From Scratch to Performance in 24 Hours

Last night we finished our inaugural 24-hour Composition/Recital, and no, there are no typos in that sentence. We got together Friday night to draw names and roll dice to see who would write for how many and what instruments. We disbanded around 10:30PM and each set off to our own respective composition-crypts to finish our pieces as quickly as possible, because most of Saturday was spent rehearsing. I finished mine at 5:30AM, so clearly I was full of energy by the time the concert started at 8PM Saturday night. Incredibly, the concert was a great success, as the turnout was fantastic and the pieces came out wonderfully.

Zane conducts his piece entitled "Tiger Driver ‘91" with Scott on the marimba and Aaron on the trombone. Apparently the name of the piece is an old Japanese wrestling move.

Nick sings Meredith's piece entitled "Brain Collector at Cornell"

Josh performs Scott's piece, "Biological Clock's Desperate Endeavor to Manifest Itself Externally." You can't tell from the picture, but Josh's repairman-costume includes a retro Seattle Seahawks cap which I thought was just perfect.

Meredith and Zane perform Josh's "Velleity"

Zane and Tim perform "Drill Bit Steve" in honor of its composer Matt Williams, who had to work during the concert. Tim's face is turning red as he screams through his clarinet for the big finish.
My piece, which luckily has no photographic evidence of ever being performed, is called "Theme and Variations on Something Shitty," and I think that really sums it up. Unfortunately I had to conduct it myself, which was my first and (fingers crossed) last conducting experience of my life. Regardless, everything went great, the crowd loved the whole night, and we should be getting a recording pretty soon. Now it looks as if we'll be doing this type of concert once a semester, so that basically tells you how everyone felt about it, including our professor Michael Schelle, who said in a post-concert email:

"GUYS - SCHNELL!!! BRAVISSIMO!!! MOLTO IMPRESSIVO!!

THE CREATIVITY OF IDEA AND MUSIC WAS / IS ASTOUNDING !!!

. . . YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY - IN THE BEST WAY ;) !!!

SERIOUSLY, TUTTI FANTASTICO !!! SCHNELL!!!"