I didn’t get to work on the Symphony this weekend, but I am pleased to report that at tonight’s Masterworks rehearsal, I introduced “What a Wonderful Bird the Frog Are” and it was quite well received.

It’s a silly little song, of course, but in many ways it is quite perfect, and not an easy piece to learn. I asked them to ignore the time signatures, which switch between 2/4 and 3/4 nearly every other measure, and just to count eighth notes, especially eighth rests. A little work on parts, and they were singing it perfectly in about five minutes.

There’s always the doom factor, naturally, but we’ll just pretend we know nothing about that.

(Those who sang William Blake’s Inn said, with obvious insider pride, “Thank god it’s not Milky Way.” I just smiled quietly with them.)