I posted this at my other site, but I’ll go ahead and put it up here as well. After all, it’s Holy Week. (Those of you who don’t practice the same faith can choose to ignore … but the music IS pretty darn wonderful!)
I, once again, didn’t place in the #operaplot contest. Hmm. Third year. Third loss. Three strikes, I’m out? I wonder!
I must admit my heart wasn’t as into it this year. Maybe it was due to the odds of winning but I’m actually thinking it’s because I just wasn’t feeling the creativity bug. I can’t say why, but I’m in a slump when it comes to creativity. I’m sure you’ve even noticed my blog is sort of getting stale. (Hmmm. Is it time to hang it up? Oh dear ….)
Oooh … please don’t tell me the blog has always been stale. Then I just might cry! Um … kidding. Really. Sort of. Maybe. You decide. ;-)
But if you want to read the winners go here. (Warning: the f-bomb does occur. That, too, sort of tells me I’m probably not a good contestant for #operaplot. I like to do rhyming. I like puns. I can be silly. I just don’t like the racier stuff and I won’t swear. Man, I’m sounding — and feeling! — like an old fogey! Even writing “old fogey” means I’m … well … an old fogey!
“Fogey” is a very funny word if you write it or say it enough.
Hearty congratulations to the winners, and enjoy your prizes!
Me? I feel like a winner every time I find myself in the pit playing for opera. And that’s prize enough for me! :-)
I read this in a review a while back:
Sopranos remained a bit soft-focused for my taste, but altos had welcome density. Tenors could lay on spice or meringue; basses blended in a luscious chocolate syrup of tone.
… and why am I now really craving something like a chocolate meringue pie?
This group of listening samples was fun, but it was so darn obvious which was the 100% human sample. I’m going to guess you have as easy of a time with it as I do. Still, it is interesting to think about it and how we know right away which one was completely human.
Of course if you can’t tell fill me in if you dare! :-)
got an A on my oboe playing test. got an A on my piano test. had an awesome lesson. learned a pretty song on piano. today still doesn’t feel real..
This instrument from Syria is a single reed instrument but, as you can see, there are two pipes. I guess that makes it a double single reed.
After years of financial woes that included musicians going months without pay, the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra will cease to exist.
The board of trustees voted Tuesday to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which will effectively dissolve the organization and end its current season, according to a spokeswoman.
“NMSO, like other orchestras around the country, has been hit hard by the decline in corporate gifts, changes in music taste, competing venues and the economy,” Chairman John Slipke said in a statement.
“We are saddened by this decision and inspired by the staff and musicians’ commitment to continue working for four months without pay as we all worked together in our attempt to make NMSO a viable organization.
“The board felt we no longer could ask for the sacrifices that have been required of those who work for us. The board recognizes its responsibility to protect its limited assets so that they can be shared with creditors appropriately.”
NMSO will file for bankruptcy today. More than 80 musicians and staff members will be out of a job.
Read the whole sad article.
I can’t hear the oboe. #grammys
Philip Glass has founded (is founding?) a new music festival and it’s at Carmel’s Hidden Valley.
Philip Glass has founded (is founding?) a new music festival and it’s at Carmel’s Hidden Valley. Philip Glass has founded (is founding?) a new music festival and it’s at Carmel’s Hidden Valley. Yes. Philip Glass. And it’s near us San Francisco Bay Area folks. Philip Glass. Carmel Hidden Valley. Near San Francisco Bay Area. Yes. Philip Glass. And it’s near us San Francisco Bay Area folks. Carmel Hidden Valley. Yes. Philip Glass. And it’s near us San Francisco Bay Area folks. Philip Glass. Carmel Hidden Valley. Yes. Yes. Yes. Philip Glass has founded (is founding?) a new music festival and it’s at Carmel’s Hidden Valley. Yes. Philip Glass. And it’s near us San Francisco Bay Area folks. Philip Glass. Carmel Hidden Valley. Yes. Folks. Yes. Yes. Folks. Folks. Folks.
Okay … I promise to stop!
I really think he should have an oboe blogger there. Don’t you? (Of course I probably just shot myself in the foot by blogging this as I have! Oh well. Everyone needs to have a sense of humor, don’t you think?)
It’s this stranglehold on the future of classical music that Barenboim says he is trying to break. The impromptu concert at Tate Modern – a short recital in an unfamiliar venue – is one tiny example. Within three days of the free concert being announced, 8,000 people had applied for the 400 seats, while 700 more watched a live relay in the hall below. When he was finished, the 1,100 people gave him a standing ovation.
As if to illustrate his point, there was a bitterly divided critical response the following day. One critic was struck by the spell he cast, how no one in the throng stirred as he played: “Sixty years on, he still plays the piano with boyish curiosity, as if the instrument had just been invented.”
Another critic expended 900 words sneering at the “legions of crazed fans . . . there to witness their Messiah.
“Mention his name in pianophile company,” continued the lofty wordsmith, “and it is quickly dismissed”. He concluded: “We were . . . wrong to attend last night’s recital.”
… it seems that we classical music lovers can battle over just about everything, and cause even more alienation. Woo hoo to us!
I read that and more here.
I know everyone can be snarky — it’s not just classical music folks. But we sure seem to excel at it better than nearly anyone else. Or maybe I’m just grumpy today.
… and maybe you can, but maybe you can’t tell me. But there is music that just hits me in a way I can’t even express.
It could be a section from bohème … like when Rodolfo comments on how Mimi looks in the light of the moon … “O soave fanciulla … o dolce viso di mite circonfuso alba lunar in te, vivo ravviso il sogno ch”io vorrei sempre sognar!” That moment — and even the line Marcell sings, “trovò la poesia”, right in the … part there — well, it just hits me in that wonderful way that music can do! How can we know exactly why something hits us that way? I’m not sure we can! But how wonderful to get to be playing bohème again!
Music can be so wonderful and make me weep buckets. I love that.
And the slow movement of Mahler 5? Or the Mozart Gran Partita slow movement? I mean … no words …
But it’s not just classical music that does this to me. And maybe I’m just sappy, I dunno, but this piece below just hits me the right way. Of course the guy could be singing something from a phone book. How would I know? But I love it and so I’m sharing it with you. Because I’m that kinda girl! (Yes, this includes a couple of guys who were in the earlier ACappellaTuesday™ video I put up today.):
first time playing oboe and i run my stupid teeth into the reed OTL
This is the group A Filetta. They sing traditional Corsican music, something I’m entirely unfamiliar with. This piece is composed by Jean-Claude Acquaviva, so I’m not sure I understand what makes it, then, “traditional”. But I can tell you I’m in love with it! Maybe you won’t connect with it … but I sure do!
You can read about all the winners here.
When the composer says “bass bassoon, contrabassoon” is he just clarifying the former with the latter? Anyone know?
I find it interesting how concerned the librettist is about the music being worthy of her words. I’ve usually thought in the opposite direction — more concerned about the libretto not being up to snuff. Go figure!
Here’s some music, although not with orchestra:
Kroger is playing an oboe concerto over the speakers. This is strangely comforting as a decide which ice cream flavor to buy.
