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.