Philharmonia #2 – Ancient Ritual – 9/7/23

Rehearsal Reflection

Rehearsal ReflectionPlease post comments about our rehearsal performance:

  • TWO positive comments (these can be general)
  • TWO constructive comments (these must be specific and include measure numbers). You may mention specific sections (cellos, violin 2, etc.).

Please include your FIRST and LAST name when you comment so I can easily assign your grade.

39 comments

  1. Positive Comments
    1. In measures 30-34 we sounded really good and the first violins sounded very strong, had really good intonation, and stayed together.
    2. The beginning of the piece was really good (measures 1-6), and the start was very strong and dramatic, and the dynamics were really good.
    Constructive Comments
    1. In measures 27-29 the first violins were really overpowered and I think we needed to play louder because we were drowned out by Chellos.
    2. The first violins started playing measure 44 way to early, so we need to make sure to count.

  2. Constructive comments
    We played well but we need to have more balance. The cellos rushed during measures 13-30 and got ahead.
    We played together but from 39-43 and need to have better intonation at measures 44-52.
    Positive Comments
    We played the first page very well and used good dynamics!
    We had good tone on the first page and played together during the coda.

  3. Constructive: Cellos were not together in measures 44-46. No one was together from measures from 62-79.
    Positive: Cellos did a good job on the first page. We started the piece well.

  4. 2 positive: I like how strong we were in the beginning. Also, I think the dynamics throughout the piece were good when leading up to the dramatic points.
    2 constructive: The upper strings need to cover their open strings. We also as a whole orch need to be more together/ uniform. I also think the plucking section needs more work. Lastly I think everybody should just practice and solidify their respective parts.

  5. 1st constructive comment: 16th notes were not together I think we should practice them in class or practice with metronome
    2nd constructive comment: The viola soli is a bit out of tune we should try to fix that and we should practice with metronome more overall

    1st good thing: I like the beginning, it was together for a bit but we need to decide on note length on the accented notes
    2nd good thing: the 16th notes when the viola section just has them are the right volumetric

  6. I think the group did well on dynamics.
    The violas were also good with adding accents to their notes

    We should improve on listening to each other along with watching the conductor while playing.
    I think the violins and violas could word on having more confidence when they play to get better tonality

  7. The beginning was really good with our together start! We played in tune for the most part. Cellos rushed at 12. Violins need to work on a bit of intonation though. We also need to work on counting the rests and starting together.

  8. Measures 47-50 sound very good in cellos and violas. Cellos that have measures similar to 39-43 are well in tune. 60-79 the pizzicato section needs work, and 52-60 the cellos could use work on counting.

  9. One positive comment is measure 1 to measure 12 had good dynamics and the intonation was not bad.
    Second positive comment is measure 39 to 42 had good tempo and was played as a group very well.
    One constructive criticism in measure 62 to 74 the pizzicato was out of tempo and the intonation was not great.
    Second constructive criticism is the ending was put of tempo and the intonation needs practice.

  10. Good things:
    Sounded a lot better when we went back to the beginning
    119-end sounded good

    Bad things:
    First time measure 9 was not together
    Measure 12 out of tune
    No counting measures 42-43
    47-51 not together both times
    77-79 needs a lot of improvement
    88-102 there was no counting and sounded unconfident in the first violins

  11. Positive comments: Dynamics were nice, definitely set the right mood for the song. The violas stayed together in measures 5-9 very nicely. Everyone went back to the beginning for the coda.

    Critique: In measure 3-4, I think the cellos could play the notes more broadly. The violins seemed to not be entirely together in measures 5-9. Cellos began to fall apart from each other in measure 20. B flats and F naturals were too sharp. Measure 34-35 violins got behind with each other and out of tune. 44-45, the entire orchestra began to play behind, rush, and play out of tune. In 49, the first two beats were very out of tune. 70-72 was out of tune and it sounded like we began to fall behind. 76-84 had the entire orchestra fall apart, we were playing at different measures, different speeds, and out of tune. As well as 94-98. 105-105 the cellos were out of tune, and I heard one cello play something different for a measure. The coda threw some of the instruments off, causing it to become out of tune. Not everyone went back to measure 110 for the coda (I know I definitely need to work on that) during measures 110 to the end (123) I had a hard time following along while listening through, everyone fell apart and no one was together.

