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!

Assets and Targets

  

      For the last two weeks me and my sister have been playing viola in the pit orchestra for a summer music theatre’s production of South Pacific. It’s been exciting, challenging, and exhausting, but since most of the shows are at night, we have the days pretty much to ourselves. Unfortunately, the shows end at 11pm, which means I just start to wind down at midnight. My sister can fall asleep as soon as she changes out of her concert black, but I can’t. I haven’t quite figured out why this is, but it may be that I naturally sleep in if the night goes that long. It may also be that because I’m the older one, I have more responsibility in making sure everything is okay before I go to bed. I’m much more likely to wake up at a sound during the night than she is, and I think it’s because I feel responsible for her. I am,  and I fine with it, but I didn’t completely realize how different it is going from being a lone traveler to having someone dependent on you.
    This time with my sister has also made me realize how much of a home schooled country girl I was before I started college. Some of the adjustments she has had to make I also had last year, such as walking on sidewalks, weird as it may sound. Being a psychology geek, I want to take a side trip and dissect that action into sub-actions.
    First, we have the tactile sense: the feel of the concrete, how much traction your shoes have, how much push is required to walk.
    Second, vision: spotting holes, bumps, the edge of the sidewalk, or oncoming people or cars.
    Third, social: which side of the sidewalk to move to when passing a person going the opposite direction, what level of greeting to use if you see someone you know approaching (“Hi, how are you?”, “Hey”, or just a smile), what to do when a group of people is blocking the way, how close behind someone you can walk, and how to walk with a group of friends.
    And then there are little things, like what kind of walkway gets slippery when wet, and gauging how much time you have to cross the street before you get squashed like a little bug.
    That’s only the beginning. I won’t go into door-opening etiquette (which is different depending on where you live), or getting used to florescent lighting (igggg), and carrying a phone and key with you at all times (easily forgotten). But I will say that I really admire my sister for adapting so quickly and well to all that was thrown at her these past two weeks. As I type this, she is heading down to the gym BY HERSELF. Quite a big step considering she had to force herself to come here with me in the first place. It’s great for me too, because I got to be with her and have her as a roommate. Lots of talking and bonding time. I think we’re finally entering that stage people tell me about where siblings become best friends after years of friction. Thank You, LORD!
    I’ve been thinking recently about all the assets I have on my side. They are quite numerous when added together, and considering them helps to keep my focus on hitting the targets God has placed in my life. I tend to get discouraged when people and situations don’t change, especially when I see that the underlying issue is a case of ignoring God and trying to live without Him. I want to weep at all the wasted time and effort and grief Man goes through for naught.
    And then, like a bolt of lightning illuminating the face of the King of the Universe for all to see, one of His own shouts a praise that lifts the hearts of His children. This time, it was the girl who plays Nellie Forbush in South Pacific. My aunt came to see the show and told us that during the bows, the actress lifts her hands and says “Glory to God!”. She also references Psalm 104:33 in her bio.

    I love it when Christians are gracefully public in their allegiance to the LORD.
 It reminds me to do like the Newsboys song says: "Shine. Make 'em wonder what you've got. Make 'em wish they were not on the outside looking in". That's my target and I'm sticking with it.

I Didn't See It At The Time

photo © 2010 Hartwig HKD | more info (via: Wylio)

Over the past couple of weeks I've been thinking about how many little things have happened to prepare me for what I am today. I want to compile a list in order to remember these things.

My mom worked in a daycare center before I was born. The other women who worked their made a book of songs, stories, fingerplays, crafts, and activities to use with young children. My mom didn't really use this when I was growing up, but she kept it all these years, and it's becoming increasingly useful for me in my music therapy classes.

Oma (grandma) and my mom and dad had tapes of children's, international and folk songs they played in the car with me. Knowing those songs cut the work in half for my beginning guitar class. And that contributed GREATLY to my not failing my other classes.

Papa gave me a little keyboard when I was really young. The musical impact that thing made is probably immeasurable. My parents bought a beautiful Chickering upright piano when I was around 7, and the rest is history.

The techniques I learned at the ballet classes my mom and dad let me take are being put to use this semester in my modern dance class. I feel like I'm eight all over again. :)
photo © 2007 chrisna herbst | more info (via: Wylio)
Next came the guitar, at the encouragement of my parents. I have a major head start on my music therapy major peers because of that. Mwahahaha. I got to play bluegrass and celtic music with the Washburne girls on the guitar. Some amazing, really good memories there.

