I am sitting at my desk looking at the transformed living room -- the tree is up, and each year, even with the same ornaments, it looks different -- each year is a different pattern with most of the same elements, but put on differently, and making different patterns.
Why am I rabbitting on about Christmas trees in the music blog? Well, it has to do with ornaments. Figure that this month all of you have more than enough to do getting all the final projects done for school, and getting things done for family celebrations, so this is more of a muse about music past and present than more for your practice room.
Today, classical instrumentalists are asked, ala Dragnet, for "just the notes ma'am". One contemporary writing on music compared us to bus drivers, who endeavor to get from point A to point B with the fewest number of wrong turns. This state of affairs is a 20th century construction -
During every earlier 'age', ALL musicians were expected to use their minds as well as their voices and fingers -- and to 'decorate' the music on the stand with 'extra' notes that would enhance the tune. We still hear that in jazz and pop, but it has largely disappeared from the classical.
Did you know that during the Baroque period, (think Bach, Handel, Telemann, Boismortier, and court orchestras), there were house musicians who were the after dinner entertainment, and the house composer (if there was a chef and a horse master, there was a house composer) was charged with writing at least 2 hours of new music each week for the duke/prince/king/cardinal. Given this much inventing (not to mention the hours of writing - no copy machine, no finale computer program) and given that paper and ink were expensive, they saved on both by writing down the basics of the tune, aka a lead sheet, and relied on the skill and inventiveness of the musicians to flesh out the bare bones written down. (nb. one of the reasons that early music - baroque, classical - sounds so simple is that no one is ornamenting!)
You hear ornaments all the time in pop music, but likely do not label it as ornaments. Ear candy for hearing ornaments -- compare "where are you Christmas" as sung in the Grinch movie by Cindy Lou Who/aka Hollie Steel vs. the same song sung by Faith Steel, in the credits of the same movie (and on the all Christmas music radio 93.9) ... you can check out both of these on itunes.
Happy merry -- may all the lights be bright and shiny, and all the wishes delivered.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
NOVEMBER - is long bow month !!!
if the left hand is the words, the right hand is the breath....
and it's good to know how to whisper, and yell, and do all inbetween.
this month, think about using ALL of the bow - for maybe 2 minutes at the start of each practice.
TODO: start at the frog, and do a downbow for a count of 8 (slow) getting all the way to the tip. When that is easy, move to 10 or 12 for the count. Upbow, ditto.
... and of course, the bow keeps moving continuously, and the sound is nice - and the bow is 1/2 way between end of fingerboard and bridge.
namaste....
and it's good to know how to whisper, and yell, and do all inbetween.
this month, think about using ALL of the bow - for maybe 2 minutes at the start of each practice.
TODO: start at the frog, and do a downbow for a count of 8 (slow) getting all the way to the tip. When that is easy, move to 10 or 12 for the count. Upbow, ditto.
... and of course, the bow keeps moving continuously, and the sound is nice - and the bow is 1/2 way between end of fingerboard and bridge.
namaste....
Celebrate !!
Allow yourself to trust joy and embrace it. You will find you dance with everything.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Don Quixote - quick and dirty
this sunday, Oct 16, is the kickoff concert for SOPRF 80th season, and the centerpiece tune is Don Quixote. A cello concerto w/out the name in the title, the Don's travels are musically protrayed by a solo cello - and his loyal side-kick, Sancho - by a solo viola.
the cello part is being played by John Sharp, principal cellist of CSO - I've heard him, and he is lovely (natch, but it also bears repeating)
Unfortunately.... I will be in virginia moving boxes, a date and activity set long before the concerts were known. so.... I hope you can enjoy the music, for yourself and for me...
check out the link for pretty pictures and more information -- symphonyOPRF web site.
cheerio...
the cello part is being played by John Sharp, principal cellist of CSO - I've heard him, and he is lovely (natch, but it also bears repeating)
Unfortunately.... I will be in virginia moving boxes, a date and activity set long before the concerts were known. so.... I hope you can enjoy the music, for yourself and for me...
check out the link for pretty pictures and more information -- symphonyOPRF web site.
cheerio...
Monday, September 19, 2011
Grace Cantatas - starts this Sunday
Every season, for the past 35 years or so, Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, has offered a series of Vespers Services -- and they do Bach - playing his cantatas where, and how, they were meant to be performed --- in church, within a service, one per time. It is hard to say how special this is.
