Drumline Contest, Recital & Mendelsohn

Wow! What a busy last two weeks!

In addition to my normal duties as assistant band director, percussion director, husband, father and numerous other hats I wear, I've had three major projects come and go. And come and go successfully they did, too.

I'll start with the most recent: Randall Drumline Contest. This happened just yesterday on October 6th. All in all, I felt like the contest went smoothly and that the visiting drumlines found the experience to be a valuable one. I hope that once they hear and read their critique and respond in kind, that they will view the contest as an invaluable experience. (I just wish I had realized the value of putting sunscreen on earlier...)

Six drumlines attended the contest, then at the end of finals, Randall performed in exhibition. There were some very fine performances yesterday, and without exception, I thought all of the finals performances were even better than the prelims performances. There's something about having been through the routine once already, that helps you remove the doubt and uncertainty before a performance.

I hope that this first year of the contest will be the catalyst for a bigger contest by which many more drumlines participate next year.

Right before that, I was invited to perform on my composition teacher's fall recital. "Gary Belshaw and Friends" occured on October 4th. This was a neat experience partially because being invited to perform at a venue like that is flattering, but also partially due to the fact that it was possible to premiere "...and now these three remain..."

The original idea was that I would premiere both "and now" and my vibraphone solo "Amazing Grace" but as I worked on "Amazing Grace," I realized that it would take Amazing Grace to be able to pull it off. Had I not been under the pressure of the drumline contest, I think I might have been able to find the time to work it up.

Regardless, the performance went well and it was good to be a part of the recital.

Finally, I've finished the lion-share of the work on the first movement of Mendelsohn's Fourth Symphony (transcribed for percussion ensemble). By no means is this ready to submit to a publisher or even an ensemble for performance, but the notes are all on the page. From here on out, it's just an editing process and double-checking that the way I have the piece orchestrated now is the way I want it to stay. Given that I started the piece in December of 2006 and have worked on it intermittenly, I have found some inconsistencies in the way I have written parts and orchestrated ideas.

Still, at this point, it feels like a big weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Editing usually goes quickly for me, and now that the drumline contest is over, I should find that I have a few spare minutes in my day.

Next up is to finish a collection of vibe/marimba duets geared for a liturgical setting. Then I hope to start and finish the Tchaikovsky transcription project. After that, I still have a promising new work for band that is missing a development of sorts and a recap or solid ending.