Chesnokov: Salvation is Created
Philip Stopford: Beatitudes
The last time Renee Fleming put out a “crossover” CD, she got bashed. Now she’s going to put on one that includes a cover of something by “Death Cab for Cutie” (I know the name, I don’t know the music). Here’s the full list:
“Dark Hope” contains 11 tracks…
Endlessly (Muse)
No One’s Gonna Love You (Band of Horses)
Oxygen (Willy Mason)
Today (Jefferson Airplane)
Intervention (Arcade Fire)
With Twilight as My Guide (The Mars Volta)
Mad World (Tears for Fears)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Stepping Stone (Duffy)
Soul Meets Body (Death Cab For Cutie)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
I’m smellin’ major criticisms and cracks in her future.
Me? I’m always up for this kind of stuff if it’s done well. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t. Time will tell.
I read it here.
Here she is on another of those crossover albums:
… but it had to be done.
I woke with one of my splitting migraines. I suspect it might be tied in with the screeching ear. The head was bad enough that I canceled my students. First and foremost for the day was to get over the headache so I could play without too much pain tonight. Canceling out of the opening night performance of Romeo & Juliet just didn’t seem to be an option for me. Unless I thought I was dying, of course.
Up until about 4:30 I did wonder if I was ever going to get over the head. So many on Facebook and Twitter were kind enough to offer up suggestions. One solution came up multiple times: see a chiropractor. That really wasn’t an option. No time, no $ for that. Some suggested aspirin. Not an aspirin in the house. Of course “step away from the computer” was a suggestion (followed), as was coffee, believe it or not. So after putting the MacBook to sleep I had more ibuprofen and then had a nice latté. (I had to skip my morning latté because at that point the nausea was still too strong.) And I did absolutely nothing all day long, aside from rest and watch a bit of curling. (Man, that event could become addictive for me! It’s just fun to watch!)
It’s now 5:16 and I can finally say that I have turned the corner. I still ache a bit, but nothing like before.
I suppose this means I should change out of my robe & pjs and don the black, eh?
Or maybe the Romeo & Juliet audience would enjoy my hot pink robe?
Because we are told over and over that younger people don’t like “classical music”. Hmm.
CLASSICAL music should be used for the 2012 Olympic anthem, according to a survey.
The Association of British Orchestras’ survey found 69 per cent of people wanted classical music or music combining classical and another style.
Of the 2,057 adults questioned, only 14 cent said they wanted a pop song.
I read it here.
So, my oboe teacher went to this music conference last week. She was supposed to find me a good oboe. Instead, she comes back with a clarinet for my brother! WHAT’S UP WITH THAT!?
I don’t think I could live without music. I have to hear music every day.
-Lee Lamkin
You might be thinking, “Meh. Big deal. So someone thinks this way.”
But the person I’m quoting is deaf. As were other students who attended a Knoxville Symphony Orchestra rehearsal.
I read it here.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this new blog, Beyond Words. To begin, here’s this:
This blog aims to guide the way to a deeper understanding of this venerable tradition. I hope to be a guide to the myriad opportunities in Chicago to hear free, amateur or professional concerts of a Classical and post-Classical variety–for both novices and initiates alike.
It’s a long journey, so let’s get started with a piece that requires no introduction, “Short Ride in a Fast Machine”. It was composed by John Adams, an American composer living near San Francisco. Much more about him to come.
Here in San Jose I’ve not done one single John Adams work. Sort of sad, if you ask me, as he’s not only well respected, but pretty local. Hmmm. Maybe next season?
Update
Okay now. Confession time: maybe my “episode” of yesterday caused my eyes to think the second stand light I bought was inadequate. I just used it and ‐ voilà! ‐ it seems to be okay. (Or maybe I just wanted to use the word “voilà”?) It’s still not perfect of course. For instance, I played a couple of wrong notes. OBVIOUSLY the stand light’s fault. (Duh.) But I think this thing will suffice and I am hoping it also means that all reeds will be good reeds.
I can dream, can’t I?
… and since the update comes before the original blog you’d better read on to know what the heck I’m going on about here. Yes? Here ’tis:
For the second time I have purchased a stand light that isn’t adequate. The first I purchased, Mighty Bright XtraFlex Duet Super LED Music Stand Light, burned out quickly, and I can’t seem to open it up to replace the batteries. The second, the GigLight Music Stand Light, has an adapter so I don’t have to rely on batteries. But it’s not bright enough for my taste.