The first for the 2011-12 season is this coming Sunday, Sept 25. Time is 3.40 for the prelude, and then about an hour fifteen for the service. About 1/3 litury, 1/3 homily (by visiting person), 1/3 music, including a full Bach cantata - which is why I am there, because they hire in a chamber orchestra.
This particular Sunday, because it is the first of the season, will be followed by a reception - to which I believe all are invited -- and at the reception, another Bach vocal/orch piece - the "coffee cantata" will be performed.
please see if your sunday can include this -- good music, a time to sit and reflect (notice I did not say veg). There is a balcony if one is concerned about wiggles, and as said - just a very special.
What are Vespers? This service is drawn from the service originally done at sunset - saying, basically "gee whiz, thanks for getting me through the day" -- and was one of the 7 (?) daily services in cloistered orders (long ago). Even though once a month rather than daily, it still offers the opening to say thanks.
SER and this service. I have been playing these concerts for longer than son Carlyn has been alive (you can do the math). During my tenure, I have played for 6 directors, starting with Paul Boumann, to the current cantor/music director, Michael Costello. Obviously, I think this is music worth playing
The first for the 2011-12 season is this coming Sunday, Sept 25. Time is 3.40 for the prelude, and then about an hour fifteen for the service. About 1/3 litury, 1/3 homily (by visiting person), 1/3 music, including a full Bach cantata - which is why I am there, because they hire in a chamber orchestra.
This particular Sunday, because it is the first of the season, will be followed by a reception - to which I believe all are invited -- and at the reception, another Bach vocal/orch piece - the "coffee cantata" will be performed.
please see if your sunday can include this -- good music, a time to sit and reflect (notice I did not say veg). There is a balcony if one is concerned about wiggles, and as said - just a very special.
What are Vespers? This service is drawn from the service originally done at sunset - saying, basically "gee whiz, thanks for getting me through the day" -- and was one of the 7 (?) daily services in cloistered orders (long ago). Even though once a month rather than daily, it still offers the opening to say thanks.
SER and this service. I have been playing these concerts for longer than son Carlyn has been alive (you can do the math). During my tenure, I have played for 6 directors, starting with Paul Boumann, to the current cantor/music director, Michael Costello. Obviously, I think this is music worth playing
Sunday, September 18, 2011
What do musicians do all day....
When I was a very small person, there was a golden book, and the title was "what do daddies do all day?" -- and it started, "what do daddies do all day, while their children sing and play"... and then it followed the daddies as they went to offices, factories and other work places.
So... what do musicians do....
I learned, about 2 days ago, that I will be principal for the november concert run of New Phil. The program includes Wagner Siegfried Idyll, Barber Violin concerto and Bernstein Symphonic dances. In addition to sitting at the front of the section during reh and concerts, this means that I set (ahead of time - and based on my knowledge and experience) the bowings for the pieces, and mark the same in a master part.
today I did some prep for this -- Yesterday I got these three tunes from the library, and today I checked out YouTube to see what was on line. I found an amazing performance that -- for the barber concerto - ran the violin solo part music visually while the music was playing. It was a great help, as the barber is a piece that changes meter frequently, and has a lot of flux in the tempo. Tomorrow I start marking the bowing.
also coming down the pike - a couple of performances to check out and put on the calendar !!
beethoven 9 on Sept 30/Oct 1 at College of DuPage
Grace Cantata on Sept 25 -
more details on these tomorrow
oh yes, and cello time
So... what do musicians do....
I learned, about 2 days ago, that I will be principal for the november concert run of New Phil. The program includes Wagner Siegfried Idyll, Barber Violin concerto and Bernstein Symphonic dances. In addition to sitting at the front of the section during reh and concerts, this means that I set (ahead of time - and based on my knowledge and experience) the bowings for the pieces, and mark the same in a master part.
today I did some prep for this -- Yesterday I got these three tunes from the library, and today I checked out YouTube to see what was on line. I found an amazing performance that -- for the barber concerto - ran the violin solo part music visually while the music was playing. It was a great help, as the barber is a piece that changes meter frequently, and has a lot of flux in the tempo. Tomorrow I start marking the bowing.
also coming down the pike - a couple of performances to check out and put on the calendar !!
beethoven 9 on Sept 30/Oct 1 at College of DuPage
Grace Cantata on Sept 25 -
more details on these tomorrow
oh yes, and cello time
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
WELCOME 2011-2012 - music / music / music (knitting)
So…. It’s fall, and for the first time since I was a student (back in dinosaur times), I am in the same situation as many YOU (though probably for a different reason!!)
