This weekend saw me return to the King Charles Court at the Old Royal Naval College to resume my face-to-face individual studies and classes at Junior Trinity. I’m sure my fellow musicians can agree – the feeling is so surreal, returning to form an ensemble and finally getting the chance to play in perfect harmony with others, after hearing an unfortunate series of unintentional ‘terraced dynamics’ and ‘sudden molto accelerandos’ on digital rehearsals.
The day started off with a flute and oboe sectional rehearsal as part of the Junior Trinity Wind Orchestra directed by Leo Geyer, where we explored this absolute Latin American gem, Oye Como Va. We had the opportunity to improvise as a group, and to play some funky chords throughout such as 11th chords, which restored our musical spirits to normality, playing together for the first time in months. All I am looking forward to now is having the whole ensemble together for some much-needed larger group music-making!
One of the other musical highs you experience from studying at a junior department is the socialising – meeting up from like-minded musicians from all across the country…
What I just said is probably similar to that of what you would find in a prospectus, but it is really true. Those musical connections you forge are the types of long-lasting friendships you will find in non other of a craft.
And throughout the day, I also had some other group rehearsals with the Symphony Orchestra, covering the Beethoven’s ‘Leonore Overture No. 3’ and Glinka’s ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’ – both fab pieces I recommend checking out. In my flute lessons, we explored the marmitey (I’m not sure whether that is even a word…) ‘Sonata for Flute and Piano’ by Hindemith. I personally think it has a personal charm to it, but fellow flautists, feel free to disagree with me as you wish…
Anyways, the combination of reuniting with musical friends, catching up with staff and finding out about their musical lives, and just being on the beautiful faculty was such a great experience following months of lockdown. Not to mention the lovely Steinway B I was playing on in the thumbnail! I recorded my performance of Joaquín Turina’s Fiesta – enjoy!
This morning, I had a one-to-one session with the conductor of the Medway Youth Orchestra, Graham Mann where we covered Holst’s exciting orchestral work, Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from the Planets. Much-needed metronome practice upcoming!
Look forward to sharing with you some exciting musical news next time I post, until then!
RICKY TAING 