Commencement

[hudebnik]

Sitting here waiting for the ceremony to start, listening to the fifth consecutive performance of "Pomp and Circumstance", in its entirety, with repeats.

I wonder how the musicians and conductor can maintain their focus and enthusiasm. When I'm playing for a dance with fifteen repeats, I can ornament and embellish, sometimes even in connection with the dance steps (e.g. ladies' solo and men's solo); the Elgar has to sound identical every time.

The fifth one has ended, and we're on the sixth now....

ETA: after six repetitions, they've switched to Berlioz (Damnation of Faust -- what does that say?) for the procession of the platform party.

ETA: Senator Schumer has once again shown up unannounced and put himself on the speakers' list. There will follow one of his two stock graduation speeches, both of which most of the faculty have heard... but the students and parents haven't.

Comments

NITPICK

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

You really ought put your emendations in a post edit (assuming your app lets you edit posts)--not everyone reads comments as assiduously as I do :-)

Re: NITPICK

[hudebnik.livejournal.com]

I did, the first two times. The third time I tried, and it went in as a comment -- I don't know why.