At 7:43 the CT contingent, Rick M., Brad and Victor are at the loft setting up. The meeting opens with a discussion of logistics regarding Saturday's upcoming performance at Bean & Leaf in New London, including transportation, load-in/arrival times and detailed talk of back line and available equipment.
Rehearsal begins with a play-through of Eye of the Needle. V makes a performance note pertaining to ringing strings and harmonics at the end of this and other pieces; Growing Circle is also given a hearing.
Following these two pieces, V switches gears to a warm-up using the legato-staccato exercise the group has been focusing on for the past few weeks. The first portion of this work involves playing in the first position on the neck and switching the finger playing a legato note (while the others remain staccato) on call, beginning with the first finger and moving successively to the fourth. For the second portion the same fingering pattern is moved up the neck to the 12th fret, with the legato finger changing in the same succession with each change in position, and back.
The group returns to repertoire with Third Relation. V prefaces this with a note on the function of the first bar of a phrase establishing its order. Next, Askesis is given a run. This is followed by some section work focusing on the clarity of (in this case) the first transition, at incrementally faster tempos. A similar approach is taken with the next piece, Calliope, with some words on the art of tempo/rhythm change in a set.
Where's the Nurse is the final piece to be looked at before a break, and performance notes from all corners are offered, including discussion of the character of the arpeggios and the place of a crescendo in the bass transitioning to the finale.
Break at 9:13. There is discussion of business card layout and function, as well as the obligatory CP stand-up yarn.
The "luau team" returns to active service for a play-through of Blockhead, with V adopting the role of listener/click track. A few false takes, but an 8th note count-in does the trick. V suggests hearing the 16th note pulse throughout the piece and especially during the final chordal section, and takes up drum sticks to assist.
Glenn arrives at 9:46.
With a now expanded ensemble, a number of pieces are given hearing. First is Opening, which is given two or three complete play-throughs. Next, Where's the Nurse and Calliope both make second appearances. G, C and V play Love is Green, which while expressive has "glitches"; advice is offered to C to let the melody notes sustain and perhaps to start singing his part, to become familiar with it as a melody.
The Prelude is played, with many brown/jazz notes, but with improving flow.
Finally, the group runs through Morning Has Broken, with a suggestion for the possible addition of a low part for some of the verses. Jocularity ensues, and a final improv concludes the lengthy meeting at 11:10.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
GCNE Meeting, 10-08-2010, The Loft
In attendance: full company, with Victor McSurely, Chris Paquette, Glenn Hughes, Dev Ray, Rick McCarthy, Brad Hogg, Alex Lahoski.
Rick, Brad, the Connecticut contingent, and Victor all arrive at the loft at roughly 7:30, and begin to warm up in the circle at about 7:45 with some circulation. Shortly after we begin, the doorbell rings once, letting Glenn up the stairs. Dev follows shortly after, and both join in as they are able.
After 45 minutes of circulation and improvisation, Victor calls Where is the Nurse?, Growing Circle, and Intergalactic Boogie Express, to check in with these pieces. Afterward, he puts forwards some comments about working with rising energies in an improvisation or otherwise, and then suggests work on Opening. Since the basses need to visit their own circulation (now at 3 people), the leads choose to go out to the hall and work on Love is Green. Dev, having no current part on this piece, opts to work on Batrachomyomachy in the next room over.
Roughly 15 minutes later, the leads come back into the loft, with Dev in tow. They run through Love is Green, and then the Opening team opens an inquiry into Opening. The first section is up to snuff, so we run this section a few times. After this, Alex and Brad take to the hall to work on the second section. While they are out there, the rest of the team tackles Calliope, focusing on the bass part (since the leads got such a workout the week before). On Alex and Brad's return, the team runs the 1st and 2nd sections of opening as a dual 3-person circulation, with some degree of success.
Following this, Brad begins to present an arrangement he's been working on for the circle--this is postponed, as it seems to be more appropriate to send out the files to the circle when it's completely finished. With this, there is some discussion regarding the gig that is coming up in two weeks, and we close the night at around 11 p.m. From here on out, Chris Paquette will be assuming minutes duties for each week's meeting.
