You know what the best part about playing fourth horn in an orchestra is?
Getting to play fourth horn in the horn quartet.
I am very lucky to play in the section here. Not only do they kick butt at playing the horn, but we all get along. I mean really, how often does that happen? On top of that, they all contribute so much and are some of the best teachers I've encountered.
Last night we sightread a piece by my colleague, WJM and it is incredibly beautiful. I'm looking forward to working it up to performance level and hopefully getting an opportunity to perform it. I am astounded at his talent.
This evening JD is going to come over to help me sort out this embouchure thing. He went through the same thing a few years ago, and he's smart, so I think he will have a lot to offer. On Day 1 and 1/2 of this thing, I am thinking it is the right thing.
Horn player details: I'm finding an anchor on my bottom lip that I never had before because the lower lip was tucked so far under. I think I did this because I used to play with the mouthpiece 1/3 upper, 2/3 lower, the opposite, of what it should be, so when I moved it up I brought the lower lip up as well. Then, when I had to learn to play high it got me by. Unfortunately, doing this means I pin my upper lip and eventually, when I'm at all tired or sometimes when I'm not, the upper lip just quits vibrating and the notes don't come out. On top of that, the aperture is severely obstructed denying me a clear sound and making me work a lot harder than I should. Besides, I'm missing out on 1/3 of the possible vibrations since my lower lip is not in the picture at all.
I can definitely get through the next 3 weeks (playing 2nd on the Dances of the World program and 4th on a ballet) no problem with the new embouchure. And I think by then it should feel normal and I will be at least close to the level I was playing at before, with a lot more room to grow. Hopefully the brass quintet and the horn quartet and the roomies will understand in the transition period. It'll be over by the Ka'na Yaan concert on March 29th, I promise.
Was considering delaying this change for after our week off, but I might as well not wait. After all, there's no time like the present!
Next on C de C: Swooning and What's the Real Classical Music? per request of good friends.
Unfortunately they'll have to wait as there has been no swooning this week due to economics exams on one end and grant applications on the other and I lost the inspiration to think about what's happening to classical music in our society. AD, maybe you'd like to guest-blog about this one?
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
OK, OK, List of Questions.
These are my questions.
1) Carlos Chavez Horn Quartet?
2) Fandango by Kerry Turner?
3) Buying orchestra parts for concerto?
4) Contemporary piece for horn and piano by Latin American composer?
Thanks.
1) Carlos Chavez Horn Quartet?
2) Fandango by Kerry Turner?
3) Buying orchestra parts for concerto?
4) Contemporary piece for horn and piano by Latin American composer?
Thanks.
Oh, the things I could write about.
I'm having a hard time focusing tonight. My brain is flooded and overwhelmed with all the things I could write about.
I could write about how not only did my maternal grandparents move from their house to assisted living this weekend, but my step-mother's mother also moved in with my dad and her. This would prompt some reflection on aging, family, and the tremendous amount of admiration and love I feel for my parents.
I could write about how my roommate MT is practicing for tomorrow's first rehearsal and her part alone sounds incredibly like the Addam's Family Theme.
I could write about how I am dating someone in a normal way (we both live in the same city, want to be dating, and introduce each other to our friends and stuff) for the first time in...oh...about 6 years. This would prompt far too much reflection on why I have been avoiding this for the last part or, or basically my whole, life, and what I am confronted by and learning about myself in the process. It would also prompt some swooning.
I could write about this nut-so woman I met at FedEx today, who begged me to be her friend as she is new to this city, and in the same breath told me she assumed since I'm an artist I'm into astrology charting and in the same breath told me about how interested in transvestites she is, among about twenty other things.
I could write about whether I should change my embouchure or not. This would prompt an analysis of my sound, note clarity, high range ability, and some questions about how to do this while having a job and making a lot of plans for the summer and how to do it without a teacher.
I could write about how I made cinnamon rolls from scratch this weekend and it was really fun and then my kitchen proceeded to get entirely infested with ants.