  12. Positive
    – the beginning sounded good
    – syncopation was pretty well
    Constructive
    – we need to work on timing and rhythm
    – some of us need to play more confidently

  13. Positive things about this piece are that in measure 1 we started strong and in measure 22 the violas and violin 2 played well.
    Constructive criticism is in measure 3-5 not everyone plays and in measure 17 it’s out of tune.

  14. Positive comments- 1. We are more together. 2. Some was good some wasn’t.
    Constructive comments – 1. We HAVE to count no one is counting and that’s why we are lost in this piece. The first violins have to get those higher notes in tune. Some people don’t remember that the time signature is 3/3 and some are not going to the coda.
    2. We don’t end together and it sounds not that good. The second page was rough. Measures 66-77 for the firsts are not the good we have to watch dr Laux and count. That part is difficult because of the counts of the rests. We have to improve.

  15. Positive:
    1) we started off strong
    2) there were sometimes when everyone played their part correctly and it sounded great
    Constructive:
    1) all chellos, violas, and violins need to practice all of the 8th notes. We play what we feel like sounds right and not the actual notes.
    2) we were not together in many parts including the end with the 8th notes. The violins sounded really squeaky and the violas were not playing the right notes.

  16. One positive comment is that measure 1-5 was together and in tune for the most part. Another positive is that we played measure 30-33 well and intense. And when we got off around measure 34, we picked back up from measure 37-41. One constructive is that we started to get off around measure 15-18 and also at 42-46. Another constructive comment is that we need to work on playing together in measures 47-52 and playing in tune in measures 58-64.

  17. positive: good dynamics, was able to get caught up with the other sections quickly

    constructive: entire piece was out of tune, measure 110-end was very messy and not together

  18. Positive:
    1 beginning was good
    2 we were mostly ok as far as intonation goes
    Negative:
    1. Not together
    2.not stopping at the same time

  19. The beginning is great. Loud and leaves a great presence
    Notes even in 3rd were played pretty in tune (minus a few)
    First violins especially in the middle of the peace were not together
    We need to practice pizacado

  20. Positive comments
    1. When we needed to be loud we were.
    2. m. 15-18 sounded a lot better and together.

    Constructive comments
    1. 1st we’re not counting and coming in too early.
    2. 1st not confident with majority of notes.
    3. 1st were out of tune a lot.
    4. 1st did not look at the coda and never fully got back into the music.
    5. m. 88-106 1st were not counting.

  21. Constructive: we need to stay together, and the violins need to work a little on intonation
    Positive:cellos sound really great and so do basses

  22. Positive: We sounded confident before the ending measures and we played a confident forte.

    Constructive: Throughout almost the whole song we weren’t together and out of tune. We need to work on our intonation and staying on tempo.

  23. Positive: We were all together in the beginning and started the beginning together from measure 109 when we go back to the beginning.
    Constructive: Cellos must look up and not rush Measures 14-22. Measures 44-47 need improvement in all areas.

  24. Positive
    1: The melody parts sounded solid
    2:the violas were together when plucking.
    Constructive
    1: It was obvious that the violins had not practiced 66-77
    2: A violin did not end with everyone else in the last measure

  25. Positive: The beginning of the piece started out loud and strong. Measures 37-38 was played nicely and the crescendo we played was great.

    Constructive: We started strong and loud in the beginning but measures 1-5 were still not in tune. Measures 9-11, I also heard were not in tune I think it’s because some people are playing it on the A string instead of 3rd position. The measures like 13-18 and 33-37 were not in tune and I felt as if people did not even know those notes. Starting from measure 22 is when i think the piece started to lack intonation, people stopped counting and started to play in the wrong times. In measures 44-46 it did not sound good, we really lacked intonation there and as I heard it seemed as people were just pushing the bow down hard on their instrument causing it to not sound well. In measures 47-51 we were not counting at all which made us not play together. Measures 58-64 really lacked intonation. In those measures the violins played with the open strings instead of 4TH finger causing it to sound not good people were also not counting at all. In measures 65-76 we did not play together at all we lacked intonation and also people were not counting. The pizzicato was not together and it sounded as if we were just randomly plucking our instruments. In measures 77-79 I don’t really think anybody knew what they were doing except for some violas, because those 2 measures lacked intonation, we did not play together and it ended up not sounding good. In measures 79-85 people were not counting at all as when the measure ended people still played on, we were also not together. Through measures 92-109 it sounded as if nobody knew what they were doing it lacked intonation we weren’t together and we were not all counting. When we did the coda very few people went back to measure 110. We started off strong but then it drastically changed the minute we hit measure 114. The ending was not good as we did not play together lacked intonation and we’re not counting.

