We eventually recorded the CD at St Luke’s Church in Cambridge. Our sound engineer was Geoffrey Smallwood and the occasion was video’d by Mike Addlesee. Everyone was well prepared and it all went remarkably smoothly. We spent a couple of hours warming ourselves up while Geoffrey and Mike set up and adjusted their gear. Then… Continue reading Recording day 15th July
Category: CD blog
Rehearsal 4 – Getting to grips with Kithara and Swimming Down the Stars
We made yet more trial recordings at our 4th rehearsal. All the pieces we played depended on a very precise tempo or very precise tempo changes. There were wobbles, and uncertainties. But the process of discussing it did indeed produce improvements, and the 2nd take of Swimming Down the Stars was a good deal more… Continue reading Rehearsal 4 – Getting to grips with Kithara and Swimming Down the Stars
Rehearsal 3 – thinking in sections
We again took 2 pieces (Lyttleton St Mvt II, and Kithara) and made before-and-after recordings. This time the focus was on the sections of the orchestra – “Can I hear my section?” “Do I like what I hear?” “Are we too quiet/loud?” “Is there anything we need to make sure that we all do in… Continue reading Rehearsal 3 – thinking in sections
A lot of work, but I think we can do it!
Last rehearsal made us aware of the difference concentrating on a few details can make. Comparing the two sets of recordings, it was like night and day!
Rehearsal 2 – Photos
Rehearsal photos from Anna, our bassist.
Rehearsal 2 – recording and listening
Last night we took two of our proposed CD pieces – Harmony on Lyttleton St and Tu vuo fa l’americano – and put them under the microscope. We made a “first pass” recording of each, and then listened to the recordings together and wrote down any reactions. Then we gathered the reactions, did some work… Continue reading Rehearsal 2 – recording and listening
“And we’re rolling … now!”
Those infamous words (usually followed shortly afterwards by “OK everyone … ready for Take 2”) have caused many a musician to drop their plectrum within the first few bars of recording. There’s something very particular about trying to play for posterity rather than for the moment! One way to minimise Red Light Syndrome is to… Continue reading “And we’re rolling … now!”
CD project – pics from 1st rehearsal
This week the intrepid MMO players had a first runthrough of the 8 (8!) pieces that we are aiming to record at the end of this term. We were unfazed, as you can see …