Anyone out there have a light they think is the answer? Preferably something that can run with batteries but includes an adapter.
Do tell!
As you ponder this tough question, enjoy a bit of music:
Berlin Philharmonic Winds do the Tango!:
Arie Malando: Olé Guapa (arr. Joachim Schmeißer) · Berliner Philharmoniker Wind Soloists: Andreas Blau, flute; Albrecht Mayer, oboe; Wenzel Fuchs, clarinet; Stefan Schweigert, bassoon; Radek Baborak, horn / Recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, 28 May 2009
I just played my website.
Nary an oboe to be heard. And I guess I have a very, very boring website.
I love the Telemann Canonic Sonatas, and not being able to find a video with oboes I’m putting this up instead. The oboe duo I’m coaching will be playing this, or at least part of it (might have to cut it down due to time issues), along with Sibicky’s Four Figment Fragments, 7:00 on March 11 at the UCSC recital hall. (Admission is free!)
I love Telemann. I find that his music fits well with my fingers. Handel, not so much. So give me Telemann!
The following isn’t the first canonic sonata, which my students are playing, but the second … but still, you get double reeds on this one:
And here’s the Sibicky (I know, I know, I’ve put it up twice before. But hey, it’s a fun work!):
Four Figment Fragments (for two oboes)
Uploaded by nicksib.
… and it’s now 10:08 and I’ve yet to brave standing … or eating! Guess I’d better see how I’m doing.
I slept in until 8:15! The medication I took for dizziness probably helped. (I looked up the pill and it’s merely an antihistamine from what I can tell … those DO knock me out!) This morning feels better, but not perfect. I’m a wee bit dizzy. Enough so that I’ll be taking it very easy. (More importantly at the moment: why is an ant crawling on my computer. Ack!)
I will probably stay in robe and pjs only to make sure I don’t suddenly decide I’m 100% and go do something stupid. (Yes, I can be that way.)
What a crazy time! Initially I wasn’t thrilled to only have three rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet, and now I only have two. At the first rehearsal we didn’t get through the entire ballet, so tonight, the final rehearsal, will be the only time I get to play certain portions of the work. Ah well. We’ve done it a few times before, and I do know the work.
Now I’ll see if this stomach can handle anything.
I’ll rock it out on stage, well as much as one can rock the oboe
This morning I told Dan I felt a bit odd. I didn’t really do much this morning, and my main chore, I knew, was to work on English horn reeds. I finally managed to get myself to wind some and start working in the early afternoon (my middle name is procrastination). Then it was on to four students.
Teaching went fine. I love my students; each one is so unique and I really find joy in teaching them. I felt pretty good, and the final one is a very fin English horn student so I was able to play a bit of English horn with him and I was feeling a bit better about the reed situation. After teaching I had about 45 minutes for dinner and then I was to race off to rehearsal.
But not so fast. Standing up, things were spinning.
Dan had prepared dinner for us, and as I was putting together my plate I told him I was sure dizzy, and my ear was screaming, as it sort of had been doing all day. He suggested that maybe I wanted to forgo the tasty food I was dishing up and it hit me that he was quite right. He made an English muffin for me instead. I managed to get a bit down when I realized that wasn’t even a good idea. I thought it would be best to have him drive me to work, per his suggestion, and then I realized I wasn’t going to be able to go to work. Also per Dan’s suggestion. So I called in sick and went to bed.
It’s three hours later, and I’m awake and able to use the computer. I believe this means that this was caught in time, and that I’ll recover quicker than I did last time.
I’m really bummed to miss the second rehearsal. I’m really bummed to only have the dress rehearsal before opening. I’m especially bummed that my ear is still unhappy. But I’m very thankful that I am feeling a wee bit better, and that I do think I’ll be able to play the run of Romeo and Juliet. I do wonder if the fluorescent lights in the rehearsal hall can trigger this. I know they can cause issues for some people. I’ll have to read up on this.
Meanwhile, back to resting for me.
Oh … and I’m really bummed that I missed that great dinner tonight. :-(
