The recording is done. The Menai Wind Quintet and Will the engineer assembled last Monday night in a school in Llandudno and went through it. Will said the school hall was off-limits because of the noise from the school's animals, so we found a stuffy but silent classroom and worked away until late.
The quintet decided they wanted the composer to conduct them, which was a surprise and caught me unprepared, but it did mean that some tricky entries could be played with more certainty. Of course, a few notes dropped off and we had to re-take some places, but their concentration across a hard evening was commendable and I am very grateful to them all for their commitment. Thankyou Dewi, Emily, Melanie, Miles and Rachel.
The consequence is that now, instead of 21' of music, there is 121' to listen to and edit. There will be 'takes' which are good in regard and less so in another. A second 'take' will be better in some places but not as good in others. Deciding which ones to use will need a few days of patient listening.
The leader of the quintet has been complimentary about its qualities, which I think she sincerely means, so it's just a question now of whether or not the wider musical world will agree. My understanding is that TY CERDD are considering making the recording available as a download. If so, that news will probably appear here first.
