Posting, finally!

Wow, it's been a bad month for posting! I've been absolutely innundated at work, where I am monitoring a contest (sponsored by work) where we are asking people around the world to submit ideas to us - the prize is funding for their idea. I've been monitoring the site along with 2 other people, posting comments, writing a blog on the site, answering email inquiries, and doing the first reading and evaluation of the ideas. It is amazing to see the creativity of people from around the world pouring out - we have hundreds of ideas submitted so far. This in of itself has been pretty time-consuming. Then I got another large time-critical project thrown at me, and so...well everything not work-related this month has suffered, including, to my sorrow, cello. I've been working every day since the contest started and it won't be over for months.

Tomorrow's orchestra rehearsal is dress rehearsal for a set of 3 concerts we will give starting Dec 3rd. I'm not sure how those dates crept up so fast and now I'm spending some practice time getting ready, including practicing what I have now nicknamed the "carpal tunnel suite", otherwise known as the Sibelius Karelia Suite. I continue to practice finger exercises and thumb-free bow holds, hoping that it will pay off. At least I can do some of the exercises without a cello, on a plane, etc... I've been practicing my part of the Popper Requiem; we've had a few rehearsals but will need many more to be ready for our concert date in late March/early April.

Today's rehearsal with my Sunday chamber group was weird. Recently another cellist joined us. She asked if we could join our group, and my input was that she is a "first cellist", but we decided to let her play with us for now and to see what happens. Our group jokes about what different attitudes first and second violinists have, and most of the jokes aren't necessarily that complimentary towards the firsts (our violinists take turns playing first violin, and play second violin the orchestras they are in). Those of you in orchestras probably know what I'm talking about! Anyway, today, since there were 5 of us there we decided to play the Schubert quintet. Our new cellist hasn't played it with our group before. As I was handing out parts, I said, well, I've been playing the first part when our group has been playing this so why don't you play second cello. She refused. Flat out refused to play anything but first cello. So, finally,I just said, ok, I'll play second. It was very strange...I didn't mind reading the 2nd part but everyone else in the group (including a few people who weren't there) is much more relaxed about which part they play and would have instantly taken whatever part they were given. I thought it was pretty weird, and so did everyone else when we were standing around talking after the other cellist had left. At least it wasn't just me who thought it was weird. All through rehearsal, too, she just assumed she would always play first cello. The other cellist who plays with us wasn't there (I adore playing with her) and we generally alternate parts - a much better system, in my mind, since one of the reasons why we're there is to have fun. Well, enough for the ranting. Back to reading what new thing we should be doing....