I could write about the party I went to last night, where a great cellist shared a private performance of Bach's First Cello Suite, old-fashioned "salon music" style, and afterwards we feasted and enjoyed each other's company. This would prompt some doubt about what has happened to classical music in our world. About what the purpose of music really is, and wondering if that has been lost in all the mess of tickets and tuxedos and contracts and seasons. Or if it's still there and we just don't realize it since it's our job.
Hmmm...let's see, we've got reflection, swooning, analysis, and doubt, amidst some decent one-liners. Somebody pick and I'll try to write about it.
P. S. Horn players--does anyone have or know where to get a) Carlos Chavez Quaret for Horns and b) Fandango by Kerry Turner? And how does one go about purchasing the orchestra parts for a horn concerto?
I could write about how not only did my maternal grandparents move from their house to assisted living this weekend, but my step-mother's mother also moved in with my dad and her. This would prompt some reflection on aging, family, and the tremendous amount of admiration and love I feel for my parents.
I could write about how my roommate MT is practicing for tomorrow's first rehearsal and her part alone sounds incredibly like the Addam's Family Theme.
I could write about how I am dating someone in a normal way (we both live in the same city, want to be dating, and introduce each other to our friends and stuff) for the first time in...oh...about 6 years. This would prompt far too much reflection on why I have been avoiding this for the last part or, or basically my whole, life, and what I am confronted by and learning about myself in the process. It would also prompt some swooning.
I could write about this nut-so woman I met at FedEx today, who begged me to be her friend as she is new to this city, and in the same breath told me she assumed since I'm an artist I'm into astrology charting and in the same breath told me about how interested in transvestites she is, among about twenty other things.
I could write about whether I should change my embouchure or not. This would prompt an analysis of my sound, note clarity, high range ability, and some questions about how to do this while having a job and making a lot of plans for the summer and how to do it without a teacher.
I could write about how I made cinnamon rolls from scratch this weekend and it was really fun and then my kitchen proceeded to get entirely infested with ants.
I could write about the party I went to last night, where a great cellist shared a private performance of Bach's First Cello Suite, old-fashioned "salon music" style, and afterwards we feasted and enjoyed each other's company. This would prompt some doubt about what has happened to classical music in our world. About what the purpose of music really is, and wondering if that has been lost in all the mess of tickets and tuxedos and contracts and seasons. Or if it's still there and we just don't realize it since it's our job.
Hmmm...let's see, we've got reflection, swooning, analysis, and doubt, amidst some decent one-liners. Somebody pick and I'll try to write about it.
P. S. Horn players--does anyone have or know where to get a) Carlos Chavez Quaret for Horns and b) Fandango by Kerry Turner? And how does one go about purchasing the orchestra parts for a horn concerto?
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
It's Not About the Audition
I went to NYC for an audition this weekend. I traveled 12 hours, one way and spent $100+ and 35,000 frequent flyer miles total. I played a total of 10 minutes, well 7 probably--3 of them I was either emptying water, breathing deeply and getting into excerpt character, counting rests, or chatting with the panel.
I got back to work today and everyone said "How did it go?" and I said fine, well, ok, great, or whatever I said. A large part of me wants to overanalyze: My high range was kickin'. My lip trill got stuck. My Mozart was solid, and pretty. My Ravel was alright, the second time. My Heldenleben was bad at the beginning, not bad at the end. My Shostakovich 5 was not the best I've ever played it. My Short Call was. But there's no point, because I have no idea what they heard, what they were looking for, or how they will make any sort of decision, or even what decision there is to make (is there even a possibility of a horn opening in NWS next September?)
Lucky for me, this weekend was not really about my audition. I mean, that's why I went, but it was more of an excuse to do something, and a motivator to keep practicing. I think that if I was investing all that for 7 minutes I would have quit this thing long ago. Rather, the weekend was about a lot of other very pleasant experiences, mostly about people. As I mature, I'm realizing more and more how important people and my relationships with them are to me. I used to think of myself as an outgoing introvert, but more and more I think that I just adore so many friendships that that can't really be true.
