Today, I got some disappointing news back: the conductor loved it, but ...
... the orchestra cancelled the performance. Because:
1) There was a section that was too hard. (It is still early enough to simplify.)
2) The string parts were too difficult. (Really? Anyway, ditto.)
3) The committee felt that the piece wasn't something the Scarborough public would enjoy. (Dammit, they had recordings of my music. They knew what to expect!)
Yes, that was the bottom line. They'd been talked into programming the piece, not really wanting to play something "new." What did they want? Philip Glass? I've got news for you folks; his music is hard - I mean really hard - to play. It's not like I'm Uncle Milty (Babbitt).
I've offered them another piece, but it has already been played several times, and I'm not going to spend £1000 just to go hear an ordinary (at best) performance. I probably won't even receive any performance rights for it. (I didn't the last time it was played in St John's Smith Square, a major concert venue.) The Spa in Scarborough just doesn't rate that high. I doubt they will go for it anyway.
What now?
In the short term, I'm too busy to work on it. Will I finish it? I don't know right now. If anyone is interested, I will, of course.
What will happen to this blog? I don't know. I suppose I'll keep it for my composing thoughts (if I ever compose again).
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