Hello music lovers! Most of the time you will hear me at Caledon concerts, 'manning the keys', but there are often times when I have to 'go it alone' without the other guys? Can you imagine it? Peace and quiet, all the Company rider (Tunnocks, usually) to myself, clean air....
One such trip was May 2006, when a production team from REL Records (Gawd bless 'em) set sail, sorry, flew off to Prague, to record the orchestral tracks for 'The Power And The Passion' with the mighty City of Prague Symphony Orchestra. We gathered in Edinburgh airport. First to arrive was Neil Ross (producer, and bearer of the hard drives). I met him at check-in, and he ushered me round the corner. "Quick, Michael - they're weighing the carry-ons!". My carry on was my redobtable 'grey lassie', stuffed to the seams with an hour's worth of orchestral scores and parts, and weighing in at - well, the weight of a touring suitcase itself. We stuffed half the scores and parts into Neil's already checked bag, and casually got myself checked in.
John Moore (conductor and general affability) sauntered in, as did Gavin Welsh (SFO stickmeister and Caledon kit player of choice). Arriving at the gate, we were disappointed that the flight to Prague was not on a stand, and so we waited on the tarmac for an airport bus. It was pouring down but, fortunately, I had my trusty kangaroo beanie, a trophy of the Australia tour, on my person. It was an entertaining flight. I sat with John, singing through some of the scores, suggesting articulation and bowing, to the disgust of the old dear in the seats in front, who grumbled the whole way about hearing "Tum TEE-ya", etc. from the row behind.
We reached Prague, and Gavin's attention was diverted immediately by the young Czech girls, all of whom had a Mittel-European loveliness about them. His eyes popped out even further when the airport bus dropped us off at our hotel. Right in the middle of the red light district, off Wenceslas Square. Right beside the Buggy Buggy Club.
Without further ado, we dropped our bags and sallied forth. It would've been fifth, but it was a nice evening and we wanted to have a look around and take on some... refreshments. We hit the Old Square, when Gavin received a text message. Rangers had taken the league title in the dying seconds of season! Shurely, shome mishtake... But no, in an outdoor bar were several football supporters in 'hoops' shirts, crying into their Staropramen. Alan 'The Beckster' Beck called my mobile, confirming the unbelievable news.
This first evening was a free night, so we enjoyed a beer on the square, then wandered around for several hours, while John tried to find a restaurant he'd been in seventeen years earlier when conducting a film score. In the end we did find it, and I had the local delicacy - stewed duck with dumplings. We retired back to our hotel for the night, resisiting the invitations of the local ladies of some entertainment. Even Gavin, drum-muffin extraordinaire !
...continued in Prague in the Spring 2
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