A Well overdue update....

Deary me, it seems I've again lapsed with my blogging. It's obviously not something that comes very naturally to me!

So, I'm very nearly finished with the concerto! I think the last time I posted I was getting towards the end of the second movement: that all seems a very long time ago now! I sent the first two movements off to the orchestra on the 1st December and I know that they have had several rehearsals on it. I think it went down OK! But I really want to just keep telling people that it will sound so much better when all the instruments are there (the brass won't be at rehearsals until near the concert) and, of course, the piano part is missing! So it must sound rather skeletal at rehearsals and I'm rather glad I can hide in Cambridge for the time being!

So, in December I began the third movement, which is based on trains! It was the railway that really helped Greystones to thrive, turning a town that was very provincial into a thriving holiday destination, so, it seemed appropriate! To be honest it was also largely to do with the fact that this meant I could include lots of rhythmical material in the last movement which will be a great contrast to the slow, chordal slow movement. I've had great fun dictating various steam train rhythms, with one in particular featuring heavily in the piano part: it sounds as if one set of cogs (or whatever goes on in a train!) are moving very slightly faster than the other, creating a phasing effect. I hope Bobby won't mind the cross rhythms that I've written for him!

So, I actually have a double bar anyway. But lots and lots of gaps to fill in! But, psychologically it's incredibly reassuring to have that last bar...I thought I would never get there when I started the concerto!

General admin has started to rear its ugly head again, and soon I'm going to have to think about booking flights, B&B's and everything else needed for the rehearsals and concert. But I'll try and finish the notes first!