Last Symphonic Aerobics Session?

Last night, the 3rd December, we held our last Symphonic Aerobics session.  We were lucky with the weather, and were able to be outside in the beautiful MEL garden.

We worked out to Handel: Hallelujah Chorus, three movements from Berlioz: L'Enfance du Christ, and Kodaly: Dances of Galanta.

Everyone was very sad that the course is ending, and from the comments I received, I realised that the course was very important and meaningful to the regulars - taking them out of their daily hastle of problems and difficulties, and entering into and totally immersing themselves in the world of music. While we were conducting, and listening to the different styles of music that I introduced, I observed people's body language, and was deeply moved by the passion, emotion, bliss, and joy, on their faces.

This is what I do every day, playing in the symphony orchestra.  When I play, there is no way that I can be thinking about everyday problems, I have to concentrate on the matter in hand, totally immerse myself in the music, my technique, listen to what is going on around me, and feel the music.  This is something that up until now I have absolutely taken for granted, but after hearing people expressing their heartfelt gratitude, I see that this is really important, and has an intrinsic value for those who do not have the priviledge of playing in an orchestra, and being an active musician, as I do.  This is a revelation to me, and something for me to think about, and consider how we can continue the sessions.

I play in the symphony, but I also play in a string quartet, which involves a deep level of communication between us four musicians - again something that up until now I took completely for granted, but now understand that it involves a high level of spiritual as well as musical awareness, and has enormous emotional rewards.

I feel immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to create the Symphonic Aerobics course, and to be able to share such deep and important experiences.

Please leave your comment below if you feel moved to do so.

With love and gratitude.

Elizabeth

Last Two Sessions of Merida Symphonic Aerobics

This is to advice you of changes of programmes from my first posting on 24th September.

On Tuesday 26th November, we will be having fun working out to several short pieces of music.  As there is no symphony concert this week, I have had a great time selecting exciting and interesting pieces for us to workout to:

Sibelius: Finlandia
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture 
Chabrier: España
Rimsky Korsakov: Cappricio Español

A couple of weeks ago we worked out to the Brahms Tragic Overture.  As a complete contrast, and at the request of the faithful Symphonic Aerobic members, we will be enjoying his Academic Festival Overture.  Both works were written in the same year, and are completely opposite to each other in mood. The Academic Festival Overture is joyful and exciting, and will be a pleasure for us to to get to know. I hope it will be included in the Symphony programme sometime soon.

On Tuesday 3rd December we will have our last, final, concluding, ultimate session.  We will work out to Christmassy music rather than the Verdi choruses and arias which are programmed for the symphony:

Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on the theme of Greensleeves
Handel: Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah
Orff: Carmina Burana - O Furtuna

Mexican and Spanish music - 29th October

Chaac was not kind to us last week - the garden was out of the question for our symphonic aerobics class.  The rain came down in torrents, so we went inside.  This was great - for the intrepid souls who ventured out into the Yucatan downpour. We conducted and exercised to German music - Beethoven and Brahms

This week, if Chaac decides that we should not be outside in MEL's delightful garden, then we shall be inside, working out to Mexican and Spanish music.  There is plenty of space for all.

Tuesday 29th October I will be introducing music that the OSY has already played this season, before these classes started, so I am catching up on recent repertoire, and adding a few extras that make fun conducting!

Mexican and Spanish Music
José Pablo Moncayo: Huapango
Arturo Marquez: Danzón no. 2
Georges Bizet: Carmen Suite no. 2

The doors open at 6.45pm and we start at 7pm.  The cost per class is $50 pesos.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Saludos,  Elizabeth

Mérida English Library, Calle 53 no. 524, x 66 y 68, Centro, Merida, Yucatán.

Schedule October - December 2013

Symphonic Aerobics

Do you want to have fun....
stimulate your brain....
improve your endurance and co-    ordination....
and strengthen your body?





Merida English Library invites you to join an innovative fitness programme conducting symphonic music and combining aerobic and cardiac exercise with a music history lesson.

For one hour a week, every Tuesday evening at 7pm, you can join Elizabeth Arnott, a musician in the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán, for a fitness session with a little musical appreciation thrown in.  Each week Elizabeth introduces you to music from the current repertoire of the OSY and shows you how to conduct the orchestra!  Suitable for all levels of fitness and mobility, you can participate standing or sitting.  Come and immerse yourself in the emotion and power of classical music.  $50 pesos per class

Here is the schedule for October - December 2013 

1 October         Fauré: Pavanne, Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4
8 October         Mussorgsky: Night on a Bare Mountain, Ravel: Bolero,  Borodin: Polovtsian                                    Dances
15 October       Wagner: Prelude to the Mastersingers, Borodin: Symphony no. 2
22 October       Brahms: Violin Concerto, Beethoven: Overture Fidelio
29 October       Moncayo: Huapango, Márquez: Danzón no. 2
5 November     Stravinsky: Pulcinella, Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
12 November   Brahms: Tragic Overture, Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
19 November   Bach: Violin concerto, Brahms: Symphony no 2
26 November   Sibelius: Overture Finlandia, Symphony no 2
3 December     Verdi Overtures and Choruses
10 December   Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves, Handel:  Hallelujah Chorus                                      from the Messiah, Orff: Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
(Programmes subject to change without notice)

I thought it was heavenly! ... What a joyful pleasure!

