Another pop artist moves into the classical world:
Amid the tapestries and ornate decor of the Library of Congress, soul legend Stevie Wonder made his classical debut last night with “Sketches of My Life,” a chamber-music composition commissioned by the library featuring a 21-piece orchestra, two pianos, a synthesizer, a harmonica, and a harp.
… I love that the harmonica is still there, though! 8-)
I read it here.
Nothing says morning like the English horn solo from Rossini’s William Tell.
I was listening to the radio today, and Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante for violin, cello, oboe, bassoon & orchestra was playing. Of course I recognized it immediately. (What oboists wouldn’t, eh?) And I know that, sometime in the distant past, I played the work. But for the life of me I can’t remember when or with whom!
It’s kind of funny to think about the works I’ve played, and even soloed in. When I’m have an important part, I think I’ll just never forget the moment or the situation. But it simply isn’t so. And today was a case in point; I soloed on that Haydn. But I sure don’t remember it. At all.
All that work, and then it’s gone.
I wish I had saved all of my San Jose Symphony (RIP) programs. Those are gone too. And I played some pretty important works. But I sure can’t remember them all. With Opera San José and Symphony Silicon Valley I can look at the websites and see exactly what we’ve played. For the most part I can remember which sets I skipped out on (yes, there were a few) and which symphony sets I moved up to principal on, or played English horn. But San Jose Symphony?
Again, all that work, and then it’s gone.
Those same emotions were also at play in the Debussy Nocturnes. From the haunting opening for English horn, beautifully played by one of the symphony’s many unidentified freelancers, the piece transports its listeners to another world.
This is what happens when a sub or extra is called in to play a concert. Rarely do programs print their names. (I think Opera San José actually does, though, if the player is playing the run and is hired before the programs are printed.)
The above quote is from the SFCV review, and is about the Santa Rosa Symphony. Perhaps a reader will see this and fill me in.
Waking to “Send in the Clowns” is sort of pathetic, isn’t it? My last dream was sad. It had music with it. The dream was fairly “Sondheimesque” and that was the final tune. I can’t remember the dream much, but I sure do remember it was sad and kind of hopeless in some sort of way.
But before that?! Yikes. There was a spider in it that was spinning a very creepy, unattractive non-symmetrical web. There were rats which I was trying to get out of the house. I finally hit them over the head (Dan tried, but he was too nice about it). I knocked one out. Then I hit the other, and realized it wasn’t a rat, but a baby. Fortunately I didn’t hit the baby quite as hard and it was okay. That’s about all I remember of that dream. It’s probably a good thing.
So I’m awake, but I think my dreams really tired me out.
I rarely have oboe reed nightmares, so I guess I should be happy for that. I do have oboe dreams, and at least one of the above dreams contained an oboe in some way, but I only remember the glimmer of oboe, not really anything more.
But the good news is (this is about 40 minutes after the above writing took place) … my toilet overflowed. Which took some time to clean up (still not done) as you might imagine. Which means I can make and enjoy my latté now, since it’s been over 30 minutes since my medication which requires a 30 minute wait for food.
So ain’t that grand?! ;-)
To some people, classical music is best enjoyed in a crowded concert hall, with a glass of wine and good company. To others, the best classical music is enjoyed alone, perhaps in a darkened room with a great stereo system. Still others will enjoy making their own classical music in the company of family and friends, perhaps playing their own piano or enjoying a night out.
Good luck getting that glass of wine into the concert hall, though. ;-)
I blogged about my eyes and glasses and quickly headed out the door. Well, it might be easier to wear my normal glasses to blog, but then I couldn’t see clearly at ALL when I tried to use the glasses while driving. That’s obviously not the solution. I’m sure the eye doctor will help me out. I go on Thursday.
Meanwhile, I’d better nap before I teach or I’ll be a zombie through all three lessons!
Ahhh … I am realizing that it is better to use my regular glasses when using the computer, and skipping the computer/music glasses all together. Interesting. I suppose it’s because (DUH) the regular glasses are a newer prescription and inclue the reading portion in them (they are progressive lenses; I think the name is really stupid, as I don’t feel like my vision is progressing in anything but a negative way, but whatever). In any case, I’ll be curious to see if I can go a day without an eyeache.
In Other News
Today should be a “down day”, meaning I might be a bit down as I recover from the end of an opera run and I shouldn’t have as much hanging over my head work-wise. But actually it’s turned into a busy one. First I drove our younger son back to Santa Cruz, and the drive back home was probably one of the worst I’ve ever had due to the rain. But I’m here. Next I’m off the opposite direction to deliver packing boxes to our older son, and enjoy a lunch with him. And then, as I have every Monday, I’ll be teaching for the afternoon. So my “down time” will wait until tonight. And I suspect I won’t really be down as in depressed because I have more work very soon and I’ll be getting my act together for that.
