Link to Recording: https://www.dropbox.com/s/eprlmxnccvrg2my/29%20Jan%202015.mp4?dl=0
Hermes:
- Beginning (first 3 notes especially): don’t be so harsh in your tonguing of the notes
- Less tongue more sound!
- Bar 4: Please tune your notes because the chord is very out of tune
- First 4 Bars: You guys are already slowing down and the piece hasn’t even started yet
- PULSE, TONE, ARTICULATION
- Bassline first 4 bars don’t be so sluggish and don’t slow down; give a clear and crisp sound (listen to 3min and 36sec as well as a little before that)
- Eupho, Horns and Trombone: First 4 bars your notes are too glued together; Bar 2 your syncopation is not together
- Trumpets: Articulation, Tone and Brightness of the instrument’s sound is not the same!
- Dignified + Lively = 1st four bars
- Woodwinds: 1st four bars the first note must be very clear and come in right on the beat (Listen to 6min 35sec)
- Bar 3: DON’T SLOW DOWN
- Bar 5: Those playing Theme A don’t play so loud, especially Saxophones
- First note of the piece must be played stronger
- Theme A must be played with a PULSE
- Those playing Theme A, remember the contour (music shaping with crescendos and decrescendos) that Mr Chua mentioned
- For Bar 5, accompaniment will always play the same throughout, so the shaping of music MUST be done by the melody
- Tip: When you play soft, you must be able to hear your neighbor, but when you’re loud, you should hear yourself
- Bar 13: Don’t slow down!
- Tuning + Contours + Pulse + Dynamic = Good Music
- Listen to 13min to Mr Chua’s explanation on contours
- Pick up to 21 must be together with the 108BPM pulse; play with courage!
- 2 Bars before Bar 30: don’t soft down until you disappear; it’s just a little softer
- 2 bars before Bar 30: Horns need to tune that note; Listen to 16min 55sec
- 2 bars before Bar 30: Saxophones, tune that note please because it is very out of tune, especially tenor; Listen to 18min 35sec
- Bar 30: it’s only mezzo forte
- 2 bars before Bar 30: Trumpets don’t play too loud
- Accompaniment at Bar 21: Flutes and Clarinets especially do the dynamics that Mrs Chua wants
- Bar 30: DON’T SLOW DOWN
- Your notes are not clear as band though in the FM, they should be; this is because ya’ll aren’t tuning to each other
- Pick up to Bar 30: not so loud, except 3rd Clarinet can afford to play louder
- 2 bars before Bar 40: DON’T SLOW DOWN (this one is very obvious!)
- Trio: DON’T SLOW DOWN (melody and snare drum especially)
- Pick up to Trio must be more confident and on time
- 2-3 bars before Bar 48: melody don’t slow down
- Bar 48: woodwinds playing melody must articulate your notes better
- Clarinets listen to 26min 35sec; Saxophones listen to 27min 05sec; Flutes listen to 27min 33sec
- 2 bars before Bar 56: DON’T SLOW DOWN
- Bar 66: Keep moving forward and DON’T SLOW DOWN; tone colour is brighter here
- Bar 66 is FORTISSIMO but Bar 70 is FORTE; make the contrast please
- You all have a bad habit that when you go soft, you slow down and when you go loud, you speed up. Please break this habit
- Last note: Tuba please get a rounder and nicer note
Pirate of the Caribbean:
- Eupho ‘solo’ at the beginning not so gentle; be more gruff like a pirate
- Bar 24: Clarinets don’t slow down! Listen to 35min
- Bar 24: Clarinets the triplets must have more tone, so don’t play them so short; 2nd row of Clarinets must learn the notes so you don’t fumble over one another
- Bar 24: everyone is like very loud; don’t compete with one another – know your place
- Bar 51: When the next batch of players come in, ya’ll slow down
- Bar 45: 1st Alto Sax and Timpani, your triplets must be equal because you’re like a metronome for the band
- Bar 72: Melody don’t drag your notes, especially flutes
- Bar 76: Tuba must be very distinctive about your articulation; first note strong second note weaker or whatever; and DON’T SLOW DOWN
- Bar 76: Melody play longer and with more expression like you’re in a struggle
- Bar 80: the triplets accent every beat leading up to the climax at Bar 83
- Saxophone and Bass Clarinet listen to 47min 19sec
- Bar 84: “running” notes down (the triplets) must be heard
- Bar 89 onwards: all the triplet notes don’t slur!
- Bar 113: It’s faster! Be prepared…
- Bar 116: No slowing down
- Bar 118: Basses push the notes; Listen to 52min 55sec
- Bar 118: Snare drum must be heard throughout this portion introducing “The Kraken”
- Bar 129: Very loud; 1st Clarinet octave higher
- The melody at “Davy Jones” must be one long flowing phrases with no breakages
- Pick up to Bar 168 must be loud and strong, especially lower Clarinets
- Listen to 1hr onwards (whole band) because ending is important