Feedback from the first symphonic aerobics.....

"I thought it was heavenly!  My arms weren't even sore the next day.  Can't wait for the next one"

Nancy Walters

"I very much enjoyed it; music and workout. What talent emerges.

I am grateful for the experience and will be there next Tuesday."

Giovanna Marchant

"What a joyful pleasure!  Thank you for sharing it, the music, and your clear instructions." 

Cherie Pittillo

"Thank you for a fun time at the Symphonic Aerobics." 

Britta Krings

"Thank you for last night. It was so much fun and I am sure will continue with great success." 

Jan Logan

First Symphonic Aerobics Class - 1st October

We had our first Symphonic Aerobics class on tuesday 1st October, at the Merida English Library.  It was a beautiful evening, the air was cool and balmy, and there was a little breeze.  Very necessary, because the class turned out to be quite a workout.  Most people participated standing, and a few were able to enjoy it while sitting.

We started the evening with a slow warm-up to the beautiful music by English composer Eric Coates - By the Sleepy Lagoon.
Next I showed everyone how to conduct in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4 time before starting on the music that we will be playing in the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán this weekend.  (concerts are held at the Teatro Peon Contreras, Merida, Yucatan, on Friday evenings at 9pm and Sundays at 12pm)

Fauré: Pavane is a impressionistic piece, originally written for piano, and later arranged for small symphony orchestra.  A Pavane is a stately Spanish dance, and we enjoyed conducting this beautiful piece.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony no 4 is a massive orchestral piece, and a real test of stamina for both the orchestra and the conductor.  The first movement begins with a dramatic fanfare played by the brass instruments, and is a metaphor for "fate", according to Tchaikovsky "the fatal power that prevents one from attaining the goal of happiness".  I explained the musical form of the four movements, and we conducted through the first half of the first movement, and stopped when the "fate" fanfare came again.  We conducted all through the other three movements, and all agreed that from now on we admire conductors even more than we used to.

After all the excitement of Tchaikovsky, it was time to cool down, to the beautiful and serene music of Saint-Saens: The Swan from the Carnival of the Animals.

Next week, as there is no Symphony concert, we will be working out to Mussorgsky: Night on a Bare Mountain (which is well know as being part of Walt Disney's Fantasia), the old favourite Ravel: Bolero, and Borodin: Polovtsian Dances.

I invite you to join me next tuesday, 8th October at the Merida English Library at 7pm.  We meet every tuesday, to exercise to beautiful, inspiring, exciting, tranquil ........ symphonic music, working out and conducting the repertoire of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán.

Symphonic Aerobics in Mérida, Yucatán

Welcome to the Symphonic Aerobics website.  My name is Elizabeth Arnott, and I am a violinist in the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán (OSY).  The idea of creating an aerobic exercise class to classical music came to me while watching our conductor, Juan Carlos Lomonaco.  It occurred to me that he was getting a tremendous workout rehearsing us for our weekly concerts.  Every morning, for three hours, he stands in front of the orchestra, waving his arms around, and moving with great passion, to the emotion of the music.  I then started thinking about musical conductors in general, and how they live such long lives, presumably because of the regular, intense cardiac and upper body exercise they undertake. Thus the idea of Symphonic Aerobics was born.

So what exactly are Symphonic Aerobics?  They could best be described as a classical music workout. This programme is filled with energy, motion, and the magic of classical symphonic music.  For one hour a week, on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Merida English Library, join me for a fitness session with a conducting lesson and a little musical appreciation thrown in.  Each week I will introduce you to music from the current repertoire of the OSY and show you how to conduct the orchestra!  This class is suitable for all levels of fitness and mobility - you can participate standing or sitting.

The first class on the 1st October is free, and then the cost is $50 mexican pesos.

Programming: October - December 2013 - includes
1 October - Fauré: Pavanne, Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4
8 October - Mussorgsky: Night on a Bare Mountain, Ravel: Bolero,  Borodin: Polovtsian                             Dances
15 October - Wagner: Prelude to the Mastersingers, Borodin: Symphony no. 2
22 October - Brahms: Violin Concerto, Beethoven: Overture Fidelio
29 October - Moncayo: Huapango, Márquez: Danzón no. 2
5 November - Stravinsky: Pulcinella, Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
12 November - Brahms: Tragic Overture, Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
19 November - Bach: Violin concerto, Brahms: Symphony no 2
26 November - Sibelius: Overture Finlandia, Symphony no 2
3 December - Verdi Overtures and Choruses
10 December - Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves, Handel:  Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, Orff: Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
(Programmes subject to change without notice)

Mérida English Library, Calle 53 #524 x 66 y 68, Centro, Merida, Yucatan