Recorded viola playing? Yes.
Listened to it yet? No.
Will wait until tomorrow...
(Found a loophole in my recording experiment. I just said to record everyday. And I did...the sound check for tonight's concert. :))
The concert mostly went well. In spite of the fact I had my first migraine in 6 years and nearly fainted by the end of the first half. Fortunately an apple and a Motrin (latter courtesy of Bob and Lydia) revived me enough to finish. Suspect it was all the Hallowe'en chocolate scarfed from the kids' loot bag. I have been eating so healthy for the last six week, can't eat the junk anymore. Oh well.
And will get back to you tomorrow night for updates from Day 3. Stay tuned!
Showing posts with label performing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label performing. Show all posts
11.02.2007
10.19.2007
More about the concert
Here's a Times Argus article about the concerts this weekend. Been rehearsing a lot!
10.16.2007
My Concerts
Been trying to post this all day...figured out how finally by using Picassa.
Too tired to write words today-maybe let the picture speak for itself.
(Just click on the image to read the words.)
6.05.2007
Learning how to play modern music
I apologize for not posting sooner. Various things happened. The most important one was this:
I was just incredibly tired.
And yes it took two weeks to recover from that concert of the Clearfield premiere.[Also we went to Ottawa for the next weekend and my two-year-old son has turned into sticky tape (well he does love oranges....) due to the fact I went away for three days and three nights.]
But it was a great experience and got me to think about the reasons for that.The main one was that it really was a terrific piece. And terrifying in places. The mood (and hopefully not the playing!).The soloists and conductor were wonderful and you could tell that they loved contemporary music. And I think this is one of the main reasons for the success of the premiere. They were just so skilled and had the openness to work with the composer even to the point of changing articulations and rhythms at the last minute. And nary a grumble from the orchestra which was a nice change.
A thought:
Maybe with contemporary music the reason many musicians grumble is that we are simply not used to the new techniques. In a way we are a generation (or two) behind the composer and we have to be coaxed (or dragged) into the experience. With time the next generations of performers are used to it and have learned the techniques. Audiences maybe need time as well.
And also over the last couple of months, I've seen the result of young performers succeeding in learning and performing an entire concert of music of local women composers. And done with such a good attitude as well. We mid-career players could take a clue from these enthusiastic teenagers.
Of course I don't mind being dragged at all. I do like the challenge of trying new techniques. (I was an admittedly bad improviser in the mid '90s) However sometimes I wonder what if I had learned properly at 15 to do Bartok pizzicato (or a whole bunch of them) in a viola piece. Or a bowed glissando-have seen this in many orchestral pieces written in the last 10 years.Just thinking that we violists (and other string players) need some 21th century etudes so it's not as demanding to learn a contemporary piece every time we're faced with it. Maybe with lots of glissandi, tremolo, artificial harmonics. Wondering who are the Rodes and Kreutzers of 2007? Are there any violin/viola teachers who compose for their students? Anybody interested? Or maybe should I try?.......
I was just incredibly tired.
And yes it took two weeks to recover from that concert of the Clearfield premiere.[Also we went to Ottawa for the next weekend and my two-year-old son has turned into sticky tape (well he does love oranges....) due to the fact I went away for three days and three nights.]
But it was a great experience and got me to think about the reasons for that.The main one was that it really was a terrific piece. And terrifying in places. The mood (and hopefully not the playing!).The soloists and conductor were wonderful and you could tell that they loved contemporary music. And I think this is one of the main reasons for the success of the premiere. They were just so skilled and had the openness to work with the composer even to the point of changing articulations and rhythms at the last minute. And nary a grumble from the orchestra which was a nice change.
A thought:
Maybe with contemporary music the reason many musicians grumble is that we are simply not used to the new techniques. In a way we are a generation (or two) behind the composer and we have to be coaxed (or dragged) into the experience. With time the next generations of performers are used to it and have learned the techniques. Audiences maybe need time as well.
And also over the last couple of months, I've seen the result of young performers succeeding in learning and performing an entire concert of music of local women composers. And done with such a good attitude as well. We mid-career players could take a clue from these enthusiastic teenagers.
Of course I don't mind being dragged at all. I do like the challenge of trying new techniques. (I was an admittedly bad improviser in the mid '90s) However sometimes I wonder what if I had learned properly at 15 to do Bartok pizzicato (or a whole bunch of them) in a viola piece. Or a bowed glissando-have seen this in many orchestral pieces written in the last 10 years.Just thinking that we violists (and other string players) need some 21th century etudes so it's not as demanding to learn a contemporary piece every time we're faced with it. Maybe with lots of glissandi, tremolo, artificial harmonics. Wondering who are the Rodes and Kreutzers of 2007? Are there any violin/viola teachers who compose for their students? Anybody interested? Or maybe should I try?.......
