Klarinet Archive - Posting 000043.txt from 2005/07

From: Curtis Bennett <curtis.bennett@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] A long concert
Date: Tue, 05 Jul 2005 12:02:55 -0400

Last night, the Richmond Concert Band performed for the city of
Richmond for the annual fireworks celebration. And perform we did. Oh
god, did we perform. And perform, and perform. Apparently, due to some
concerns that the fire marshall had, the fireworks weren't safe
enough, so they brought in an additional hose truck (which was delayed
in traffic). This extended the time the fireworks were to be displayed
by at least an hour and 15 minutes.

So, after playing an hour long first half, a 20 minute intermission,
and a second half which included a piece with an Elvis impersonator,
and the 1812 overture, concluding with the Stars and Stripes, we
immediately played the Stars and Stripes a second time, and then as
the delay persisted, we continued to play every march and every piece
we played in the first half of our concert AGAIN, with the exception
of the Star Spangled Banner.

By the time we were done, we were of course exhausted. My throat hurt,
my thumb felt like it was going to fall off, and I'd already bit my
lip a couple of times when the howitzers fired during the 1812 as they
surprised me.

What's your story of playing a long concert?

--=20
Curtis Bennett

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