Out of Time

Cover photo is featured in a Youtube tutorial by Victoria Williams, (my musictheory)(@musictheoryexpert)

29^th November, 2024

“Wot!? Why’s the piece finished when we’re only half way through it?” Katie and I stare at each other in disbelief. Somebody has blundered. But, as all experienced musicians do, we shrug our shoulders and prepare for the next item.

-o-O-o-

Viola players, as you may appreciate, are in short supply. So conductor Nick has invited players from West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra (WYSO), to which I belong, to undergird the viola section in a Winter concert featuring Wakefield Youth Orchestra (WYO), which he also conducts. I volunteer my services along with Katie, a younger WYSO colleague. 

The concert’s at Wakefield Cathedral where I often went when we lived in nearby Normanton. Parking in the city centre turns out to be easier than expected, even on a dark, drizzly afternoon. I am relieved to be on time for the rehearsal, obediently making my way into a crypt full of young musicians. As I unpack my music and my instrument, I become aware that a few teachers are present in the line-up. Yes, they’re adults, but they’re my children’s age; I must seem like a fossil from Noah’s Ark, an anachronism. Undeterred, I make my way up to the stage and sit down at Second Desk. The existing section consists of a young man and woman, probably sixth-formers, who sit at First Desk.

It’s a pleasant, varied programme, split into two halves, as the orchestra has slots at the beginning, then at the end of the concert. [The other slots are for the ‘training orchestra’, two choirs and for the Horbury Music Centre Big Band, who feature in the photo.] We play Vaughan Williams’ Somerset folk songs, followed by the Sound of  Music…but then, a song by George and Ira Gershwin called  Embraceable You. I negotiate the first half of the piece without difficulty, but then – oh, heck, where are we? Why am I so naff at counting? I wish I didn’t rely so much on Amy, our Section Leader in WYSO…This was a ‘top and tail’ rehearsal, so there wasn’t a chance to sort it out.

Katie arrives in time for the concert. She earns her living performing at gigs, and looks quite a celebrity. It gives me confidence to have a desk partner. The first slot goes okay, then Katie and I have a bit of fun ‘jamming’ an extempore version of Ashokan Farewell whilst the orchestra’s waiting in the crypt for our second slot. Back upstairs and onto the stage. 

Of course, Katie’s relying on me – who attended the rehearsal – to guide her through Embraceable You. Gotta count religiously, say I to myself. LOOK AT NICK, all the time!! One – two – three – four…

“Hey,” I think, “I know Gershwin’s harmonies are sometimes weird, but not this weird, surely?” Nevertheless, I stick to my guns. 1 – 2 – 3 – 4…And then everybody (else) plays their final note, whilst the bewildered Katie and I wonder why we’ve still about 32 bars left. Maybe we’re inhabiting a parallel universe?

We load the next item, West Side Story, onto the stand, and swing into the piece with its neat little embellishments given to the viola by composer Leonard Bernstein. We just have fun! Maybe it helps to have made a mess of something; go for it, you’ve nowt to lose.

After the concert, I ask Nick, “Did you by any chance change from conducting 4 beats in a bar to beating 2 in Embraceable You?” (This means you move through the bars at twice the speed).

“Oh yes,” says he matter-of-factly, “I realise it isn’t marked, but the kids all know.” 

WE know, now, even if a little belatedly! 

Similar date in 1998

Almost a generation ago, a different Hearson was playing as the Wakefield Youth Orchestra’s No.2 viola, in the Winter Concert at the Cathedral. The conductor was a young, enthusiastic music specialist called Nick. The very same Nick, indeed! The ‘Hearson’ was, in fact, my older son Martin, in his final year at High School. 

Rather than ‘Like father, like son’, here we had ‘Like son, like father’.  

It felt as if there’d been a perturbation of the space-time continuum…

-o-O-o-

Nevertheless, this was a well-produced concert that showed the Wakefield Music Service in a very good light, with some impressive playing and singing. It was a pleasure to take part. I felt emotional,  thankful that I can still roll back the years to join in occasions like this.