  26. Positives:
    We started off together and the first 7 measures sounded really good.
    We all stopped together at 84 and came back together at 85.
    Negatives:
    Cellos are out of tune for almost the entire first page.
    We all need to count more from 44-75 as we are all over the place jumping in at spots where there is supposed to be rests and not playing when we are supposed to be.

  27. Positive:
    1. I think that we started off very strong and at a good FF.
    2. Measures 30-34 were very nice, had direction and was in tune.
    Constructive:
    1. I think that 2nd violin on measures 9-18 need more work on our intonation. It does not sound like we played a B flat.
    2. I think that the pizz. from measures 65-77 needs to be stronger, we seem unconfident in the notes and rhythms.

  28. Positive: 7-11 the violas were together
    in 39-41 the orchestra was together

    Constructive: 44-46 fell apart and we could have been more together
    110-123 was not together at all, and the majority of people were lost

  29. Violas had good tempo at the beginning.
    Basses played with confidence.
    At measures 44-47 violins did not play with confidence and ended up playing on a rest.
    In measures 70-80 we were not together at all

  30. Positive!
    1. The first few measures after the coda came on together and very strong
    2. The ending was in tune
    Constructive-
    1. I think the first violins could work on the notes and slurs from measures 17-30 more
    2. Measures 47-54 could be timed better between the groups playing

  31. Pro:
    We were together at the beginning and started strong. Measure 9 was in tune.
    Cons:
    Even though measure 9 is in tune violin 2 should be playing much more quietly according to the dynamics. Measure 47 to 52 were extremely out of tune, and offbeat, and were not played together, I think it would be easily fixed with practice though.

  32. the group did well on dynamics.

    I think the violas/violins did well in playing confident especially in measure 7

    The cellos and basses measures 12-17 were good and in sync

    The cellos after measure 17 got a lil fast but I believe they fixed themselves after

    Basses/cellos def need to work on measure 44 (tempo rhythm and notes)

  33. Positive:
    -We played together and strong in the first 9 measures
    -the measures 118-123 were in tune and sounded really well together
    Negative
    -The whole second page wasn’t together at all and didn’t even sound like we were playing
    -during measures 64-75 i heard no pizz and it sounded like random plucking

  34. Confident introduction.
    First page stayed together well.
    Eighth notes blended together.
    Violins were constantly out of tune.
    Basses became a few measures behind.

  35. 1: Positives –
    1. The beginning was good.
    2. We were mostly in tune.
    Constructive:
    1. The violins have the mantle of this piece, yet they can barely be heard at times, probably because of low confidence. Use more bow and don’t be afraid.
    2. The cellos and double basses need to focus on dynamics a little bit more and also be aware that they are more numerous than the violins and violas, and put a little bit less pressure on the bow.

  36. Pros: 1. The beginning was strong. 2. The intonation was good. Constructive: 1. The end was off. 2. It’s the weaker piece

  37. i feel like the beginning started off good and we were loud. we need to be more in tune and know the notes better.

  38. Erin O’Brien
    Pos.
    1. violas overall pacing is good.
    2. Basses are staying in tune.
    Neg.
    1. The cellos need to work on pacing, we are going to fast and our intonations need work.
    2. The violins need to work on volume, and getting louder, while cellos need to work on volume control, and not being too loud.

  39. Erin O’Brien
    Pos.
    1. violas overall pacing is good.
    2. Basses are staying in tune.
    Neg.
    1. The cellos need to work on pacing, we are going to fast and our intonations need work. Especially measures #43-47.
    2. The violins need to work on volume, and getting louder, while cellos need to work on volume control, and not being too loud.

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