I spent 2 months of the summer roaming around Europe, and with the exception of 20 minutes playing cello in the upstairs showroom of a music store in York, was ‘cello-less’ for June and July. In August, I was with my mother and a practice cello – and now, in September, I am back with my own lovely instrument.
So…. I had to re-start from full stop – and maybe you are doing much the same?
Following are some ideas on how to do this – a restart w/out injury &/or annoying either body or mind.
FIRST and always good to remember – you know a lot about playing the cello, and letting your brain/body re-teach itself during the first few hours back at the instrument/music is a good thing. Like swimming for the first time each summer, after a bit of “just doing it”, it’s back.
1/ Fingers have lost a good bit of the callous !! so you will feel the strings vibrating (and quickly will re-learn to disregard this sensation). Also… that callous will not be rebuilt in a day or even a week. Doing a lot of practice right off the bat will result in sore fingers, which is ok, but LOTS (ie. hours each day) may well raise blisters under the forming callouses, and from a “been there, done that” you really really don’t want that.
2/ Your brain remembers ways to use your muscles in ways that they may not be strong enough to handle. Yes, you know how to torque your bow arm and play very loud for 2 hours, but not the best idea from a dead stop. Possible consequences include tennis elbow/ pulled muscles, etc., etc. (this is another ‘been there, done that’ - grimace)
3/ As we have often discussed, written music is another language, and therefore reading could be a bit rusty after a few months of not doing. Consider how your first few lines of your handwriting looks after a week of vacation and no pen in hand…. the same holds true for those brain connections. Go back a bit, and play tunes you enjoy – let your body remember how it reads.
And finally – play around with the cello a bit. Daydream in sound – play stuff not on the page – find out how it feels (and sounds) to slide on different fingers – to play a tune by ear – to play one note for a long time – to sing the same note you play – to sing a different note.
Try out this paradigm (this means a new way of thinking about something). Cello = Dog. Sometimes you are simply enjoying each other’s company; sometimes you are training the dog; sometimes feeding, walking, tending. In other words, there is both structured and unstructured time with DOG. Greatly encourage you to include unstructured time with music/cello.
And really finally – welcome back – it has been an incredible summer for me, following an incredible year. Thank you again, all of you, for your understanding, support, and smiles. This blog, which chronicled the travels, is now morphing into a blog for music doings – comments for students / concerts I am playing / concerts my colleagues are playing / comments on my playing- exploring – learning / musical things that are ‘cool’ to check out /
Tally ho – 2011-2012 is alive and well and rolling…..
I spent 2 months of the summer roaming around Europe, and with the exception of 20 minutes playing cello in the upstairs showroom of a music store in York, was ‘cello-less’ for June and July. In August, I was with my mother and a practice cello – and now, in September, I am back with my own lovely instrument.
So…. I had to re-start from full stop – and maybe you are doing much the same?
Following are some ideas on how to do this – a restart w/out injury &/or annoying either body or mind.
FIRST and always good to remember – you know a lot about playing the cello, and letting your brain/body re-teach itself during the first few hours back at the instrument/music is a good thing. Like swimming for the first time each summer, after a bit of “just doing it”, it’s back.
1/ Fingers have lost a good bit of the callous !! so you will feel the strings vibrating (and quickly will re-learn to disregard this sensation). Also… that callous will not be rebuilt in a day or even a week. Doing a lot of practice right off the bat will result in sore fingers, which is ok, but LOTS (ie. hours each day) may well raise blisters under the forming callouses, and from a “been there, done that” you really really don’t want that.
2/ Your brain remembers ways to use your muscles in ways that they may not be strong enough to handle. Yes, you know how to torque your bow arm and play very loud for 2 hours, but not the best idea from a dead stop. Possible consequences include tennis elbow/ pulled muscles, etc., etc. (this is another ‘been there, done that’ - grimace)
3/ As we have often discussed, written music is another language, and therefore reading could be a bit rusty after a few months of not doing. Consider how your first few lines of your handwriting looks after a week of vacation and no pen in hand…. the same holds true for those brain connections. Go back a bit, and play tunes you enjoy – let your body remember how it reads.