The weekend was about having my new "boyfriend" (still a bit uncomfortable with the term) drop me off at the airport. It was about crashing in an amazing loft in Brooklyn with two friends I've known going on 10 years. It was about having a schwanky brunch in NY in the morning, and then a schwanky dinner in the evening. It was about meeting up with an old horn playa' friend and walking down memory lane in a cafe we happened to stumble upon called Sweet Sunshine or something ridiculously cheesy and lovely. It was knowing every single person in the warm up room while I waited for my audition, and being pleasantly surprised by the appearance of one of my favorite cellists (in personality and playing) who I then met for drinks later. It was raiding a sheet music store with another good friend, who happened to be in town for the same audition. It was getting to see "where it all happens" at Vera Wang, since my dear friend is an Associate Designer there. It was enjoying the sights and sounds of New York, feeling like a kid in a candy store, overwhelmed with the variety, the size, the hustle, the fashion, the everything. It was feeling appreciative and alive of everything going on around me. It was having a fascinating conversation with a business man on the plane ride home. It was getting picked up at the airport by aforementioned "boyfriend." It was being happy to come "home."
Now, I realize some would say that until it's all about the audition I probably won't win one. And that may or may not be true. But for now all I know is that I really love playing the horn, I'm doing a lot of it here, while still scheming about things to come. I learned some important things preparing for this weekend, and now I have the time to take them on. I have a job doing what I love to do and it provides me the resources to continue pursuing a higher level.
Let's just say, for now, I can't complain. :)
I got back to work today and everyone said "How did it go?" and I said fine, well, ok, great, or whatever I said. A large part of me wants to overanalyze: My high range was kickin'. My lip trill got stuck. My Mozart was solid, and pretty. My Ravel was alright, the second time. My Heldenleben was bad at the beginning, not bad at the end. My Shostakovich 5 was not the best I've ever played it. My Short Call was. But there's no point, because I have no idea what they heard, what they were looking for, or how they will make any sort of decision, or even what decision there is to make (is there even a possibility of a horn opening in NWS next September?)
Lucky for me, this weekend was not really about my audition. I mean, that's why I went, but it was more of an excuse to do something, and a motivator to keep practicing. I think that if I was investing all that for 7 minutes I would have quit this thing long ago. Rather, the weekend was about a lot of other very pleasant experiences, mostly about people. As I mature, I'm realizing more and more how important people and my relationships with them are to me. I used to think of myself as an outgoing introvert, but more and more I think that I just adore so many friendships that that can't really be true.
The weekend was about having my new "boyfriend" (still a bit uncomfortable with the term) drop me off at the airport. It was about crashing in an amazing loft in Brooklyn with two friends I've known going on 10 years. It was about having a schwanky brunch in NY in the morning, and then a schwanky dinner in the evening. It was about meeting up with an old horn playa' friend and walking down memory lane in a cafe we happened to stumble upon called Sweet Sunshine or something ridiculously cheesy and lovely. It was knowing every single person in the warm up room while I waited for my audition, and being pleasantly surprised by the appearance of one of my favorite cellists (in personality and playing) who I then met for drinks later. It was raiding a sheet music store with another good friend, who happened to be in town for the same audition. It was getting to see "where it all happens" at Vera Wang, since my dear friend is an Associate Designer there. It was enjoying the sights and sounds of New York, feeling like a kid in a candy store, overwhelmed with the variety, the size, the hustle, the fashion, the everything. It was feeling appreciative and alive of everything going on around me. It was having a fascinating conversation with a business man on the plane ride home. It was getting picked up at the airport by aforementioned "boyfriend." It was being happy to come "home."
