I was "social distanced" down to right behind the organ console when playing the "Organ Symphony".
...but I had to slide back over close to the bass trombonist, because - otherwise, I did not have a line of sight with the music director.
I've performed the Saint-Saëns at least five times...I recall that the first time I performed it (with full-time orchestra) the organist got lost.
I've performed it twice with only one rehearsal...This was one of those times (thus, me deeming it important to maintain a line of sight with the conductor).
The young organist, Paul Jacobs (probably in his early forties...??) is a true virtuoso, but it doesn't require a virtuoso to play this piece...THOUGH it sounds radically different when a "musician" plays the organ part (vs. an "organ operator").
He performed a Bach toccata an an encore. I could hear and feel his very busy feet through the back of the console, during the amazing Bach performance.
' interesting trombone section:
The first and bass players live over five hours apart, and the second player lives three hours from the first player and two hours from the bass player.
I live an hour from the second player, three hours from the first player, and three hours from the bass player.
The first player studied at Indiana during Van Haney/Farkas/Phillips years - just after the Bell years.
Paul Jacobs
EDIT:
Do
not expect any postings regarding our upcoming December concert.
(...and I feel certain that even more amazing orchestral literature - vocal rentals, etc... - will be passed out at the rehearsals.)