4.03.2007
Incredibly Short Stories
Thursday I will play (on violin) Erbarme Dich for church. I have played the Brahms songs with the same fantastic mezzo soprano. The organist is a Bach specialist and an amazing musician. Will also play (on viola) the First Gamba sonata with the organist.
I am fortunate indeed.
I suffer from SDD. Study Deficiency Disorder. Must learn the Mazas studies. Somehow skipped them when I went from Kayser directly to Kreutzer.
On the Viola Yahoo Group List, somebody remarked they may be a closet violinist. I think I'm one too...for Baroque music.
Mud Season......I vacuum every day. Doesn't help.
I am fortunate indeed.
I suffer from SDD. Study Deficiency Disorder. Must learn the Mazas studies. Somehow skipped them when I went from Kayser directly to Kreutzer.
On the Viola Yahoo Group List, somebody remarked they may be a closet violinist. I think I'm one too...for Baroque music.
Mud Season......I vacuum every day. Doesn't help.
3.18.2007
Concert
Went well...played at a slightly higher than average level.
60 people there.....would have been higher except for *bad* weather. (ha ha, Jen)
Schumann and I are still on speaking terms.
Brahms on the other hand....well let's just say we've had a good run.
However we will have an "amabile" parting for the next few years.
Hindemith anyone?
60 people there.....would have been higher except for *bad* weather. (ha ha, Jen)
Schumann and I are still on speaking terms.
Brahms on the other hand....well let's just say we've had a good run.
However we will have an "amabile" parting for the next few years.
Hindemith anyone?
3.17.2007
Next week I will....
-spring clean.
-make my home less like a toy store.
-start to workout again.
-learn to use my new pressure cooker.
-start a second blog (don't worry, this one will continue).
-watch Pride and Prejudice for the fourth time (BBC version-the best by far if only for the music).
-hopefully avoid being caught in a flood in Montpelier.
Tomorrow....
I have a concert and maybe due to nerves, today I'm looking towards the future. Although when all's said and done, when the concert starts it will be a lot of fun and I will concentrate on the music......
-make my home less like a toy store.
-start to workout again.
-learn to use my new pressure cooker.
-start a second blog (don't worry, this one will continue).
-watch Pride and Prejudice for the fourth time (BBC version-the best by far if only for the music).
-hopefully avoid being caught in a flood in Montpelier.
Tomorrow....
I have a concert and maybe due to nerves, today I'm looking towards the future. Although when all's said and done, when the concert starts it will be a lot of fun and I will concentrate on the music......
3.10.2007
Making Peace with Schumann
So next week I'm playing a concert with some of my friends....
On the program will be:
Brahms E flat sonata
Debussy cello sonata
and
the Schumann piano quartet.
I basically chose a lot of the program. And for some reason for which I don't understand, I chose the Schumann. Which a few years ago would never have done so.
You see until recently I've had a love-hate relationship with this composer. Mostly hate.
It dates all the way back to 1990.....when I was given Marchenbilder to learn in second year at university. Well, I learned the last movement, performed it and then put it away for a year and a half. Dug it out again for my fourth year recital. And then promptly proceeded to destroy it in the performance. My mark reflected this sorry effort.....
[You see dear blog reader(s)-you have to understand that until about seven years ago I was not a good violist. Well maybe sometimes.....I was like the little girl with the curl on her forehead.....how I became a better player-well that's another post.]
Schumann was the mirror that showed all my faults as a player.
Bad intonation, check.
Shifting inadaquacies, check.
Strange tone colour, check.
And so on....
It was the beginning of a very difficult three years culminating the near end of my relationship with the viola-well that's another story too.
The other problem was that Schumann did not affect me emotionally like other composers. Like Brahms and Bach. Just didn't get it.
Fast forward 7 years to 1999, Berkeley.
Working in a violin shop, just looking for something to listen to for background music. Discovered two recordings.
Janos Starker's recording of the Fantasy Pieces
Horszowski 's recording of the Kinderszenen, Op. 15
The latter held my attention for months. Started to like Schumann just a little.
2000, NOI, Maryland.
Schumann's Symphony No. 3
After playing this piece, not so fond......difficult to play in many ways. (Disclaimer-maybe I just was tired because the same concert included Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances the *hardest* piece I ever played probably always will be)
Okay-all done with Schumann. I'll stick with Brahms, thank you....
Fall 2006, Central Vermont.
Driving around with the kids listening to the radio. And then the Schumann Third comes on. Should be home in 5 minutes. Drive around for 30 to hear the whole piece. I couldn't believe it...Schumann is now one of my favorites. And now I get it.......
Back to work!
On the program will be:
Brahms E flat sonata
Debussy cello sonata
and
the Schumann piano quartet.
I basically chose a lot of the program. And for some reason for which I don't understand, I chose the Schumann. Which a few years ago would never have done so.