Now, I realize some would say that until it's all about the audition I probably won't win one. And that may or may not be true. But for now all I know is that I really love playing the horn, I'm doing a lot of it here, while still scheming about things to come. I learned some important things preparing for this weekend, and now I have the time to take them on. I have a job doing what I love to do and it provides me the resources to continue pursuing a higher level.
Let's just say, for now, I can't complain. :)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
And the winner is...
Ka'na Yaan.
It means "hay arriba" or "It's up above" in Mayan.
It stems from Kanadyan, which stems from...well, if you don't get the joke, you don't deserve to know.
It means "hay arriba" or "It's up above" in Mayan.
It stems from Kanadyan, which stems from...well, if you don't get the joke, you don't deserve to know.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
First the Tree, now the BQ
Remember when I foolishly let CM post a request to name our tree? The tree has since become a ridiculously leaf-less thing in the corner of our living room. I try to pretend it's not actually there.
Hopefully the same projectory is not in the works for the BQ.
Nevertheless, now we're looking for a brass quintet name. Ideas so far include: Kanad Ya'an Brass, C's Brass Quintet, and V. As you can see, we're in desperate need of some help.
We are a group of 4 guys and a girl, 4 Americans and a Slav, living here, interested in giving serious recitals of music originally composed for Brass Quintet.
Go nuts.
Hopefully the same projectory is not in the works for the BQ.
Nevertheless, now we're looking for a brass quintet name. Ideas so far include: Kanad Ya'an Brass, C's Brass Quintet, and V. As you can see, we're in desperate need of some help.
We are a group of 4 guys and a girl, 4 Americans and a Slav, living here, interested in giving serious recitals of music originally composed for Brass Quintet.
Go nuts.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
It's All About the Groove
I'm in the groove of life right now. It's true. The things I have been working on are falling into place. I'm getting to know this fantastic guy that really likes me too. I'm headed to NYC in about a week for business and pleasure, and I feel like I actually have enough money saved to enjoy it. My chops feel really good. I've worked out every day for almost two weeks. I decided to make these stuffed chicken breasts today and I happened to have exactly the ingredients I needed in my kitchen, even though I desperately need to go grocery shopping. This super cool chica is moving in to my house today.
I'm feeling incredibly lucky and hoping it lasts.
So, it's making me think, it's really just all about the groove. You get in the right mind set, approach, "vibe", and with a little bit of luck, everything falls into place. And that's how auditions are.
So for Mozart 3 I just have to get into the lovely-sound, great-intonation, spot-on-time, phrase-to-beat-1 groove. And then Strauss 1 I switch to the slightly-arrogant, pronounced-articulation, beautiful-sound and spot-on time groove. Beethoven 3 has it's triple meter groove, which is important to have in my head before I start. I know the Beethoven 9 groove, it's a bit easier to find. Focus on full air column, four levels of importance in the context of the orchestra. Brahms 3 groove-use more air than you think you'll need. Maintain the ends of the sub-phrases to make the big ones. Mahler 1- playing soft groove means relaxed and fully supported. Subdividing groove. Mendelssohn-nocturne groove. Shosty 5- marcato-solid-block-y groove. Ein Heldenleben- long-relaxed-air paired with snappy-fingers-and-great-rhythm groove. Til Eulenspiegel groove (not attempting to describe that one). Short Call groove- you know it when you have it.
As I write this, I realize that maybe when you're really IN the groove, you can't quite put words to it. With excerpts and life. You are so present and sure of what you are doing, that you just go ahead and play. That's what I like so much about music anyway, being present. That's what my life feels like right now.
Lastly, any of you that would like to shed some light on the Ravel-Piano-Concerto-in-G-groove, I would appreciate it!
Hmmm...was that post cheesy? Think so maybe.
I'm feeling incredibly lucky and hoping it lasts.
So, it's making me think, it's really just all about the groove. You get in the right mind set, approach, "vibe", and with a little bit of luck, everything falls into place. And that's how auditions are.
