Donna Ransdell asks advice about the order in which to program certain pieces.

 

I reply, without any intention whatsoever to insult or demean Donna or anyone reading this:

 

The Internet is a far too easy means of getting cheap information, robbing you of the essential experience of struggling with ideas, making your own choices and living with them, even though they be found wrong, in retrospect. Why are you a conductor if not for the strong ideas you have about how music must go, for which you have been willing to sacrifice so much?

 

Make a decision. Find a way to be certain, at the moment of performance, that it's the correct decision. Slay yourself afterward, and learn from it. Don't let your (assumed) elders and betters make the decision for you.

 

With best regards, and in confidence that you will make the best choice for you,

Jerome Hoberman

 

Music Director/Conductor, The Hong Kong Bach Choir & Orchestra

I would put considerations of concert theme as the lowest priority. For one thing, if one of your pieces doesn't really fit the theme, changing the order doesn't affect that. But audiences aren't really that aware of themes anyway. Those other factors you mention are more important.

I would agree with both gentlemen but....I would also make a suggestion to help you decide, my own personal *sniff test*.  When you sing those pieces in that order, is your choir able to do it?  If you haven't sung them in that order in rehearsal straight through, I would suggest you do so pronto!  You have forgotten one aspect of programming which is very important, not only for theme, but even for the ability to do a good job. You mention language---I agree with your thoughts.  Your mention eras---I agree.  You mention tempo---again, I would have to agree.  But you have NOT mentioned something that can goof you up---KEY!  I have changed concert order and even put an intermission in a different place as a result of two pieces not "playing well" with each other.

 

Last night at rehearsal, we were taking sections of two very diverse sections from two similar pieces and rehearsing them back-to-back.  It took five minutes to get back on track going from the first to the second.  From tempo and key to even beat pattern, they didn't flow together and my very capable adult choir had trouble.  They were NOT going to be near each other in our June concert and if I had any thoughts differently, I am most assuredly convinced otherwise now.  After last night, I had to respond to your posting.

 

Good luck,

 

Marie

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions. I came to the forum to ask this because I am new to the HS level, and needed some guidance.  I went with my initial gut feeling mentioned in my post. Marie's comment regarding the KEY issue was the clincher -- the three played better back to back than mixing them up.

 

It's really nice to have a forum like this where I can go to for help, or just for a little reassurance.

 

 

Donna