So you remember how I was worried about playing Beethoven 7? The reason was because it's a pretty high horn part which I have played terribly before. High range is my weak point in horn playing.
Well, not so much this weekend. I was actually able to hit them pretty well the whole weekend. I played the Beethoven 7 pretty well at the performance, only just kind of loosing my chops right at the end, but even that went okay. I pretty much nailed everything else, and I'm very proud of myself.
And we played quite a program, too. Beethoven 7, of course, but also a couple pieces I hadn't played yet and didn't know much about: Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1 & Ravel's Let Tambeau de Couperin. I really love these two pieces. If you haven't heard them, check them out. We also played this modern piece called Penelope Waits and Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers again, both of which. weren't very exciting to play, but fun to listen to.
The orchestra put on quite a show for this concert, and we were conducted by a total of 10 different young conductors as part of the Pacific Northwest Conducting Institute, which this orchestra holds every year. It's really fun. I love talking with the conductors and getting to know them.
So it was a great weekend with the orchestra. I conquered my fear and nailed a hard piece. I feel like it's a testament of my growth as a person and a player, and conquering the mental hurdles that I struggled with for so long in the first 12ish years of my career. I feel like I can take on anything now. And I will. And I will practice harder to be even better.
Feeling good.
Take care & value music.