Rick, Brad, the Connecticut contingent, and Victor all arrive at the loft at roughly 7:30, and begin to warm up in the circle at about 7:45 with some circulation. Shortly after we begin, the doorbell rings once, letting Glenn up the stairs. Dev follows shortly after, and both join in as they are able.
After 45 minutes of circulation and improvisation, Victor calls Where is the Nurse?, Growing Circle, and Intergalactic Boogie Express, to check in with these pieces. Afterward, he puts forwards some comments about working with rising energies in an improvisation or otherwise, and then suggests work on Opening. Since the basses need to visit their own circulation (now at 3 people), the leads choose to go out to the hall and work on Love is Green. Dev, having no current part on this piece, opts to work on Batrachomyomachy in the next room over.
Roughly 15 minutes later, the leads come back into the loft, with Dev in tow. They run through Love is Green, and then the Opening team opens an inquiry into Opening. The first section is up to snuff, so we run this section a few times. After this, Alex and Brad take to the hall to work on the second section. While they are out there, the rest of the team tackles Calliope, focusing on the bass part (since the leads got such a workout the week before). On Alex and Brad's return, the team runs the 1st and 2nd sections of opening as a dual 3-person circulation, with some degree of success.
Following this, Brad begins to present an arrangement he's been working on for the circle--this is postponed, as it seems to be more appropriate to send out the files to the circle when it's completely finished. With this, there is some discussion regarding the gig that is coming up in two weeks, and we close the night at around 11 p.m. From here on out, Chris Paquette will be assuming minutes duties for each week's meeting.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
GCNE Meeting, 10-03-2010, The Loft
In attendance: Victor McSurely, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, Glenn Hughes.
As Glenn arrives at around 7:45 or so, Victor, Chris, and Brad are beginning to play through Calliope. We play through it once, and Glenn is able to join in for the last bit of it. Another run through (at about 74 bpm), and we move on to working with the staccato-legato exercise. An initial run through the fingering at a higher speed prompts us to back it down to 69 bpm, running at 16ths through the patterns (1st finger legato, then 2nd finger, etc.). We also find that certain patterns want to be rushed more, with respect to where the legato note falls within the beat--something that welcomes a personal practice approach.
Moving on from this, we jump into actual section work with Calliope. There is only one bass player tonight (Chris), but he is doing a pretty heroic job of keeping up with three lead players. With respect to the leads, the dynamics and accenting of the high melody are what seem to jump out as most necessary to work on--Victor does mention that this used to be accent picked, and that it might be useful to reapproach this piece as such. Most of the work with this is running at 78 bpm or so, but we'll need to bring it up to around 84-88.
Here, there be breaks to be had.
Back in the circle, more circulation work. Victor has us work with arpeggiating a Cmaj chord, and then presents an exercise: starting from Glenn and moving to Victor, each person will be the "one" for four beats, as we circulate in turn (changing our note as necessary). This turns out to be a little trickier than we anticipated, so we fall back to clapping in time. Eventually, we move to running notes, in order to get the feel of each position, and running the exercise as originally intended. It's actually very interesting to hear when we "get" the exercise and start playing musicially, as well as hearing the difference between permutation as the one gets shifted around the circle.
This work takes us up to 10 p.m., when we close the meeting. Next week, we'll likely be working with Opening again (with a 3-person circulation in the bass).
As Glenn arrives at around 7:45 or so, Victor, Chris, and Brad are beginning to play through Calliope. We play through it once, and Glenn is able to join in for the last bit of it. Another run through (at about 74 bpm), and we move on to working with the staccato-legato exercise. An initial run through the fingering at a higher speed prompts us to back it down to 69 bpm, running at 16ths through the patterns (1st finger legato, then 2nd finger, etc.). We also find that certain patterns want to be rushed more, with respect to where the legato note falls within the beat--something that welcomes a personal practice approach.
