| Friday, June 04, 2004
Piano Trio. AND String Trio!
I brought both my new digital piano and my cello to the wedding tonight. And a suitcase full of books and music arrangements, and music stands, and the piano stand. Phew! The bell-captain at the Hilton Hotel was extremely patient and helpful, he allowed me to park the rented car in front of the hotel while I carried all the instruments and equipment up the escalator to the Vista ballroom. Double phew when it was all over.
The string trio was supposed to perform for the reception outside the ballroom, and as it was a rather small area, the trio did just fine, compared to the usual string quartet. The audience appreciated it so much when we performed my arrangement of the Radetsky March they actually clapped! Needless to say, I was beaming and grinning from ear to ear for a long time.
For the actual dinner, the piano trio was requested, and that was when it really got fun for the group. We had been looking forward to performing my arrangements! After playing Mendelssohn's wedding march as the March-In Music for the couple, we performed all our favourite arrangements including Somewhere In Time. The Privia was simply divine!
Vista ballroom is rather long and narrow, so the couple had the stage set up right in the centre of the room, while one end of the room was turned into a children's play-pen: a stroke of genius from the groom! Setting the stage in the centre meant that it was a really short march to the stage from the doors, but it worked well with our music.
The couple made many speeches, and I played sweet piano solos that blended into the background, and when there was applause, I played louder. The effect created was superb!
The last set was for the piano to perform alone, so I sent my musicians back with a merry wave and continued performing alone. I felt a little alone though, and I wasn't looking forward to packing the things up, so I kept playing way past the stipulated agreement, sweet music from Kevin Kern and light jazzy piano solos. Suddenly I found myself sitting with the couple and their friends at the end of the table chatting into the night!
It was another lovely wedding dinner, and I am really glad to have a vocation that allows me to be part of joyous celebrations.
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posted by Paul @ 1:28 AM
 
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