Community orchestra concert in May

As part of my 2014 goals I want to perform with our local community orchestra, so I have decided to play during their May concert for one piece. ...okay...so technically I am playing with the orchestra, but it’s kind of a “cheat” because the piece I'm hoping to perform with them only has cellos and an opera singer - Villa Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5; and there will be a bunch of cellists from our cello project performing too. ;)

I first heard and saw Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 performed by CelloSpeak’s faculty last year, and there were more than a few teary-eyed cellists and audience members during this performance. It was just GORGEOUS!!! Not to mention that this was the first time I've heard an opera singer before so I was totally blown away! ...yes, I live under a rock... =p

Unfortunately, I feel like I’m totally psyching myself out and feel like I won’t be doing it justice, which I probably won’t!  I don’t know what the deal is, but I feel like I’m not ready to play this even though I KNOW I can! It’s the strangest feeling...
Perhaps my expectations are too high because I think I need to be able to sound like the performance I heard? This got me thinking... maybe it was good for me NOT to have been exposed to classical music before taking up the cello, otherwise I would've been too emotionally attached to the music that I would be learning and be too hard on myself all the time? Because right now, I have very little knowledge of any classical repertoire so when I play them incorrectly it doesn't bother me since I have nothing to compare them to! ...ignorance is bliss? Lol! ;)

http://youtu.be/9wBaC-Wq7Lo

Or perhaps my doubts are just me wanting to chicken out again with regards to performing in front a bunch of people. Fortunately, I’m not allowed to chicken out since I agreed to performing it with the group and it would look bad if the group's collaborating organizer changed their mind and decided not to perform with their own group! Lol! I'd better set a good example. ;)

Anyway, I decided to play Part four because 1) I think it’s more difficult than Part three due to the rhythm, 2) I need to work on playing and reading more complicated rhythms and this fits the bill for me, and 3) I love playing pizzicato!

I’ve been slowly working through the piece and haven’t gotten it anywhere close to speed yet, but right now I’m just getting myself familiar with the notes. I have a full three months so I should be good to go by May.

...okay, three months...daily practice... I can do this... (maybe)...

Another recording of the piece:

http://youtu.be/HMglTYrrygg