Thursday night rehearsal - hot and hectic

I’ve always wondered about that term “concertmaster.” For the uninitiated, that’s the first chair in the first violin section, the musician sitting closest to the conductor. In traditional classical music the concertmaster gets his or her own entrance at the top of the performance, just before the conductor comes on stage. And he or she gets to play whatever big solo violin passages there are in pieces. I’m guessing they get paid more than the other musicians. But isn’t the conductor the master of the concert? I mean who’s in charge around here?

Last night, watching the NCO rehearse for Friday night, it became a bit clearer.

NCO concertmaster David Davidson had plenty to say from his seat at Paul’s left elbow. If a rhythmic thing wasn’t quite working, he’d make a suggestion. When Paul wanted more attack on a fast passage, David was the guy to tell him there were limits to how staccato it could be. It’s a bit like a catcher keeping a pitcher on his game. And a bit like David is the designated spokesman for the orchestra. When things are less hectic I’ll ask him.

Speaking of hectic, John Jorgenson had to RUSH out of rehearsal at 8:15 to make an 8:30 appearance with the legendary Earl Scruggs on stage at the Ryman Auditorium way downtown. I’ll have to ask today if he made it. And as of last night, that cimbalom was still missing. Larry Kaptain had to rehearse playing air cimbalom and sort of humming his part. Word is it’s due in at 8 am, but given that it’s concert day, that may be reason that last night I saw beads of sweat on the otherwise composed Paul Gambill for the first time.