Well, it’s that time of year when you know *it’s* coming… @abingdonconcertband #windband #band #Christmas????

The Round Table were selling mulled wines and mincepies from the table behind us and the aroma just kept on wafting over us as we played. The market too was good, with a stand of lovely leather goods and some reasonably priced leather bound journals for sale. Must check out The Old Leather Works again sometime.

Between sessions, Emma and I headed across the square to the Throwing Buns cafe for a gorgeously warming hot chocolate and bacon and brie pannini before more playing…

Next, we’re off out to a pub somewhere near Abingdon for Emma’s work Christmas meal. Should be fun!

We have new carol books this year, which some of us have never seen before in our lives. What’s more many of the carols are in 6 flats! Six flats?! It seems the carol books are Salvation Army ones. That explains it then, Salvation Army carols would be written foremostly for brass, and thus the crap key signature for anyone in of a woodwind persuasion.

Following the morning of carols and Christmas markets (including a yummy stone cooked chicken salad on a bed of coleslaw for lunch), we returned home – Emma to a sleep, having only had 1½ hours sleep the night before, whilst I put the Christmas lights up outside and found a home for the large bale of hay we have acquired from Fringford Feeds…

Today wasn’t all bad though. I learnt some sign language from Kirsty, which was fun. I can now ask someone what there name is and tell them mine. I probably can’t understand anything they say to me, but you know, baby steps and all…

Had a particularly good blow at Abingdon Concert Band tonight, which included playing mostly the right notes in the mostly the right order and almost at the right speed. I even played piccolo in not only Beauty and the Beast but also Pirates of the Caribbean and was heard in a not objectionable way. Which is encouraging. And hey, as a band we were even playing so well that Sunday’s extra-rehearsal has been canceled. Here’s to a nice weekend to get out in the country instead!

Due to a high solar storm, the Northern Lights are apparently particularly active tonight. I’ve found this really cool website for forecasting where and when you will see them. You can even sign up for twitter text alerts for it.

I’m just pleased I did it. Kind of a brave thing to pick up the smallest instrument in the band and play something no one else is playing! Or at least I think it is!

Hrmm…

I have my hair cut and then return home to settle into cleaning my house. It is a good job too, as the estate agents call to say that the Mr S of Jay Close is booked into seeing my house. This is could news, as Mrs S saw the house earlier in the week, and so they must be seriously considering (the possibility of) buying mine if she is sending him along.

I have some lunch and then head off to my afternoon rehearsal – joining up with my comrades of Abingdon and Bicester Concert Bands. The massed army of 14 flutes join our two oboes and collection of clarinets on staging erected to the front of the bandstand – this makes us the only one’s left in full openness o the elements with the audience having a choice of ‘mess tents’ erected around the edge of the park like a roman camp. We top and tail the pieces before going ‘silent’ for the 4.30 wedding in The Garth.

In the time between rehearsal and concert, the rain comes down again, and when Emma arrives with Grannie, it is with some reluctance that we head off to sit in a wet park for the evening.

The rain clears though, and the sky, laden with clouds even brightens a little. Flags adorn the audience and the bandstand – the concert is glorious success – even during the second half when the rain comes down it does not dampen the audiences’ spirits. The firework finale, to Handel and Dam Buster’s is both dramatic and spectacular.

featuring…
Stage Centre — GOFF RICHARDS (b. 1944)
Andante Cantabile — PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893)
Serenade Op.44 — ANTONIN DVORAK (1841–1904)
Singin’ in the Rain — NACIO HERB BROWN (1896–1964)
Prelude, Siciliano & Rhondo — Sir MALCOLM ARNOLD (b. 1921)
On the Quarterdeck — KENNETH ALFORD (1881–1945)
Sandpaper Ballet — LEROY ANDERSON (1908–1975)
The Grasshoppers’ Dance — ERNEST BUCALOSSI (1863–1929)
Suite Française — DARIUS MILHAUD (1892–1974)
Il postino — LUIS BACALOV (b. 1933)
Gallimaufry — GUY WOOLFENDEN (b. 1937)

Tickets £6 (£5 concessions)
and cds of past concerts will be on sale on the night