And finally – play around with the cello a bit. Daydream in sound – play stuff not on the page – find out how it feels (and sounds) to slide on different fingers – to play a tune by ear – to play one note for a long time – to sing the same note you play – to sing a different note.
Try out this paradigm (this means a new way of thinking about something). Cello = Dog. Sometimes you are simply enjoying each other’s company; sometimes you are training the dog; sometimes feeding, walking, tending. In other words, there is both structured and unstructured time with DOG. Greatly encourage you to include unstructured time with music/cello.
And really finally – welcome back – it has been an incredible summer for me, following an incredible year. Thank you again, all of you, for your understanding, support, and smiles. This blog, which chronicled the travels, is now morphing into a blog for music doings – comments for students / concerts I am playing / concerts my colleagues are playing / comments on my playing- exploring – learning / musical things that are ‘cool’ to check out /
Tally ho – 2011-2012 is alive and well and rolling…..
Saturday, August 13, 2011
home again - pictures
one last look at V&A courtyard
and a good day - so complete w/ fountain kids !!
last trip for the yellow backpack suitcase
not too tough .....
and the shoes !!
it's a MOM !!!!
and a benediction of sunflowers....
it has been a grand time....
and a great prelude for the coming years....
home again, home again
McLean, VA
the great adventure is now in the rear view mirror -- packed up, flew home, and was warmly welcomed by both the immigration officer and my mother.
I am SO SO SO delighted that this trip happened, and it unfolded in just the right way. The gratis air ticket made it possible for the walk-about to be in Europe - the towns explored and the friends visited, and made... warm memories and future journeys.
Traveled over in bag and tote - back in bag, tote and "star bag" which was YARN! and a sweatshirt for son Carlyn. Not too shabby. And truly wore out a pair of shoes - a first for me.
Since here I have talked w/ Mom a lot (natch) and with friends at Vinson Hall - been chauffer for Mom for local and short trips - and done a fair amount of knitting (Bob was kind and sent my UFOs (unfinished objects) to VA for me to finish!)
I know that for this month in VA, there is not much walking built into each day, and I am concerned that the muscles stay, and the weight does not go up this month, even if it does not go down.
This wonderful, truly once in a lifetime sabbatical did just what it was supposed to do - and more. The time to step into a different place and look/think/consider/veg was more than good. I am glad that it could happen, and very glad that I was courageous and did it. My insides are good - very good. I do wish that everyone could have this; university sabbaticals every seven years make so much sense. And the being away was definately part of the equation -- I doubt this could have been done 'in place' in Chicago - too many threads to 'standard actions', but if Europe had not been an option, it would have been an extended trip in the US. Now the challenge is to remember the lessons from the wood when back in the cottage.
This post closes out the "official summer 2011 travel blog" - though now having the blogging habit, will continue more -- esp on music and knitting.
"If you are reading this" - thanks. The emails I got from friends and family during the months away were very special.
The practice cello was a welcome sight, and has been wailing. On other fronts, I devised a crochet market bag (started Munich, finished VA) which will be pictured here / pix and pattern on Ravelry.
blessings
cheers
hugs
FINAL THOUGHTS ----
cars are smaller - touring busses HUGE
people walk, and carry - carry all kinds of things
people cross w/out the light, but don't much jaywalk
cafes offer healthy food
cities/people live in the midst of history
more reading (and paper books) than ipod on the tube
there is always time for a slow meal
outside - and being outside - is sought & treasured
a talent for wearing scarves
no mosquitos !!!
London to anywhere is a long travel acc. to locals
V & A - yes
& light switches are outside the bathroom
... and I will be there again...soon...
the great adventure is now in the rear view mirror -- packed up, flew home, and was warmly welcomed by both the immigration officer and my mother.
I am SO SO SO delighted that this trip happened, and it unfolded in just the right way. The gratis air ticket made it possible for the walk-about to be in Europe - the towns explored and the friends visited, and made... warm memories and future journeys.
Traveled over in bag and tote - back in bag, tote and "star bag" which was YARN! and a sweatshirt for son Carlyn. Not too shabby. And truly wore out a pair of shoes - a first for me.
Since here I have talked w/ Mom a lot (natch) and with friends at Vinson Hall - been chauffer for Mom for local and short trips - and done a fair amount of knitting (Bob was kind and sent my UFOs (unfinished objects) to VA for me to finish!)
