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Emily Grossman

Something's Coming

September 13, 2012 at 8:51 AM

(I don't really even have guilt-free time to post this entry.)

As soon as I'd expressed my grumblings about lack of collaborating musicians, the dam broke, and in the space of a week, I felt the pummeling of so many venues, I wondered if I'd over-committed: Brahms horn trio. Bruch, 8 pieces for clarinet and viola. Mozart K 304 with Garrett. Rehearsals commenced every day, sending me off with a care package of late night munchies, to be mulled and processed with the enthusiasm of a dog with his evening bone. I was in heaven.

Then, on Tuesday, the Anchorage Symphony called and asked if I'd join them for their upcoming concert on the 22nd. The repertoire, Latin American themed, struck me as mostly unfamiliar. But included was an original arrangement of the West Side Story suite, for orchestra and string quartet, composed by our meistro Randy Fleischer. Ah, the intimately familiar and much endeared West Side Story...

(No one but my dog saw me jumping around the house to the message on my machine that spoke of such a wondrous opportunity.)

This leaves me a little over a week to surmount a skyscraper of difficult orchestral material. Only the likes of Superman would leap such tall buildings in a single bound. Only the likes of me feels like Superman today.


From Kathryn Woodby
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Yay! Have fun! I was trying to figure out how west side story was latin, though, and then i realized you don't mean the language but the heritage...i think :). What else is on the program? Fun!
From Tom Holzman
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 5:02 PM
The old sayings are "when it rains, it pours," and "be careful what you wish for." Your situation exemplifies them. Have fun! Sounds like a lot of wonderful music. And you are young and energetic.
From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 13, 2012 at 7:11 PM
Ha, I edited it to make more sense, Kathryn!
From Francesca Rizzardi
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 5:16 AM
How exciting, Emily! And I was a bit surprised by the reference of your title because I had made the same reference before I read the blog--I love most of the songs in WSS, but even the movie is so old. A medley is still played on classical stations of course, but I'm not sure it includes that song.
From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 8:09 AM
I love and adore every crazy bit of WSS. It was my coming-of-age piece my junior year in high school. Some parts bring a tear to my eye every single time.
From Tom Holzman
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 12:58 PM
I agree on WSS. I do not generally care for musicals, but WSS is wonderful.
From marjory lange
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Sounds like a WONDERFUL overload. And, since WSS is basically a remake of Romeo & Juliet for the NY 50's, it's TIMELESS. Have a wonderful feast of music, Emily.
From Kathryn Woodby
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Ok, I have now had this song in my head for the last 24 hours thanks to Emily! :) (well, with a few interjections of Haydn, Vivaldi, and Suzuki 1!). Gonna have to dig out my recording and listen again :). Hope the practice is going well :)
From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 14, 2012 at 5:20 PM
Yeah, I've been singing it all day, too.

Actually, I only really care for two musicals. If you thought about it, you could probably guess the other one...

From Francesca Rizzardi
Posted on September 15, 2012 at 4:50 AM
Let's have a contest: what is Emily's other favorite musical?

I actually bought the music from Candide: I had no idea what it was about but one of the pieces is played on our classica musical station a lot.

So many ... I really like "The King and I", "South Pacific", and "Showboat".

From Emily Grossman
Posted on September 15, 2012 at 7:33 AM
It's not difficult to guess. It's the only musical with my home state song in it.
From Francesca Rizzardi
Posted on September 15, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Oklahoma! Well, I was close with most of my other guesses.

Actually, I was mulling this over while making my tea, and wondered if it was "Fiddler on the Roof", which could be a "flagship" musical for violinists.

From Christina C.
Posted on September 17, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Very happy for you, Emily... enjoy the music-making & make sure you network your butt off at all of these gigs, you never know where your next one may come from.

ps- home-baked goodies could greatly enhance your networking success.

pps- We actually did hear about your happy dance when you got the gig. Ben has a secret account here... promised to upload clip when he found someone with independently moving digits to help him out. :-)

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