Several former regular participants in our orchestra have let me know that one of the reasons for their "retirement" is the lack of socialization among the members. While our focus on rehearsal toward performance suits many of our current members (including moi), perhaps there are some ways we can get to know one another better.
Firstly, Dick Davies, UPBEAT editor, is planning to publish brief biographical sketches of members, beginning with the Board, but to include "retirees" and participating members.
Secondly, people who have been with MPRO for many years are being encouraged to write brief anecdotes of events in our past for UPBEAT (Beginning with you Esther). Stay tuned to discover, for example, how long the MPRO has existed, how we were born, and how Fred, Our Great Omniscient Director was selected. (Smile, Oh G.O.D.) If the idea for the American Physical Therapy Assn was born over a few shots of scotch in a NYC bar, who knows what benignly evil events lurk in our past. It would be a shame to lose the sense of fun, camaraderie, purpose and musical accomplishment of the people who have been so important in our development.
Former Historian Phil Hand was forced to retire from music-making because of painful arthritis so we've been without his able services for more than a year. The preservation of our history and the people involved in making it gives us warmth, dimension, and is the underpinning of our future development. Sonja Wilcomer - of beautiful nature photo fame - has accepted the Board position of Historian and will be taking informal and formal pictures of us as well as gathering documents of historical interest. Thus our current activities shall live on into the great unknown.
Now... much as I'm averse to writing about myself, in the spirit of the opening of this article, a little about me. After reading a newspaper notice (thanks to publicity chair Marggie Dilley)I attended MPRO's 1994 Christmas concert. Having played both the soprano and alto recorder off and on for years, (mostly for my own amazement) I thought that I and my novice playing could get lost in the Orchestra's size. A chance meeting with Physical Therapy colleague Marggie after a Philharmonia Baroque concert paved the way for my start with MPRO in Jan of '95. In my first year with the Orchestra, during BOTH concerts, I committed the dreaded sin of playing during a grand pause. ( Yes guys, in case you didn't know - it was me.) After the first inadvertent solo, Fred (alias G.O.D., see above) asked me to join his lesson/consort group, and thanks to his coaching and considerable practice with a metronome between rehearsals ( i.e. "looking over the music") I've become slightly less detrimental to our musical performance.
Enough of me for now. In the next installment, I'll answer the most frequent question people ask of me - "Wow! Is your name REALLY Stephen? How did THAT happen?"
CONDUCTOR'S CORNER
Dear members of the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra,
Listed below is the music for the next two meetings of the orchestra. Please note that krummhorn players and singers will be needed at both of these meetings.
November 1
Lappi: Canzon quinta
Bach: Sheep may safely graze
Praetorius: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Haydn: Divertimento, Presto
I look forward to seeing you at these upcoming meetings.
Fred Palmer
Hausmusik is pleased to announce its fourteenth season of five concerts at St Alban's Episcopal Church in Albany. The concerts take place in both the sanctuary, which evokes a charming and simply beautiful small country church from the past, and the parish hall, an intimate room reminiscent of an English manor house.
The season opens on Saturday, October 7, at 8:00pm, with "Musique de Table," a sampling of Telemann's richest and most delectable chamber music.
Saturday, December 9 at 8pm, and Sunday, December 10 at 4pm. "Festive Music for Yuletide."
Saturday, January 13 at 8pm, "Danza!", a celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Franco-Flemish musical collection The Odhecaton, first printed in 1501.
Sunday, February 25 at 4pm, "Annus novus in Gaudio," featuring members of the medieval group Ruach.
Saturday, March 17 at 8pm, "Il Caro sassone: Music from Handel's Lifetime," featuring the baroque chamber group Florilegia.
Concerts sell out early and advance ticket orders are recommended. All concerts except for the October and February programs take place in the sanctuary which is wheelchair accessible. Individual tickets are $17/$14. Sampler and Full Series subscriptions are available at discounted prices. If you are not already on the mailing list and would like to receive a season brochure, please contact Hausmusik,1185 Solano Ave., PMB 146, Albany CA 94706 (telephone 510-527-9029 or email franfel@aol.com).
A reminder that your dues for the 2000-2001 season is due. $65.00 for Participating Member. (Additional members from same family pay associate rate.) $17.00 for Associate Member. (Receives newsletter and member discount for workshops and special events.) If you haven't paid yet, mail your check today to:
Chris prefers to receive an application form with the check. (See the September issue of UPBEAT for an application form.) If the info hasn't changed from last year, just write your name. Please do fill in any consort request and your preferred instrument choices.