I know that for this month in VA, there is not much walking built into each day, and I am concerned that the muscles stay, and the weight does not go up this month, even if it does not go down.
This wonderful, truly once in a lifetime sabbatical did just what it was supposed to do - and more. The time to step into a different place and look/think/consider/veg was more than good. I am glad that it could happen, and very glad that I was courageous and did it. My insides are good - very good. I do wish that everyone could have this; university sabbaticals every seven years make so much sense. And the being away was definately part of the equation -- I doubt this could have been done 'in place' in Chicago - too many threads to 'standard actions', but if Europe had not been an option, it would have been an extended trip in the US. Now the challenge is to remember the lessons from the wood when back in the cottage.
This post closes out the "official summer 2011 travel blog" - though now having the blogging habit, will continue more -- esp on music and knitting.
"If you are reading this" - thanks. The emails I got from friends and family during the months away were very special.
The practice cello was a welcome sight, and has been wailing. On other fronts, I devised a crochet market bag (started Munich, finished VA) which will be pictured here / pix and pattern on Ravelry.
blessings
cheers
hugs
FINAL THOUGHTS ----
cars are smaller - touring busses HUGE
people walk, and carry - carry all kinds of things
people cross w/out the light, but don't much jaywalk
cafes offer healthy food
cities/people live in the midst of history
more reading (and paper books) than ipod on the tube
there is always time for a slow meal
outside - and being outside - is sought & treasured
a talent for wearing scarves
no mosquitos !!!
London to anywhere is a long travel acc. to locals
V & A - yes
& light switches are outside the bathroom
... and I will be there again...soon...
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
pictures & comments -
of course we know I'm knitting -- hence, one improvised winder
and the building next door - all ready for something - the scaffold builders thought painting -- one month to do the scaffolding - "stick built" on the site -- ??how would/how do we do this in the US??
also next door to the museum of Natural History - it LOOKS like a museum - outside
and inside - with halls and walls of proper displays -- bah humbug on computer integrative interactive nonesense - give me a wall plastered fossil any day !
and the main hall is totally grand - 
looking back at the entrance -- and do you know, they have a slice of a california sequoia that was felled in 1892 for exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair! wonder if Chg still has a slice?
yesterday was Portsmouth - my last train ticket day - and go minus 2 on this most incredible of all walk-abouts
we were in portsmouth oh-- 15 years ago? and since that time ONE thing is a great new development - shopping, bowling, movies, restaurants - all right on the seafront right next to the train terminal. As big as the outlet malls, but mainline stores - sort of Schaumberg on the seashore (also do have some good outlet shops - M&S, etc.)
and includes this attraction - 3 viewing decks (one includes a cafe - w/ tables & chairs - (GRIN) 
and the lowest w/ a glass floor - so one can "walk on air" - a bit disconcerting at first, it becomes a lovely sensation - and now I'm ready for a walk on the grand canyon horseshoe...
of course you can see forever... 
and the top is guarded by the resident plastic owl.
lovely piece of work - 
had lunch at "Giraffe" - and the neighboring table let me photograph the herds they had collected from kindly bartenders!
a Milennium walk connected this new development with the established seaside play area - the beach is all stone..
and the requisite church ruin
this is the railing - walk has been finished only since 2005 (didn't quite make the milennium)
they have a pier, but it's along the coast rather than built out into it - last trip Carlyn and I did a LONG and almost green tilt-a-whirl. It's still there... 
It was a lovely day out -- Monday, August 1, 2011
pix - pilates in statuary..... ;-)
the class assembled....
ho humm, I suppose this is good for me
is my bum supposed to look like this?
"bend and stretch"
where's the six pack?
class is over, over...
aren't I lovely
me too !pictures - 3 - oh yes, Oxford !!
we, the lowly visitors, come in via the back door - still pretty impressive
can you say "harry potter" -- some of the scenes were filmed here - for really...
this is the stairs to the lunchroom - imagine! and I chatted with one of the gents - there are two servings of dinner - half six, is informal and you can come dressed however. half sever, however, is formal, and you must be in your robe (think hogwarts)
maybe your screen is big enough to read this. If not, FYI - the student coffee bar serves wine. 
and here it is (not hogwarts - only 3 long tables, not 4)
and the chapel to match
all sorts of heads and creatures on the bosses in the cloisters - I fancy green men - so does son Carlyn
tower w/ Big Tom - the large bell
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