Moving on from this, we jump into actual section work with Calliope. There is only one bass player tonight (Chris), but he is doing a pretty heroic job of keeping up with three lead players. With respect to the leads, the dynamics and accenting of the high melody are what seem to jump out as most necessary to work on--Victor does mention that this used to be accent picked, and that it might be useful to reapproach this piece as such. Most of the work with this is running at 78 bpm or so, but we'll need to bring it up to around 84-88.
Here, there be breaks to be had.
Back in the circle, more circulation work. Victor has us work with arpeggiating a Cmaj chord, and then presents an exercise: starting from Glenn and moving to Victor, each person will be the "one" for four beats, as we circulate in turn (changing our note as necessary). This turns out to be a little trickier than we anticipated, so we fall back to clapping in time. Eventually, we move to running notes, in order to get the feel of each position, and running the exercise as originally intended. It's actually very interesting to hear when we "get" the exercise and start playing musicially, as well as hearing the difference between permutation as the one gets shifted around the circle.
This work takes us up to 10 p.m., when we close the meeting. Next week, we'll likely be working with Opening again (with a 3-person circulation in the bass).
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
GCNE Meeting, 09-26-2010
In attendance: a full house with Victor McSurely, Dev Ray, Rick McCarthy, Alex Lahoski, Chris Paquette, Glenn Hughes, and Brad Hogg.
All in the circle at around 7:50 or so, with a circulation to set levels. This ended up going a little longer than "just setting levels", with a clear ending. With no specific agenda to address, Victor suggests simply running some repertoire, unless someone has a different request. With the only requests being repertoire, we jump right in. (Not the exact order.)
Growing Circle
Eye of the Needle
Third Relation
Where is the Nurse?
Bicycling to Afghanistan
Calliope
Prelude Circulation
Flying Home
Intergalactic Boogie Express
Blockhead (from the luau team)
Tweaking and reviewing parts as needed (some of these haven't been played for a while), with Afghanistan being revisited (it is beginning to move from a trio to an ensemble again) and Calliope getting some work after a couple of false starts. Blockhead gets some refining work on the polyrhythm section as well. Chris has managed to gain a new nickname: "Natch". A last call for repertoire requests, and a necessary break.
During the break, various discussions ensue, including further work on possible spaces for the weekly challenge. Also, differing practice regimens are presented, with a fair dollop of jocularity.
Back in the circle, Morning Has Broken is called, prompting a clarification of certain parts. Next, we run Opening, and decide to move again towards a three-person circulation in the bass, aiming for next week.
Next up, Victor runs through the English bell-ringing changes again, introducing the pattern to Dev and Glenn, and reintroducing it to the rest of the team. This moves into circulating with return and circulation +1. This begins with notes and moves to clapping for some time, before finishing with guitars. This signifies the end of the night at 10:30, with a bit of post-rehearsal gear talk.
All in the circle at around 7:50 or so, with a circulation to set levels. This ended up going a little longer than "just setting levels", with a clear ending. With no specific agenda to address, Victor suggests simply running some repertoire, unless someone has a different request. With the only requests being repertoire, we jump right in. (Not the exact order.)
Growing Circle
Eye of the Needle
Third Relation
Where is the Nurse?
Bicycling to Afghanistan
Calliope
Prelude Circulation
Flying Home
Intergalactic Boogie Express
Blockhead (from the luau team)
Tweaking and reviewing parts as needed (some of these haven't been played for a while), with Afghanistan being revisited (it is beginning to move from a trio to an ensemble again) and Calliope getting some work after a couple of false starts. Blockhead gets some refining work on the polyrhythm section as well. Chris has managed to gain a new nickname: "Natch". A last call for repertoire requests, and a necessary break.
During the break, various discussions ensue, including further work on possible spaces for the weekly challenge. Also, differing practice regimens are presented, with a fair dollop of jocularity.
Back in the circle, Morning Has Broken is called, prompting a clarification of certain parts. Next, we run Opening, and decide to move again towards a three-person circulation in the bass, aiming for next week.
