OU Orchestra and Chamber Music Club Committee
Meeting
Tuesday 4th March, 2008, 1:00 – 2:00
Present
Bill, Laurence (chair), Tim, Stephen(chair for items 1 and 4), June, Jane, David, Tessa,
Elaine (secretary).
Apologies
Ian, Clare, Sara, Debbie, Mike.
1. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The schedule document for publicity-related tasks has been put on the website.
The new timpani store was formally christened after Friday’s rehearsal.
An extra £90 in subscriptions had been collected since the last meeting.
Action brought forward
Register on the website
Action: David, Bill, Tim
New members document
Action : Tessa, Tim
Arrange instrumental specialists to lead the workshop.
Action: Bill, Laurence.
2. Music for the May Concert
Bill presented the results of canvassing Orchestra players’ views of Brahms Academic
Overture or Hungarian Dances as a suitable piece to accompany Dvořak’s Eighth.
There was a clear majority in favour of the Hungarian Dances (11 votes for Hungarian
Dances, 2 for the Academic Festival Overture and 2 who preferred the Overture but
thought the Dances better for the group.) There was some concern that the Hungarian
Dances were played twice at the rehearsal but the Overture only once, but it was felt
that having asked the Orchestra, we ought to go by their decision.
It was agreed that the Brahms Hungarian Dances would be performed.
3. October Concert
Angela Caesar has been contracted for the ENO autumn tour and will not be available
for the October concert.
Bill suggested a programme of pieces not involving a soloist. This was
Carmen Prelude – Bizet
In the Steppes of Central Asia – Borodin
L’Arlesienne Suite – Bizet
Polovtsian Dances – Borodin.
Other pieces he considered were
Kamarinskaya – Glinka
L’Arlesienne Suite – alternative version
Pictures at an Exhibition – Mussorgsky (though this is rather long and difficult)
Vltava – Smetana
film music
Masques et Bergamasques – Faure.
Some of these were suitable for the Orchestra and could replace one of the suggested
pieces, but the pieces chosen made a good themed programme.
It was decided to go with the programme suggested unless a good alternative for
one of the pieces was identified before rehearsals began.
It was noted that the programme required 2 horns and 2 trombones to be bought in.
June was asked to get the parts for Steppes & l’Arlesienne, and checkout the other
pieces, seeking to borrow music rather than buy, where possible.
Action: June
4. Other Business
The main item at the next committee meeting on April 15th will be a discussion of the
future plans and general direction of the Orchestra.
Tim offered to put up on the website some advice to people wishing to suggest pieces
for the Orchestra to play. This was considered useful and the offer accepted.
Action: Tim
It was noted that there were still gaps in the register. Members should be pressed to
fill these in so that instruments missing from the line-up on the day of the concert
could be identified and the vacancies filled.
The attendance at the 11th April rehearsal was thin. Bill and Laurence would discuss
whether to go ahead with this rehearsal.