GCNE Minutes
October 24, 2004, South Boston

Attendees: Victor, David, Glenn, MB, Dev, Melisande, Terry, (Martin couldn’t make it due to a home project)

Earlier in the day, I had made an appointment with Victor to work before the meeting. Glenn and I arrived about 7:50 PM, but couldn’t see Victor. So we went for hot chocolate. Returned around 8 PM and Victor was there. David arrived at this time too.

Victor was playing Asturius. We stolled around a tuned. Eventually Meli and Terry came. While waiting for Dev, Victor talked about the gig on Friday….what we would need and such. We need di boxes. I will have to bring Glenn’s because Glenn will be away. Glenn not being there will reduce the repertoire a bit.

Started with the descending line of 3rd relation, then Dev came. Then, EofN with me soloing on burbles. We ended up playing this tune about 5 times or so. Victor’s notes to me: play toward the outside of the guitar sound opening (hole? mouth?)…that’s how to make the burbles louder. I was trying to do that, but it wasn’t translating. Also, notes on making the transitions for me and others. Victor mentioned that we should let the bass players do their thing and not feel pulled by them and the dynamic they are adding the piece.

Next Calliope without Glenn playing. Work on note playing here but it sounded good to me. We played the Bartok piece a couple of times, Bicycling to Afganistan (with Glenn playing bass for Martin), Asturius. We are not going to play Hope, but will do an embroidery. Note not said, but mentioned after the Swedenborg gig…we need to listen to each other.

Then, we took a break. Victor set me up to work on the burbles. In particular, the transition from the D section of 13 bars to the first burble part. The rest of the group worked on the Bach piece. Later after the practice, I became an audient. The group did well but couldn’t quite get through the whole thing. Meli and Glenn seemed to be closest to reaching the finish line. But, it was a great performance effort by all. But, I’ve noticed when I’m listening, I’m not hearing everything. I don’t hear what other people hear who had more musical training. I’m in the stage of hearing the forest, but I haven’t been able to see many trees yet. Lots of people see many trees…but it’s a little like you don’t really see things (or hear them) unless you learn about them. I “see” poison ivy or maple trees because I know what they are.

We ended a little after 11 PM.

Sunday October 17th, 2004 In attendance: Mary Beth A H, Méli G-F, Glenn H, David K, Victor M, Dev R, Terry T

We began by working on improvisations in small groups, with the rest listening. We then began adding more players to each improv. Some suggestions and rules were given by various members; if you have played the entire time, you haven't listened enough; there should be a declared role by each player; play confidently. I thought the improvisations got better as things went along (though I thought the first one was good too, but I seem to have been in the minority).

We then worked on playing the various pieces which are available for the upcoming Skybar gig on October 29th, which Glenn will be absent from. Some arrangement changes for the gig include Mary-Beth being the sole burbler on Eye of the Needle with Victor staying on lead, David will be a fast circulator on Hope, and Victor will take a solo in place of Glenn, Mary-Beth will play Thrak, Victor will play the lead intro on Calliope (David will work on the mirror bass for the intro, but will stay on the regular bass if the mirror is not up to performance level). We will not play Flying Hom, Israel or The Moving Force. We did however run through Flying Home once anyway. Bicycling went particularly well I thought, realtive to the problems we have been having of late. Victor also reminded us to be mindful of dynamics in all the pieces we play, even within each individual section - to think about how you want to begin and where you want to get to.

We are all to have the Bach invention ready for this coming Sunday (each know the entire line we will be playing a part of).

DK

October 15 2004, Swedenborg Gig

October 9 - 12 2004, GCNE Retreat

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4