Next up, Victor runs through the English bell-ringing changes again, introducing the pattern to Dev and Glenn, and reintroducing it to the rest of the team. This moves into circulating with return and circulation +1. This begins with notes and moves to clapping for some time, before finishing with guitars. This signifies the end of the night at 10:30, with a bit of post-rehearsal gear talk.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
09-19-2010, GCNE Meeting, The Loft
In attendance: Victor McSurely, Rick McCarthy, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, Glenn Hughes, Alex Lahoski, Dev Ray.
After a brief sound check at 7:45, we begin the meeting proper with a moment of silence, followed by a direction of attention to breath. This attention is maintained as we move to a three-note circulation exercise, and further maintained as we work with the staccato-legato exercise we were given earlier in the week:
-1---------------------------------------
---2----1--------------------------------
-----3----2-----1------------------------
-------4----3-----2-----1-------------4--
--------------4-----3-----2---4-1---3----
----------------------4-----3-----2------
-----------------------4-----3-----2-----
---------------4-----3-----2---4-1---3---
-------4-----3-----2-----1-------------4-
-----3-----2-----1-----------------------
---2-----1-------------------------------
-1---------------------------------------
Following this finger pattern, one would play this with all notes staccato, and then with each successive finger legato:
1234
1234
1234
1234
After working with this for a bit, and moving to 3 and 4 as successfully legato, Victor calls Askesis. Once through. He then calls for Blockhead, which the luau team dutifully runs. Some persnickitiness in the polyrhythms prompts some clapping work with this section, with one last run sounding better than before. Before a break, Chris requests a rundown of Intergalactic Boogie Express.
During the break, with guitars off, we learn about Elan S.'s decision to take on a weekly performance challenge, and are asked to help in any way we might be able to, with respect to footwork and organization. Extending from this, the discussion of our own weekly challenge arises, and what may be done to facilitate that. Eventually, a rough game plan is established, and we are all in.
Back in the circle, we jump in with some circulation work. With a Cmaj arpeggio, we work with circulating with return (with 7 players, it'd be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2), with a definite pulse. There's an attempt to play this with ascending diatonic triads (Dmin would be next), but this gives way to circulating numbers in a six beat pulse (1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6). Once we have this established, we begin moving the pattern backwards. So, from here (italicized numbers are the place in the circle, and non-italicized is the count):
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2
1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
we move to:
7-1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-11-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
and then:
6-7-1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1-61-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
And so on. Once we have a definite pulse, we then move back to guitars and leave the pattern, simply working with circulation-with-return. After this, Victor calls the Prelude Circulation. Some frogginess, and we abandon the end, working directly with the pulse and counting of the circulation (5+3). This having been established, we play the Prelude once more, with a much better ending. A very musical free circulation, and we end the meeting at roughly 10:30 p.m.
After a brief sound check at 7:45, we begin the meeting proper with a moment of silence, followed by a direction of attention to breath. This attention is maintained as we move to a three-note circulation exercise, and further maintained as we work with the staccato-legato exercise we were given earlier in the week:
-1---------------------------------------
---2----1--------------------------------
-----3----2-----1------------------------
-------4----3-----2-----1-------------4--
--------------4-----3-----2---4-1---3----
----------------------4-----3-----2------
-----------------------4-----3-----2-----
---------------4-----3-----2---4-1---3---
-------4-----3-----2-----1-------------4-
-----3-----2-----1-----------------------
---2-----1-------------------------------
-1---------------------------------------
Following this finger pattern, one would play this with all notes staccato, and then with each successive finger legato:
1234
1234
1234
1234
After working with this for a bit, and moving to 3 and 4 as successfully legato, Victor calls Askesis. Once through. He then calls for Blockhead, which the luau team dutifully runs. Some persnickitiness in the polyrhythms prompts some clapping work with this section, with one last run sounding better than before. Before a break, Chris requests a rundown of Intergalactic Boogie Express.
During the break, with guitars off, we learn about Elan S.'s decision to take on a weekly performance challenge, and are asked to help in any way we might be able to, with respect to footwork and organization. Extending from this, the discussion of our own weekly challenge arises, and what may be done to facilitate that. Eventually, a rough game plan is established, and we are all in.
