Yay I'm Semi-Pro Now

Emphasis on 'semi'.
So one of the teachers at my school conducts a very high quality choir called the Camerata Singers, and they are performing two pieces by the English Composer John Rutter- his Requiem and a short piece called Musica Dei Donum. Apparently I impressed enough at the faculty and student recital in October that he asked me to play in the chamber orchestra that accompanies the choir in the Requiem! I was (and still am) very excited about the opportunity to perform with such a high quality group. It's a paid gig, too, which I wasn't expecting and only found out a few days ago when I received my part. That was a nice surprise, it'll help to pay for my college-level flute that God willing I'll be able to help my parents buy in a month or so.
Part of what makes the gig feel so professional is the part. I know that it's kind of silly, but I've been given a rental part, which means that it's actually on loan from the music library at Oxford Press! So I have to be real careful with it, it feels like such a responsibility and it feels like I'm a 'for real' musician now. :)

So the repertoire! I said what we're playing before, but I haven't gotten very in-depth. The Requiem is a very long work. In my part, there are many long periods of inactivity that have small interjections, and then there are times when I'm playing for a long time. I think that I'm going to have to be very attentive. I can't let my mind wander when I am on a rest, and there are some very tricky bits that will require a lot of work! *cough*Sanctus*cough*.
Rutter's Requiem is a very beautiful work. I haven't listened to it from start to finish, but I've heard most of it, and I am so in love, haha. I'm really happy that works like this are composed in modern times (Rutter composed this in 1984!). I'm particularly fond of the bright Sanctus, which is a hymn of praise to God. I also really like the Angus Dei, which immediately follows. The contrast between the two is great. The Santus is joyful and full of admiration, while the Agnus Dei is a solemn supplication. the Angus Dei has a lovely, lyrical flute solo at the end, which I find tricky because of the rhythms, which often include ties into other measures (that are often in different time signatures). The ties wouldn't be so bad, but nobody gives me a downbeat so I have to count, haha.

Now let's talk about the short piece that we're doing. Musica Dei Donum is, well, I've never heard a piece like it. It was written for a chorus and *gasp* solo flute! The text is in Latin (NOT a dead language after all, mwahahaha!), and it talks about how music is a gift from God. I think it's a beautiful way for me to thank Him for my music. This piece is very haunting and ethereal. The flute part (which gets a very tricky, just because of playing quietly in the high register, and some rhythmic stuff) sounds improvised and is absolutely enchanting. It phases in and out of the choir lines gracefully, and it is a real treat to hear.

I'll talk more later, I'm very tired, haha. I've been practicing pretty hard on my repertoire for this gig (mostly the Musica Dei Donum, since it's so exposed... oh my goodness), so wish me luck!