You see until recently I've had a love-hate relationship with this composer. Mostly hate.
It dates all the way back to 1990.....when I was given Marchenbilder to learn in second year at university. Well, I learned the last movement, performed it and then put it away for a year and a half. Dug it out again for my fourth year recital. And then promptly proceeded to destroy it in the performance. My mark reflected this sorry effort.....
[You see dear blog reader(s)-you have to understand that until about seven years ago I was not a good violist. Well maybe sometimes.....I was like the little girl with the curl on her forehead.....how I became a better player-well that's another post.]
Schumann was the mirror that showed all my faults as a player.
Bad intonation, check.
Shifting inadaquacies, check.
Strange tone colour, check.
And so on....
It was the beginning of a very difficult three years culminating the near end of my relationship with the viola-well that's another story too.
The other problem was that Schumann did not affect me emotionally like other composers. Like Brahms and Bach. Just didn't get it.
Fast forward 7 years to 1999, Berkeley.
Working in a violin shop, just looking for something to listen to for background music. Discovered two recordings.
Janos Starker's recording of the Fantasy Pieces
Horszowski 's recording of the Kinderszenen, Op. 15
The latter held my attention for months. Started to like Schumann just a little.
2000, NOI, Maryland.
Schumann's Symphony No. 3
After playing this piece, not so fond......difficult to play in many ways. (Disclaimer-maybe I just was tired because the same concert included Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances the *hardest* piece I ever played probably always will be)
Okay-all done with Schumann. I'll stick with Brahms, thank you....
Fall 2006, Central Vermont.
Driving around with the kids listening to the radio. And then the Schumann Third comes on. Should be home in 5 minutes. Drive around for 30 to hear the whole piece. I couldn't believe it...Schumann is now one of my favorites. And now I get it.......
Back to work!
12.08.2006
Christmas spirit
This is the first concert in a long while where I almost started weeping (not once but twice).
First it was the "Christmas Dinner". About sharing even with almost nothing.
Lyrics by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary)
http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/11-16.html
And of course the "Wedding Song" which he also wrote.
Great concert, great musician....what can I say?
First it was the "Christmas Dinner". About sharing even with almost nothing.
Lyrics by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary)
http://www.noelpaulstookey.com/11-16.html
And of course the "Wedding Song" which he also wrote.
Great concert, great musician....what can I say?
12.07.2006
Here's the snow...bah!
After living in Vermont for a few months I found to my chagrin that one has to plan their daily life around the weather.
It's not just me-anytime there's the slightest chance of snow(storm) you know that all the grocery stores will be *packed*. People will be stocking up (kind of a VT mentality).
Unfortunately today one of those people will be me. Every week between November and April I have to look at the weekly-weather report and decide which day is best to do errands.
In Central Vermont (since it's in the Green Mountains) every 5 minutes you can run into a completely different weather pattern. And the worst is always between on Rte.64 between 89 and Barre. It can be totally pleasant everywhere else and it will be a snowstorm there.
And I *have* to go *there* tonight....VSO rehearsal. Bah!
Well at least the music will be fun....Christmas Pops stuff with one of the guys from Peter, Paul, and Mary.
(A little starstruck).
It's not just me-anytime there's the slightest chance of snow(storm) you know that all the grocery stores will be *packed*. People will be stocking up (kind of a VT mentality).
Unfortunately today one of those people will be me. Every week between November and April I have to look at the weekly-weather report and decide which day is best to do errands.
In Central Vermont (since it's in the Green Mountains) every 5 minutes you can run into a completely different weather pattern. And the worst is always between on Rte.64 between 89 and Barre. It can be totally pleasant everywhere else and it will be a snowstorm there.
And I *have* to go *there* tonight....VSO rehearsal. Bah!
Well at least the music will be fun....Christmas Pops stuff with one of the guys from Peter, Paul, and Mary.
(A little starstruck).
11.16.2006
Gigs and other stuff
Just preparing for this weekend.....
Get to be a "ringer" for the Dartmouth Symphony on Saturday when they play Shostakovich 5th Symphony. (Yeah!)
Believe it or not I'm really looking forward to this. I **love** the piece (yes, even the "famous excerpt"-I just do the big shift one note early on the "G" instead of the "E flat").
Also looking forward to the Brahms songs on Sunday-the second one has planted itself in my head. That's my definition of classic......The singer is fantastic!!
That's all for now....
Get to be a "ringer" for the Dartmouth Symphony on Saturday when they play Shostakovich 5th Symphony. (Yeah!)
Believe it or not I'm really looking forward to this. I **love** the piece (yes, even the "famous excerpt"-I just do the big shift one note early on the "G" instead of the "E flat").
Also looking forward to the Brahms songs on Sunday-the second one has planted itself in my head. That's my definition of classic......The singer is fantastic!!
That's all for now....
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