The Last Good Day of the Year

in theory anyhow.

so it's November 30th. A typical Daddy weekend is on tap.

And then the treadmill on nitro begins: concerts, concert prep, rehearsal schedules, xmas shopping, xmas decorating, xmas sidetrips, familial events, housekeeping, working miracles, family movie nights, etc., etc. yadda, yadda, yadda

and somewhere in that tsunami of activity: keeping things SPICEy.

Let simplicity be the buzzword of this holiday season...and may the aquastat hold on through winter.

it's the hap, happiest season of all...

grumble, grumble, grumble

in theory of course. but when you add in the concert week and the preparations for the concert and familial obligations and well you get the idea.

not too much new seasonal music out this year. this is a sad thing.

other than that the season starts off promptly with a crazy last day before bird day and the ongoing struggle with finding precious time to take care of the truly important.

sumus quo sumus.

AEA.

trying to keep things SPICE-y

sevens and the ride

inside a month to the concert week from hell. being torn in four or five directions at once. time for SPICE to kick in whole hog. Trying really hard to keep things simple this time around. Patience, persistence and focus is the ongoing mantra. gearing up for the score study follies.

it's daddy time...

And we're off...

The invitations were delivered. The responses were mostly as expected. A few surprises, but c'est la vie! The official program is: Anthem of an Era, Balladair and Black Forest Overture. A split two/three package but it is what is best for all concerned. Score study begins in earnest after Thanksgiving break. I amy have to create a bass clarinet player before it's over with and maybe a baritone sax player but otherwise, all is well.

ever forward

The journey begins...

So after a longer than normal, or healthy for that matter, selection process, I have decided on the Festival Band selections. Two of the three are eminently playable by the powerhouse ensemble I have this year. The final selection will be a challenge, albeit one that I am reasonably convinced that they are capable of meeting and exceeding. Only time will tell.

The final step in the decision making process came when I put ego aside and went with what should always be the overwhelming philosophy for choosing any music to perform: it's about the journey and not the destination.

watch this space.

Tramps Like Us...

funk. satori. moving on.

watch this space.

i feel a seismic shift in the cosmos about to occur.

for the phantom and the big man and the rest

no retreat, no surrender.