Back in the circle, we jump in with some circulation work. With a Cmaj arpeggio, we work with circulating with return (with 7 players, it'd be 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2), with a definite pulse. There's an attempt to play this with ascending diatonic triads (Dmin would be next), but this gives way to circulating numbers in a six beat pulse (1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6). Once we have this established, we begin moving the pattern backwards. So, from here (italicized numbers are the place in the circle, and non-italicized is the count):
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-3-2
1-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
we move to:
7-1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-11-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
and then:
6-7-1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-1-61-2-3-4-5-6-1-2-3-4-5-6
And so on. Once we have a definite pulse, we then move back to guitars and leave the pattern, simply working with circulation-with-return. After this, Victor calls the Prelude Circulation. Some frogginess, and we abandon the end, working directly with the pulse and counting of the circulation (5+3). This having been established, we play the Prelude once more, with a much better ending. A very musical free circulation, and we end the meeting at roughly 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
GCNE Performance at All Asia Bar, 08-31-2010
Circulation/Tuning the Space
Growing Circle
Askesis
Where is the Nurse?
Flying Home
Morning Has Broken
Eye of the Needle
Blockhead
Asturias
In attendance: Alex Lahoski, Rick McCarthy, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, and Glenn Hughes.
Scheduled for a 9:15 downbeat, but more of a 9:25 start, with finishing at easily 10 minutes to the hour. Numerous technical difficulties for this gig led to an abbreviated setlist. The set seemed to be well-received, regardless, and we had a very enthusiastic and happy audient thank us afterward.
Growing Circle
Askesis
Where is the Nurse?
Flying Home
Morning Has Broken
Eye of the Needle
Blockhead
Asturias
In attendance: Alex Lahoski, Rick McCarthy, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, and Glenn Hughes.
Scheduled for a 9:15 downbeat, but more of a 9:25 start, with finishing at easily 10 minutes to the hour. Numerous technical difficulties for this gig led to an abbreviated setlist. The set seemed to be well-received, regardless, and we had a very enthusiastic and happy audient thank us afterward.
GCNE Meeting, 08-29-2010, The Loft
Generally anecodotal in nature, as no notes were taken during the meeting tonight, and a lot of material was covered.
In attendance: Rick McCarthy, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, Glenn Hughes, Alex Lahoski, Victor McSurely.
All except Victor arriving at the space within about 10 minutes or so of each other, we head up to the top floor at about 7:35 and set the space. In the circle at roughly 7:50 pm, and beginning with some circulation, moving towards faster speeds. Moving to running the setlist for the gig on Tuesday (a last-minute booking), we start work with Growing Circle, twice (once for attention to dynamics). Askesis next; as we are running this, Victor walks into the space. We eventually find ourselves working for some time with a click track on the middle parts of the piece, following direction from Victor.
From here, we end up running other parts of the setlist, including Blockhead, Where is the Nurse, and Morning Has Broken, with a real eye towards having these pieces ready for the gig. During a break, strawberry and pumpkin oat bars are consumed. Eye of the Needle and Asturias close out the night.
In attendance: Rick McCarthy, Chris Paquette, Brad Hogg, Glenn Hughes, Alex Lahoski, Victor McSurely.
All except Victor arriving at the space within about 10 minutes or so of each other, we head up to the top floor at about 7:35 and set the space. In the circle at roughly 7:50 pm, and beginning with some circulation, moving towards faster speeds. Moving to running the setlist for the gig on Tuesday (a last-minute booking), we start work with Growing Circle, twice (once for attention to dynamics). Askesis next; as we are running this, Victor walks into the space. We eventually find ourselves working for some time with a click track on the middle parts of the piece, following direction from Victor.
From here, we end up running other parts of the setlist, including Blockhead, Where is the Nurse, and Morning Has Broken, with a real eye towards having these pieces ready for the gig. During a break, strawberry and pumpkin oat bars are consumed. Eye of the Needle and Asturias close out the night.
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