New Music

Saturday we had our first orchestra concert of the season, which went pretty well, except for my walking on stage when I wasn't supposed to.  The orchestra played five pieces, but I was only in the first and last, and I apparently need to get more sleep, because I walked up there after intermission with the rest of the section. Thankfully the basses were still coming on stage so I slipped back off behind them. The viola section will be laughing about that for a long time.

Before we even played the concert they gave us the music for the next. That was slightly depressing. We barely got "the satisfaction and pride of a job well done" before we were given our next assignment! On the other hand, that is the most efficient way to handle it. No wasting rehearsal time handing out parts.

Yesterday I listened to a recording of one of the pieces, Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmilla. I recognized it immediately, and my heart sank. I had noticed when I got the sheet music that it starts out presto, but I didn't remember it was THAT degree of presto. Sigh. (Presto is the second fastest tempo marking, 168-200bpm, outrun only by prestissimo, more than 200bpm). I'll have to give my fingers caffeine injections.

My parents and sister came to the concert, but were surprised at how different the music was. This is interesting, because it didn't seem that unusual to me. If you have the time, could you please listen to these pieces and tell me how they sound to you? Are they hard to listen to? Do they sound like they have no center or base, or both? I've become used to listening to this kind of music, so I'm not sure how they sound to the casual observer anymore, and I would like to hear what you think.

Here are the pieces, composer then title:
Castellanos: Santa Cruz de Pacairigua
John Adams: The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra)

Thank you!

This is from last semester, but apparently I didn't post it. How sad. :(

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I'm taking a break from cramming for my psych test. For the record, I hate cramming. I feel like I don't do as well when I cram as apposed to when I can steadily study up to the test. Unfortunately I couldn't do that this time. My other classes and such took precedence. And then I forgot about the test. There was a tiny but powerful explosion of frustration in my brain when I remembered. It hurt.

Actually I'm double-tasking right now. I'm listening to my Mozart piece that has 7 variations. That's the theme plus 7 more parts, which each have at last two sub-sections or things I'm supposed to change on the repeat, so let's total it, shall we? *mental math, scary thought* That's 16 slightly different ditties, and soooo many different ways to mix them up, which I so often do. I am attempting to solidify the proper order in my reluctant brain, and hoping for the best. If worst comes to worst, I'll just have to assign each variation a story. "This is the one with the bouncing bunny, which comes AFTER the marching band. But marching band can't play before the babysitter trying to catch the kid on the trampoline. It just can't happen". Yes, Willem Van Nassau. I'm turning you into a children's story.

I'm trying my best to make this fun. Truth be known, I'm excited I'll only be playing this piece for 7 more weeks. My other songs (you can skip this part with no hard feelings from me....as if I'd ever know....but anyway, this is more for my record and therapeutic exercise than anything) include Brahms' Intermezzo in E Minor, Opus 119 No. 2. I love it, and it doesn't have to be memorized. It's the romantic piece on my list. It's the last piece I play at the end of the day. It's gorgeous and passionate. It's emotionally draining, but entirely worth it.

Then there's the ever-present Bach piece. I actually like mine this time. It reminds me of a favorite quote of mine:"Well, Debussy's certainly made a hit with you," Said Simon, "though I'm not sure you wouldn't outgrow him. You're the kind of child who might develop a passion for Bach.

I told him I hadn't at school. The one Bach piece I learnt made me feel I was being repeatedly hit on the head with a teaspoon. --- from I Capture the Castle

I'm not sure I'm at the in love stage with Bach, but the relationship isn't quite as painful as it once was.

The last piece is a two-part Muczynski. The first part is really high on the piano, the second is extremely low. I'm talking lowest possible note low. On the second I'm supposed to picture the factory scene in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. Hahaha, you've got to love a piano teacher who has her doctorate and  a golden snitch on her piano.

The Days are Just Packed

This is me. In my mind.
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"Do you think he plans it all out or just makes it up as he goes along?"

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Here's my schedule for the day. Just so I know.

10:30 - Write Afghan Women paper

11 - lunch

11:20 - Research childhood in Germany, find pictures, add to iMovie, do voiceovers

12:00 - Finish Afghan Women paper/statistics homework

12:45 - play bubbleshooter :) If I don't schedule this I'll just be doing it the whole time.

1:00 - get ready for Chimers concert

4:30 - change out of concert clothes

4:45 - vacuum/homework/write letters

6:00 - dinner

6:20 - practice

8:20 - homework

9 - watch Raising Hope :D

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This picture should have gone with the previous post, but here it is.

~Halifirien Pilgrim

I'm One of the Outsiders

Shortfalls of little sins/Close calls and no one wins/Stand tall but running thin/I’m wearing thin 
Oh, why are we keeping score?/Cause if you’re not laughing,/Who is laughing now? 
I’ve been wondering/If we stop sinking/Could we stand our ground? 
And through everything we’ve learned/We’ve finally come to terms/We are the outsiders. 


- Needtobreathe


This song sums up what's been going on for me spiritually since the last post. I'm keeping up with things, but just barely. I am in this world, but definitely not of it. I am an Outsider. Needless to say, I will try to not to take a full load of credits ever again. 


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Narrative record of a practice session


Background information: juries are fast-approaching, and the pianist is short on time for memorization. There is only one piece that doesn't need to be memorized; one out of 13 movements of music; 45 seconds out of 10 minutes. That leaves a lot to be memorized. A fearful lot when one doesn't have a photographic memory.


8:34 PM
The pianist begins with Chopin's Prelude 17. They get the whole way through, pretty much. There are some hiccups, but they can be fixed. The pianist starts to play again and realizes the first section is getting mixed up with the last. NOT GOOD. Pianist takes a break to run to the water fountain. Since said pianist's keys are locked in the dorm room, the pianist is very hungry and thirsty. Unfortunately the roommate won't be back for quite a while. *sigh*


We left the pianist meandering the practice hall, peeking in windows and stretching. The urge to stop and look at Bach's family tree is not obliged. The pianist darts into a free practice room that contains a favorite piano and starts the Chopin. It's still mixed up. Botheration. Pianist returns to previous practice room and picks up laptop, determined to listen to something inspiring and non-melancholy to counteract the Chopin. Ah, Danzon #2 by Arturo Marquez. Nice. 


Now the pianist is going to resist the longing to continue writing here until some progress is made. 


-practicing-


8:56
Another try. Maybe memorizing the chord names will help?


-practicing-


9:12
Somewhat. Saga continues.


-practicing-


9:23
Pause to e-mail advisor course plan.
Checks Blackboard for stats test grade. *urgh*. It's still not posted.


-practicing-


9:43
Hurray. Now there's only this tiny bit at the end that won't self-iron. But now this piece can't be played any more for fear of wearing it out, so the pianist picks something else. Hmmmm.......Bach. The piece that doesn't have to be memorized. 


-practicing-




Belay that. Water break.


-practicing-


10:19
Definite progress is made. Tiredness is pretty low. Hunger level is at the distracting point. Time for sit-ups.


-practicing-


10:39
Practice must end, otherwise sleep will be inadequate in preparation for test at 10:00 in the morning. Good news: if I pass the test, I won't have to report to music theory class for the rest of the semester. 


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This has been a presentation by "Writing in Third Person". Hopefully it wasn't too annoying. I don't blame you if you skipped most of it, honestly. :)


~Halifirien Pilgrim