So for Mozart 3 I just have to get into the lovely-sound, great-intonation, spot-on-time, phrase-to-beat-1 groove. And then Strauss 1 I switch to the slightly-arrogant, pronounced-articulation, beautiful-sound and spot-on time groove. Beethoven 3 has it's triple meter groove, which is important to have in my head before I start. I know the Beethoven 9 groove, it's a bit easier to find. Focus on full air column, four levels of importance in the context of the orchestra. Brahms 3 groove-use more air than you think you'll need. Maintain the ends of the sub-phrases to make the big ones. Mahler 1- playing soft groove means relaxed and fully supported. Subdividing groove. Mendelssohn-nocturne groove. Shosty 5- marcato-solid-block-y groove. Ein Heldenleben- long-relaxed-air paired with snappy-fingers-and-great-rhythm groove. Til Eulenspiegel groove (not attempting to describe that one). Short Call groove- you know it when you have it.
As I write this, I realize that maybe when you're really IN the groove, you can't quite put words to it. With excerpts and life. You are so present and sure of what you are doing, that you just go ahead and play. That's what I like so much about music anyway, being present. That's what my life feels like right now.
Lastly, any of you that would like to shed some light on the Ravel-Piano-Concerto-in-G-groove, I would appreciate it!
Hmmm...was that post cheesy? Think so maybe.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
I should really post.
I'm not having much motivation to write on the ol' blog lately. But then I feel bad. All those avid readers, checking in daily, and day in day out, nothing. It's a bit selfish.
So, what's been going on lately, in no particular order?
I've been out twice with EGS-V (obviously Mexican, otherwise why the 4 initials?) and am very much looking forward to our plans for tomorrow night as well. Although I'm hesitant to call it any certain names prematurely, I'll just say that this time feels different for many reasons, and my "usual" in this area goes nowhere. So we shall see! (This is having this silly smile-y effect on me, in fact, the roomie CM is reminding me to be less perky, but it just isn't sinking in.)
I'm headed to NY in 11 days for an audition for the NWS. The list is coming along nicely and I've had the chance to play it for one musician I much respect, and at least two more practice rounds are on the way. It feels good to have a goal (really the only thing that gets me at all focused in the practice room) and I'm feeling positive. (Now the truth: I just want to go back in time and shake Ravel upside down and scream, "are you sure you want to write that for the first horn in your Piano Concerto in G" until he decides he doesn't want to and then I can come back to the current time and not have to worry about it!) I'm also looking forward to being in NY and seeing a few old friends on the way.
The house is under transition from 66% male to 66% female. Things are going smoothly and I'm hoping we will all be re-accustomed shortly.
Ok, yeah, I'm done. Sorry guys, I'm just not in the mood!
So, what's been going on lately, in no particular order?
I've been out twice with EGS-V (obviously Mexican, otherwise why the 4 initials?) and am very much looking forward to our plans for tomorrow night as well. Although I'm hesitant to call it any certain names prematurely, I'll just say that this time feels different for many reasons, and my "usual" in this area goes nowhere. So we shall see! (This is having this silly smile-y effect on me, in fact, the roomie CM is reminding me to be less perky, but it just isn't sinking in.)
I'm headed to NY in 11 days for an audition for the NWS. The list is coming along nicely and I've had the chance to play it for one musician I much respect, and at least two more practice rounds are on the way. It feels good to have a goal (really the only thing that gets me at all focused in the practice room) and I'm feeling positive. (Now the truth: I just want to go back in time and shake Ravel upside down and scream, "are you sure you want to write that for the first horn in your Piano Concerto in G" until he decides he doesn't want to and then I can come back to the current time and not have to worry about it!) I'm also looking forward to being in NY and seeing a few old friends on the way.
The house is under transition from 66% male to 66% female. Things are going smoothly and I'm hoping we will all be re-accustomed shortly.
Ok, yeah, I'm done. Sorry guys, I'm just not in the mood!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
