Thoughts After The First Recital

After all of our pieces were finished being written (just in time I should add!) and our performers had rehearsed (with very little time!) it was time for the first recital. I think everyone was quite worried leading up to this recital as our performers had not rehearsed much, or at least enough that it seems was necessary in order to perform these pieces. But regardless, I believe everyone made it work the best they could, composers and performers alike.

My piece proved to be slightly tricky for the performers due to some rhythmic challenges in the first and third movements. The second movement was actually fairly easy despite it's possible uncertainties that could arise due to the notation. I guess it proves that many of the suggestions made on the piece's score were very useful and contributed to it being easier to read by a performer. The problems that arose in both the first and third movements were due to rhythmic motives, as there were quite a few shifting meters and polyrhythms found in some of the important sections of the two pieces. It was especially hard for the third movement as it is pretty quick. Due to time constraints, and since it had been a busy time for everyone, we had to slow the pieces down and make a note of important cues played by each member during a certain complicated section.

Though it allowed the pieces to be playable from start to finish in time for the performance, I feel as if slowing down the third movement took away a lot of energy and therefore hindered it from allowing it's concept to come across. It was also noticeable for the first movement, as in it's conclusion it slows to a slower tempo and at the speed they had started with, it was difficult to find somewhere noticeably slower to go.

Despite these things, the performance was still well done and I was still extremely impressed that the group was able to perform the pieces with merely a weeks work and 3 short rehearsals. They only had the third movement for about 3 days! Being a guitarist who can barely sight read, it always really impresses me when a pianist or string player or percussionist can sight read something so well at a first glance. It's not even as if the music has simple reoccuring motives, basic triads or simple rhythms; this music had essentially no existing diatonic chords, meters that shifted between 9/8-4/4-5/8-10/8 without any preparation, and some strange motives appearing sometimes! Yet still, these three talented performers were able to bring together 7 minutes of music in a few rehearsals and perform it in front of an audience! I was very glad I chose these three players and they agreed to play my piece. This is proof that making good calls on who to perform/record your music is extremely important!