20. August 2011 · 8 comments · Categories: Ramble

We are having a great time in New York. Aside from the little event I’m playing on Sunday it’s doubtful we’ll hit a concert or show, but only time will tell. I know people who come here and catch multiple Broadway shows. I’m amazed that they can do that, both due to the expense but also to the time … I think they must spend the entire trip inside theaters! There is so much to see here, and I love to walk (and walk and walk), as well as hop on a train and hit places that would take to long to get to on foot. We got caught in a real downpour last night, and that was rather exciting. (Dan’s jeans are still damp!) I’ve seen a variety of different styles of clothing. And shoes! Rainboots seem to be in fashion. (Who knew? Certainly not I!) And HOW do women wear those stiletto heels in this city?

And here are just a few glimpses of the city that never sleeps …

… so far I’ve not touched my oboe. I suppose I should at least figure out what reeds work here.

Or maybe not.

I’ll definitely find out when I play a bit ‘o Puccini!

19. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: FBQD

Worst. Oboe. Practice. Night. EVER! I have an oboe lesson in less than a week and not a Single reed. Not ONE! Not even a practice reed. Why? (you ask) Because they self combusted at my awsomeness or maybe it was the 3 hrs I just practiced.

19. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: BachTrac™ · Tags:

BWV 971 — Concerto nach Italienischem Gusto (Concerto after the Italian taste)
Albrecht Mayer

19. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: TQOD

I miss my oboe so, so much.

18. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: New York 2011

Yep, bloglite time. For my explanation …

I’d not heard of Dennis Agay (1912-2007) before. How ’bout you?

18. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: FBQD

I’ve decided that I would rather have a key signature full of sharps rather than flats for oboe. Also my favorite song of the week is clarinet on the town with a beautiful clarinet solo played by Bethanys finest

18. August 2011 · 1 comment · Categories: TQOD

looking for that ever elusive duet for Oboe and Cello

18. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: SQOD

me: So what time of day do you like to practice?”
he: “Oh ANY time of day!” … pause “Just not in the morning!”

17. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: FBQD

dad: i heard you playing your oboe. it sounded good
me: dad, i was playing my flute…

17. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: Videos

I’ve never gone gaga over Gaga. Maybe just because I haven’t taken the time to listen to her and I get distracted by schtick that one must have in the pop world (or so it seems). But I do enjoy so many of the renditions of her music done by others, either in the classical world or not … so if she writes this stuff, I think she does have some talent going on. (And I know at least one reader of oboeinsight who is sure she does!)

Check out this fugue of “Bad Romance” that Chris Foley brought to my attention:

But organists aren’t the only ones who have taken over “Bad Romance”:

And of course we all know about the bassoonists who think they are Lady G:

So … for those of you who are as unfamiliar with LG as I am, here she is doing a version of “Paparazzi” all by her little lonesome (again, with thanks to Chris!):

… and here she is before her transformation. Her name was a bit longer: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

17. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: WorldReeds™ · Tags: ,

17. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: TQOD

Splitting cane lets me take out all my frustrations while still be productive. #Oboe

17. August 2011 · Comments Off · Categories: English horn, Ramble

On Monday I drove to Napa to pick up my oboe. Mark, of course, did a beautiful job fixing the poor thing. It was so wonderful to play some notes on it again … verifying that I DO love the instrument!

While I was there I purchased some new English horn staples. Janet Archibald, the wonderful English hornist of San Francisco Opera, had told me about them a while ago, and I knew I’d want to buy some while I was up at Mark’s shop.

They are fabulous! There is a rubber O-ring inside the bottom of the staple, so it is securely on the bocal. I love ‘em! He has them in bronze and gold. The part at the bottom unscrews and then you have the usual staple, which enables measuring as one always does when making the reeds. I now have 6 of the bronze ones and I look forward to using them quite soon. I really recommend checking out the “Chudnow – A English horn staples!

I wonder …

Confession. I listen to Lady Gaga in the operating room.

Except when I do a facelift.

Contrary to popular belief, the operating room is not a quiet, intense place where all you hear is the beeping of the anesthesia machine and an occasional grunt from the surgeon. Most ORs are filled with music – classical, country, pop, rock, heavy metal, even hard-core gangster rap.

The few studies that have analyzed the effects of music in the OR found that music generally has a positive influence on a surgeon’s performance. President Bill Clinton must have known this when he requested music by Jimmy Buffett and Lyle Lovett for his tendon repair surgery in 1997.

Does it matter what type of music your surgeon plays? Apparently.

A study published in “Surgical Endoscopy” last year found that classical music affected surgeons more positively than hard rock or heavy metal. Another study published by “Surgical Innovation” named hip-hop and reggae the music that most benefited surgeons’ performances.

It probably comes down to taste, with surgeons finding comfort and inspiration working to the music they like to hear. And music doesn’t just affect doctors.

I really would prefer to have a say in what music I’m hearing … at least until I’m conked out!

RTWT