oboeinsight

I haven’t read enough to really say anything yet, but Pittsburgh Symphony has a blog that has entries from a variety of people, including orchestra members! I wonder if there are any restrictions, if someone has to approve of what’s being written before an entry is posted, or if the blog goes up no matter what it says.

No time now, though; the reeds are ready to go and it’s time to get to work.
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Jameson was watching The Manchurian Candidate (the original) the other day. I was sort of watching and mostly listening. The music was different than music I was used to hearing for a movie of that type.

Well, well, well.

David Amram is the composer. How ’bout that?! For the first time in my life I’ll be doing a work of his (October 29, 30). What a coincidence (if you believe in those). 🙂
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I said I’d post on Dr. Atomic, and yes, I’m still thinking on it. And I certainly wish I could see it again, but that’s not going to happen — the pocketbook is light and while I have the time I don’t have the beer money. (Don’t get the joke? You are young. Or you didn’t listen to advertisements back “in the day.”*)

But anyway, here are some thoughts (and I don’t think I’m spoiling anything, but if you haven’t seen it yet you may want to wait to read this):

• Still a huge awed “wow” (I hate that word … gotta think of something else) for the end of the first act. I want to hear and see that again and again. And again.
• I was disappointed in the chorus, but I don’t believe it is the chorus’s fault at all. (Do I need that s for the possessive?) I’m just used to sitting in a location where I get nearly the full volume of a chorus and moving from the pit to the Dress Circle means that the volume is diminished. So it didn’t quiet do the “shiver thang” that I am used to. Heck … I’m really spoiled, being a performer! Especially when I’m on stage and get drowned in sound, but even the pit is great when the chorus sings. (I no longer can say I get the best seat in the house when it comes to the solo singers, as I can’t hear them enough. And I’ve harped on this before. If we never get monitors I’m going to keep harping. Which, I suppose, makes me a very annoying harpist.)
• The lighting. The lighting. The lighting. Incredible
• I didn’t get Pasqualita’s frond thing toward the end. I’m sure it had some sort of meaning, but it was the sort of thing that causes some to snicker and some to go “huh?” (I am the “huh” sort.)
• I’m still thinking over the end. Since some audience members would understand what is being said at the end, I think we maybe should get supertitles there. But I go back and forth on that one. I must admit that in my head I had a notion of what was being said and, of course, I may have been totally wrong, but I created a “moment” and it worked for me. Maybe they wanted us all to have our own idea of what was being said. But since some speak Japanese some folks actually do know, while some of us who are language idiots don’t.

*Why do primarily “kids”** who are in their early 20s say “back in the day” these days. I mean … they’ve hardly had any “back in the day” days. Geesh.

**I never thought I’d reach the day when I call 20-ish people “kids”. Double Geesh.

Tuesdays I spend the majority of my day (all of my morning, and, what with recital rehearsals I’m here until 3:00) in Santa Cruz. After dropping of our son, Jameson, I go over the hill, because going home seems silly, there’s not quite enough time to go to AVAC, and I figure a “quiet” (sort of) morning with a cup ‘o latté can be a joy. I get here around 8:30 and I actually don’t have to be up on campus until 10:00, so I have about an hour and 1/4 here. It’s nice. I like relaxing. I like being alone in a room full of people. Don’t ask me why; I doubt I could explain!

But Jameson begins school 20 minutes later than last year. This gets me to the coffee shop 20 minutes later (duh). And 20 minutes is making a huge difference; the place is as crowded as can be!

I just may have to search for a new coffee shop, although I feel a bit of loyalty to the folks here. I suppose I can just drive faster (Heh, that’ll be the day; I’m a “set the car at 50 and don’t speed sort going over the hill — I’ve never had a speeding ticket and I don’t plan on getting one—ever.), or patiently stand over some poor coffee drinker and make him or her so uncomfortable that the person finally leaves. I mean, who do these people think they are, staying so long at the place … me? (They are allowed to sit, but does it have to be for so long?!) They aren’t me?! This is MY place. This is MY day. And I want it back.

Seize the day, they say. I’m trying … but these folks are taking it from me. 😉

What does this have to do with music, though? Um … well, I usually make my first post of Tuesday morning from this place.

And yes, a place just opened up for me. It’s 8:38 now. And this is my first post of this now Santa Cruz foggy day. (I love fog. Fog is a Good Thing.)
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