Meanwhile, check this out:
One of my parents’ deepest fears, I suspect, is that society would not properly value me as a musician, that I wouldn’t be appreciated. I had very good grades in high school, I was good in science and math, and they imagined that as a doctor or a research chemist or an engineer, I might be more appreciated than I would be as a musician. I still remember my mother’s remark when I announced my decision to apply to music school—she said, “you’re WASTING your SAT scores.” On some level, I think, my parents were not sure themselves what the value of music was, what its purpose was. And they LOVED music, they listened to classical music all the time. They just weren’t really clear about its function. So let me talk about that a little bit, because we live in a society that puts music in the “arts and entertainment” section of the newspaper, and serious music, the kind your kids are about to engage in, has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with entertainment, in fact it’s the opposite of entertainment. Let me talk a little bit about music, and how it works.
You can read the rest here. It’s a welcome address to incoming freshmen at the Boston Conservatory by Karl Paulnack.
Painful : Judging region band English horn auditions. Torture : Judging 24 oboes immediately after. Oy.
No, I did not go to the after-opera party that I mentioned earlier. I just couldn’t fathom attending the party after the opera; my eyes were killing me as was my head (ah, the joys of wearing a headband … it’s a killer on this big head ‘o mine). So I’m home, watching the Oscars (handy to have recorded it, as we can skip commercials). I know I’ll regret wasting an entire evening on the Oscars, but what the heck. I don’t think I’ll regret missing the party … well … okay, not much. Part of me wonders if I could have managed it and had a good time. Too late now, though.
I’ll miss the opera … now that it’s over. Funny how that goes, eh? I whine and whine and wait for it to end and then I’m sad. Yep. That’s me all right. I played well today, as far as I know. Of course if I ever heard myself I might decide that was the wrong thing to think. But I don’t have that option, so I guess I just have to go with my gut and say I really do think I played well.
Yes. This is me too. Being positive. Don’t worry, I’ll get back to normal soon.
double reed instruments are wicked easy i played a basoon for like 4 yeARS SO ITS NOT DIFFUCULT
One day at a party I’m going to break out my oboe. Just by way of warning.
Last year, Symphony Silicon Valley publicly announced the 2008-2009 season on February 26. So perhaps they’ll announce the upcoming season this week. I’m hoping. I’ve not even heard a tiny hint of what’s on the program (I usually do hear at least a bit of something), and I’m quite curious.
And of course I also want to verify that I do have symphony work, along with Opera San José, for next season. I’m learning to make no assumptions.
Today is our final Così fan tutte performance. I still say it’s my favorite Mozart opera, but I must admit I’m weary. I suppose it’s just that beginning solo; knowing that I “set the tone” (according to at least one person, but that was enough!) causes me to be more stressed than I wish to be. Of course there’s also that little run toward the end. That adds a bit ‘o stress too. In addition, the weather changes just keep the reed situation even more frustrating than usual. So I’ll sadly say goodbye to Così, but I’ll be relieved as well.
After the performance there’s an end of opera party. Will I attend? I’m such a hermit, as readers know, and the socializing during work actually tires me out, so I’m just not sure. I’d like to appear more friendly (I’m sure some people think I’m a total snob) but I know that attending a party will really wipe me out, and I’ll be a zombie tomorrow. But I’ll probably be a zombie anyway. So who knows? It was nice to be invited, though.
I always enjoy receiving oboe supplies. Every time I get something I think, “This is it! This is going to make me a more diligent reed maker. This is going to make me make better reeds. This is going to be the perfect cane!”
But this one? I opened it and burst out laughing. I can’t help but wonder if the packer did this on purpose.
Thank you, Oboe Works, for the laugh!
I finished teaching a bit after noon. While I was teaching I was wide awake, energized and enjoying my students thoroughly. Teaching can be such a joy!
The minute I finished? Exhaustion came right back.
It’s funny how that happens. Prior to teaching I sometimes think, “I’m not sure how this is gonna go,” but when I get the student in the door I’m just so happy to be teaching and enjoying the baffling world of oboe.
Most of the time, in any case. There have been times (rare, I’m happy to say) where I’ve walked away thinking, “That didn’t work. At all.” That usually has something to do with the “ER” (Energy Relationship™) between the student and teacher, I think. There are just a very few who require a lot more energy from me because they don’t put much, if any, energy into the lesson. It’s weird how it works. The more energy a student puts in, the more energy I have. The less they put in, the more energy is required OF me, but the more that is zapped. Any other teachers understand and deal with this issue?
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