jakorte's blog

Last week’s Thursday evening Adrian Symphony Orchestra rehearsal provided an extraordinary opportunity. Introduced to American composer Ken Fuchs, under the kind guidance of conductor John Thomas Dodson, attendees found themselves in the unusual position of co-observance alongside Mr. Fuchs, who would be hearing his work performed by ASO for the first time.

As with any art, created and then given away - handed over, it becomes open to interpretation. Unasked questions titter for answers. Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Can you carry my inner, intimate inspiration into your orchestral life, make it yours, yet have it remain wholly mine? Like building a remarkable one of a kind instrument and then giving it away; the machine remains intact, but user inflection may vary. Like when I give away words with one specific meaning, and somehow they come back to me as something completely different; interpreted in a way I did not intend, nor could have imagined.

A commanding chain: Composer – Conductor – Orchestra.

Eyes, ears, skin exposed to tactile vibrations, immersed in the drama, I want to be everywhere at once: with the composer, with the conductor, with the orchestra, with the audience. I visualize notes as drifting smoke: swirling charcoal yellows, brighter windy spring greens, wistful streaking skylight blues. An occasional brown bubble, bursting like fireworks, expands in a higher space floating down as muddy tendrils - like muting waves over scrolls of chiseled sound.

In the midst of all this, I sometimes forget to breathe. A gasp and a yawn are not indicative of errors or boredom. I’ve just been biologically forced to find my way back to the present, having been so keenly lost in the concentration of observing and deciphering individuals and individual sounds in the swell.

Deeper into practice, the instant an orchestra is in accord, it is evident that this was the plan all along; perfunctorily preceded by a little pacing, scouting tilts of the head, eyes closed, eyes open, marking notes, turning back, rising to the balls of the feet, and finally, finally, a nod.

Seen in another light: Creator – Conduit – Congregation

The hope is that we as a congregation, acknowledge each others’ rhythms, meld into them, play off them, and perhaps necessarily find ourselves to be in complete contrast to them, and yet we are still gifted beyond what we can afford to repay; competency in combining to create harmonious globes of sound and light.

Assemblage, grouping, gathering, purposefully putting people together, whether as an orchestra or an audience, invites community; creates congregations. Common people, creative people, talented or merely appreciative, we’ve been found; identified. Staged.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! ~Psalms 133:1

In this issue: Home Staging, Orchestral Staging, Stage Coaches