Funny comment of the day, “It was something weird like an oboe”.
The xaphoon is a rather new instrument, invented in the 1970s by Brian Wittman.
but how ’bout we add hang drum to this?
I just loved this photo below, and received permission from Aegean Reeds to share it! The next time your child asks, “Mommy, where do baby reeds come from?” you can show them this photo and then share the whole story.
Of course now I’m curious about the cane myself. Might have to give it a go, yes?!
I can hear someone practicing the flute nearby. Reminds me of how my parents made me practice my oboe outside.
We have now had three of the four orchestra-only rehearsals for Idomeneo. Even without the cast, I’m enjoying it tremendously. Notice I didn’t say “without singers”? That’s because the chorus master, Andrew Whitfield, has been singing during each rehearsal! Can you imagine? He’s covering all the parts, so we have a good idea of what is going on. It’s quite helpful, and I’m very grateful, but I simply can’t even imagine how his voice feels at this point!
San Francisco Classical Voice has a good article on the opera here. You can also visit this site to read about the production.
The majority of the orchestra can’t see anything of the stage, but I snapped a few quick photos before yesterday and today’s rehearsals. In addition I’m planning on attending a piano tech rehearsal so I can see and hear it all. For me — not sure it matters to my colleagues — it really helps to know what’s going on on stage. I just feel more connected to the production then. When we were in the tiny Montgomery we all recognized and even knew the singers. These days many of us haven’t a clue, and I’m guessing most of the singers don’t have a clue who we are or what we play. (But, truth be told, the singers at Montgomery didn’t either sometimes. I remember a tenor saying to me, “And I am sure you are a mother of one of the children!” when we went to a cast party. Truth was, our daughter Kelsey was singing in that production of Magic Flute, but I also was playing principal oboe! He clearly hadn’t a clue I was in the orchestra.) I just love to feel as if we are all one big family. Or something. Call me silly!
I have yet to hear all the singers, of course, but I’m loving this opera. I had listened to it several times (one was on my flight to New York, and it was a great way to spend a flight!) and the choruses are just incredible; when I hear them the word “glorious” comes to mind.
Here are just a couple of photos, although you can see things aren’t completely set yet:
And now a fun game for you … guess who is the oboe player and who plays flute?!
And guess the which photo is from the flute section and which is from the oboe section.
… I only wish we could watch them as they play, rather than just look at this photo!
1920′s Medley (arr James Horan) – Lonarc Oboe Trio
Oboes – Joseph Sanders, James Horan. Cor Anglais – Judy Proctor
Recorded in 1996 at St Mary’s, Perivale by Chris Tyrer (chris@solidairmedia.co.uk)
Photographs by Marc Schlossman (marc@marcschlossmann.com)
I will confess lately I’ve been missing playing the Oboe!!!!!
Chasmore: O wally, wally
Banchieri Singers
practicing my oboe and i think my dog is scared of the sounds haha
I just want the symphony conductor to make beautiful music, not spend all his time raising money. I don’t want the arts center to go out begging, just to keep its doors open and people coming in.
-Rick Steves
I read it (and a whole lot more!) here.
Heavy metal encourages rage, disappointment and aggressive behaviour while causing both heart rate and blood pressure to increase,” he said. Dr Trappe is now planning a study titled “Bach or Beta-Blockers” in which people with high blood pressure will be randomly assigned to treatment with either beta- blocking drugs or classical music.
And laughter is good for you too, but be sure that laugh lasts for at least 15 seconds … RTWT
I had my blood pressure taken yesterday. It was higher than sometimes (102/60), but of course is considered very good. I think I’ll credit my musical taste! :-)
I can’t really tell you much about this, as I don’t read Japanese, but I do see these names on the video: MINAMI & MIKI. This is a Chick Corea tune.
They were the first things I learned. And I’m so glad, because you come back to these operas like old friends. And you find more and more in them. As one gets older, one’s astonishment at Mozart’s amazing talent actually grows. The way he responds to the dramatic situations is total, so open, and so incredibly intelligent. One is more and more astonished how he managed to translate into notes what a human being is. It’s a bit like Shakespeare: you can’t explain it, but you when you come back to him, you think, ‘Good heavens! Where did he get all that from?’ It’s the same with Mozart. And in that short life, to write down all those notes. If we tried to do it, it would take all our lives. Extraordinary. Amazing.
-Sir Colin Davis
Nice to hear Holst’s “The Planets” yesterday at Aspen–I’d forgotten what a rich piece it is. I had never seen a bass oboe before…bocal looks like it could be the plumbing of a backwoods still.
I neglected to post more pictures. While we were in New York it was a real pain to try and post any, because the Affinia Dumont, while nice, had the worst internet service ever. It would drop frequently, and I finally gave up. So today I’ll post a few more photos for anyone who wants to see where we were. (If you don’t, just don’t look!)
Speaking of the Affinia, the funniest part of that experience was listening to the concierge talking to a couple who were just starting their stay in New York. He was full of knowledge, especially of the musicals. Then he got to the Guggenheim. He told them they really should go past the building. He explained that it was shaped like a conch shell. He said something like, “It’s shaped like a conch shell. But you don’t need to go inside. The art there … it looks like it was done by a four year old! You know what I mean?” “Yes,” said the woman. But he went on, “Well, they did have a motorcycle exhibit once. That was good.” I had to control my desire to laugh out loud. I did laugh silently, though. :-)
Okay … so now for a some photos … I’ll put ‘em up smaller and if you want to see them larger just click on them.
I love that these were all over the road as we were ambling around the Cloisters. My initial! (Well, okay, it’s really a W, but I say it’s an M!)
And how do you get to Carnegie Hall? We just walked there. Sadly they were doing construction so it wasn’t great to photograph.
I need to adjust these two photos below … I don’t believe the sky was quite that blue. (Don’t you agree, Dan?)
I have a lot more pictures, but I’ll stop now. Really.