My parents bought me The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition dvds for my 14th birthday. That and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World lead to my fascination with movie scores, which brought me to a deeper love of classical music. That's one of the reasons why I started playing viola.


photo © 2009 mitch huang | more info (via: Wylio)

And playing the viola (thank you, Mom and Dad!) helps me in so many ways. For one thing, it is much easier to find a group to play music now. The piano is fun and a great instrument, but it's mostly used for solo performance, whereas the viola is rarely used that way. And I can tell you right now, I am definitely an ensemble person, hahaha. Orchestra is such a blast.

There is so much more, and hopefully I'll be able to connect all the dots in my mind and write about it later.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Everything Is New Again

Things I love:

My room, my roommate
       My classes, my teachers
   My instruments, my life

I can't wait to get my schedule set in stone and start classes. It all feels so unreal, yet so comfortable. I love this campus and all my new friends. I'm so happy!!!! Soli deo gloria, definitely. Amen and amen, again and again.

"Enough rhyming. I mean it!"
"Anybody want a peanut?" - Princess Bride

That was the quote of the week. Stay tuned for the song of the week. : )

So here I am, reclining on my new bedspread, typing on my new computer, listening to some new music. Today I thought I had to take a music theory test, but that didn't happen. I thought I was going to have to audition on the viola, which would have been really bad because I didn't prepare the excerpt. But that isn't the case either. The cafeteria had spinach, kale and fruit tonight. Life is good!

I'm skipping out on the laser tag because I haven't had much down time. I did get to practice for an hour today, which was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. (Yay for alliteration!) The only downer is that my English AP credit isn't here, which makes things a little tricky. Nevertheless, my advisors are super helpful so I'm sure everything will work out.

My roommate is amazing. I can't believe how similar we are, still. I have the best quadmates and RA, too. Everyone is very considerate and mild-mannered and lighthearted. We're going to have sooooo much fun.

Tomorrow at 8:30am I have to report to vocal auditions. Yeah, I know, it's not even in my top three instruments, but I have to do it since there is no piano ensemble and I can't be in orchestra yet. Just watch. I'll get in that orchestra.

Time for some stats. There are about 35 freshman music therapy majors, 650 freshman total, and 3,500 students total.

Random: I like how we can see what's going on between the dorms from our window. Nice.

And now I will share my favorite lyrics of the week with you. Here we go:

It was love that set this fragile planet rolling
Tilting at our perfect twenty-three
Molecules and men infused with holy
Finding our way around the galaxy
And Paradise has up and flown away for now
But hope still breathes and truth is always true
And just when we think it's almost over
Love has the final move
Love has the final move  -Chris Rice, The Final Move
                

Standing on the Edge, Unfolding Wings

College really doesn't seem all that scary. Still, I don't want to brush it off. It's a big step.

So here I am, getting ready to move into my new life. It will take a while to get adjusted to everything, but I'm looking forward to it. I will bask in the joy of a consistent schedule, which has not been my lot this summer, or even this year. People are constantly changing the time they want me to come to babysit or teach, which means I have to change anything else that might be in the way that day. Unpredictability is the bane of a musician. I can't lug my viola with me everywhere, let alone the piano! Thankfully I had The Magic Flute rehearsals, otherwise I might have become stagnant. I shudder at the thought.

The Magic Flute ended the last week of July. That week was a little tricky, what with three houses, two pools, a dog, a cat, and three gardens to water. My circadian rhythm was set back because of the late night rehearsals we had for Flute, so I'd bike over to the houses around 10 am. I'd be done by 11:30, when my family showed up to go swimming. I love that glorious pool. That week the high was always above 95, so you can imagine how rewarding it was to bike there, get all sweaty walking the dog, cleaning the pools and watering plants, and then have a pool to jump into. It was the perfect scenario, and a great workout regimen. I hope I get to do that again next year. The only problem was how tired I was before the four-hour rehearsals. My arms weren't quite up to the challenge, but I made it. I really enjoyed getting to play with my teacher and her husband and the kids I know from youth orchestra.

It was bittersweet, ending my time under the direction of Mr. Wirth. He's the conductor I had for the last two years. I'll miss orchestra, but hopefully I can get into the one at SU next year. I'm going to miss you especially, Mrs. Tung. I couldn't ask for a better viola teacher. I love you!

In short, I'm looking forward to school, and I'm very thankful for all I've been given.

Thanks, Lord.