Comments

First violins are always in demand, as you no doubt noticed. And, it is a whole lot more interesting to play violin 1 in most pieces than violin 2 or viola. So, in my view, you should go with it and continue to play violin 1 in your orchestra. The deity is sending you a message. Continue with viola for other purposes but do not resist the temptation to go with violin 1 in orchestra. Hah! "The Spot" in the WTO. Bleh. Try doing a Xerox/Cut/Tape job in the music, and that should eliminate the page turn.

Also, take "The Spot" along to your next lesson and get your teacher to put in some fingerings for you.

Welcome back to the Wonderful World Of Violin (insert smiley face here).

Actually, I think I can play "the spot" reasonably well (or I did 12 years ago). I was in the front of the firsts for that performance and worked on it with my teacher at the time. I just have to remember the fingerings that my old teacher gave me and get it up to speed. But I almost had it up to speed already even last night (once I got the page turned).

I'm more concerned about some of the Copland (Corral Nocturne and Saturday Night Waltz, in addition to Buckaroo Holiday). He has written a lot of 8va stuff up in the stratosphere and I don't really know how to read/play that. Beyond 5 ledger lines or so it all looks the same to me and it's back to the Twilight Zone.

I just sight-read it in the lower octave last night, but I don't think that will cut it in the performance.