So, there I was yesterday lunchtime, innocently turning pages for a friend at her recital in a local church. Somehow, word got around the concerts committee that I play the clarinet, and before I know what happened, one of them asked if I'd like to give a lunchtime recital myself in the future, perhaps in the autumn (quite brave, considering they've never actually heard me play!). I muttered something along the lines of yes, fine in theory, but I'd need an accompanist, only to be told that they could find me one if necessary.

Earlier this evening the phone rang. Could I perhaps perform in July? Still no need to worry if I can't find an accompanist, as some of the pianists who give lunchtime recitals in the series would be able to accompany me. Err...umm...I said yes, that'll be fine, and I'll be back in touch if I need a tame pianist - then put the phone down and wondered what on earth I'd just done.

So, on July 19th I shall be giving a lunchtime recital for the good folk of Valhalla. The timing isn't great, as it's diploma (resit) week, but I may use this to my advantage and perform my exam recital programme from last December but including the movements I didn't perform, i.e. all five Bagatelles, all four sonata movements and all three Grand Duo Concertant movements (subject to the usual dozen or so changes of mind), so that the works I played are refreshed in my mind for the trial by examiner Viva resit that week (but hopefully not that day!).

Good luck with it and enjoy.

Ooooh! Well done! Good luck - enjoy it! It'll be fine

I'm sure the good folk of Valhalla will enjoy your performance - all the best Deborah!

Well done, Deborah

ooo have fun!

Good idea about playing your recital programme; it will be good practise.

It's all experience which will help you. I'm going to be really stupid here - (by the way I'm blonde so i think it's allowed!) - but where is Valhalla?

Valhalla??

It's OK - they won't remember it afterwards!!

Just the other side of the rainbow bridge

To be serious for a moment, Surrey.

Ooh - you're very brave. Whenever those words have been muttered to me, I always have an excuse - hmmm....a musician who's scared of performing....

I hope you really enjoy it!

That's fantastic news, well done.

Enjoy!

It's the Viking Afterlife, isn't it??

Ooooh well done D - good luck, though you won't need it

That's great Deborah. I'd view the timing as a plus, the repertoire you are going to resit your viva with will still be very fresh in your head. The Deborah I know is very articulate, believe in yourself and fly through that viva this time around. Enjoy the recital too.

A search on Google Maps with "Monsalvat, Valhalla" comes up with the Forest Cafe in Edinburgh

There is definitely a town of Valhalla in Sweden and there is also a Valhalla monument in Germany (near Regensburg).

There are plenty of Valhalla places in the UK (Google Maps) but with "Monsalvat" included the only strike is the Cafe in Edinburg

SO where is she ?

We may all want to come to this recital in July

Good luck Deborah - I'm sure it will be fine.

John

John, you can't miss Valhalla - it's just the other side of the rainbow bridge

Oh all right, have it your way, just off Junction 8 of the M25

So, not too far from Menuhin Hall (Stoke dAbernon), where I will be recording piano all next week.

John

How's the prep going, Deborah?

It's in two days' time, which is the day before my Viva retake

I've had the usual accompanist hassles so am now beginning to take things personally! For a few scary days it looked as though it might be an unaccompanied programme (hmm, wonder what my audience would think of Stravinsky and Messiaen), but it's all sorted. Just had a rehearsal which went well

Programme has now changed slightly. I'm still starting with the Finzi Five Bagatelles , then it's the Tartini/Jacob Concertino, then the Arnold Fantasy and finishing with the Weber Concertino.

If anyone can come, see you there

All the best to you Deborah. Hope it goes well for you.

That sounds like a great program Tartini...

Hope it goes well, Deb!

Good luck Deborah - knock 'em dead! (not literally, obviously... )

Well, only if they don't applaud...

(Which they will, I am sure. I wish I could come!!)

Very nice, audience-friendly programme. I would certainly enjoy it. Best of Luck, sorry I can't be there as I live miles away from sunny Surrey...

A lovely programme - hope it goes well.

Job done

Reasonably sized, very appreciative audience with lots of familiar faces in it. Performance was OK; I know I've played better (but don't we all say that all of the time?) with a couple of minor slips, but nothing that anyone seemed to notice. Accompanist and I started and finished each piece together, and stayed approximately together between as well.

Very kind comments from some of the audience and the organising committee as well. I must have impressed as they've asked me back next spring.

I definitely got a good deal - all I had to do was play some stuff (including Finzi ), and they applauded and gave me wine. I could get used to this!

Let's hope I can keep the momentum going until tomorrow's Viva retake

Well done, Deborah. Good luck for your Viva retake - may all your questions be easy ones.

Glad it went well. Good luck for the Viva!

Well done Deborah.

Well done, and good luck for tomorrow!

Sounds good!! Good luck for your Viva!

Good luck, Deborah!

How'd it go?

Well done, and hope the viva went well

Glad to know it went well Deborah !

<bump>



... and the return visit is tomorrow. Where have the intervening months gone? Will my public still love me? What shall I wear? Aaargh!

Good luck my dear Deborah.

I'm sure you'll find the right outfit and play beautifully.

Now you have your Dip, you can play without the added pressure.

Enjoy!

Best of luck Deborah!

Good luck for tomorrow! What are you playing?

Good luck, not that you need it! and ditto BerkshireMum

Whoops, it was after midnight when I posted this - so here are the corrections:
Well, by now the concert will be over. I hope it was will be an even greater success than the first one.

Isn't this why we do all the hard work?!

Best wishes
Tom

<-- Carnegie Hall here we come

Good luck!!

Well, I survived the experience. I'm not as happy with this one as I was with the last one, but my public still applauded, so I must have convinced at least some of them. Husband managed to get to this one - he didn't notice the minor stumbles I did, but I suppose I have been living and breathing this one for a couple of months now, and had the music in front of me, so was bound to notice!

There's a new lady organising them now; she's one of *the* local clarinettists (no, ClariNicki1, you don't get a prize for working out who it is ), but afterwards she said "We'll be in touch". Not sure if this is a we'll-be-in-touch-soon-to-organise-the-next-one or a don't-call-us style "we'll be in touch"

For anyone who is remotely interested, the programme was as follows:

Vaughan Williams: Six Studies in English Folksong
Saint-Saens: Sonata
Bach arr Giampieri: Diverse movements lovingly culled from some of the cello suites*
Gomez: Lorito Caprice

*there'll be another opportunity to hear these in Rotherhithe on 10th May </plug>

Oh, and I decided to wear a blue suit I bought for my stepbrother's wedding a couple of years ago. Hmm, the suit lasted longer than the marriage...

Glad it went well!

Don't know any of those pieces but the Saint Saens My loss! Glad it went well

oooh, well done!

I said it would go well.

Carry on like this and this will be an Annual Event.