00pm-8:00pm: Gipps (with soloist) – with tour guests
• 8:00pm-8:10pm: break
• 8:10pm-8:50pm: Portland Beauty – with tour guests
• 8:50pm-9:30pm: Huapango – with tour guests

Saturday, June 15 – arrival time: 6:45pm

In concert order:

• 7:00pm-7:20pm: Avsker
• 7:20pm-7:40pm: Gipps (with soloist) – with tour guests
• 7:40pm-7:50pm: break
• 7:50pm-8:10pm: Cartoon Music
• 8:10pm-8:40pm: Capriccio Espagnol
• 8:40pm-9:00pm: Portland Beauty – with tour guests
• 9:00pm-9:30pm: Huapango – with tour guests

Sunday, June 16 – call time at Schnitz: 2:30pm (2pm for percussionists and group managers)

• Please consult our call sheet here for full details (you also have a hard copy which was handed out at rehearsal)

See you tomorrow,

Dr. G.

MYS Symphony Orchestra | March 3, 2024 | Photo by Richard Kolbell

Hi everybody,

I’m grateful to Adam Eccleston for working with you last Sunday, and I’m excited to hear that good progress was made on Amir’s piece as well. I expect to be back this Sunday, and we will also have a couple of special guests.

Also, please triple-check your calendars so you have all of our upcoming weeknight rehearsals: 6/13, 6/14 and 6/15, 7pm-9:30pm at All Saints. I will publish the rehearsal order for all those rehearsals on Tuesday next week.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, June 9

• 4:00pm-5:00pm: Portland Beauty (+ tour guests), conducted by the composer! (Giancarlo Castro D’Addona)
• 5:00-5:30pm: Gipps Oboe Concerto (+ tour guests), with Mia Hale, oboe and Sam Ross, guest conductor
• 5:30 pm-5:45pm: Break
• 5:45pm-6:15pm: Huapango (+ tour guests)
• 6:15pm-7:00pm: Rimsky-Korsakov

Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

Jimmie Herrod with MYS Symphony Orchestra | January 9, 2024 | Photo by Kyra Hanson

Hi everybody,

I hope you had a wonderful extended weekend. Now it is time to change gears as we approach concert week!

As a few of you know, I had repair surgery on my Achilles tendon last week. I’m recovering well but I won’t be able to be at rehearsal this weekend. I need to be still and keep my foot elevated as much as possible until stitches come out and I’m put in cast on June 7th. So, the wonderful Adam Eccleston will be subbing for me this Sunday, and Amir will take the last portion of rehearsal to work on his piece.

Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, June 2

• 4:00pm-4:45pm (approx.): Moncayo: Huapango (with tour guests)
• 4:45pm-5:30pm: Capriccio Espagnol
• 5:30 pm-5:45pm: Break
• 5:45pm-6:15pm: Capriccio Espagnol
• 6:15pm-7:00pm: Freedom Overture

Happy practicing,

Dr. G.

MYS Hillsboro Camerata with Kevin Lefohn conducting | May 19, 2024 | Photo by Kyra Hanson