Aaah! Summer at Last!
Graduations have just finished. There are six elementary and two secondary schools in the parish. End-of-year activities are numerous! I spent the first week after the holiday weekend, straightening things out -- they tend to get jumbled once the sprint starts at the beginning of Lent.
I had already reported that I was set to go to two concerts in June. Despite being busy I was blessed to be able to go to both. Each featured a pianist currently popular on the classical music scene and a prominent piece by Rachmaninoff. Gabriela Montero played Variations on a Theme of Paganini and Yuja Wang ( www.yujawang.com ) played the 3rd Piano Concerto.
For both concerts I was positioned on the floor on the left hand side so that I could get a good view of all that hard work. While classical music is highly developed, it really shouldn't be thought of as derived. It needs to have life and the involvement of the musicians is just as important as when a pop performer is clearly "into" their song. It is also the spirit of co-operation between soloist, conductor and orchestra members that I find very inspiring. Each role requires consistency, trust and significant personal identification with the music and the other musicians. It is very rich and is not paralleled too much in other genres except perhaps jazz. Most other music we listen to is the product of the same musicians working together. In something like a piano concerto a great many musicians come together for a short but very intense encounter.
Gabriela Montero ( www.gabrielamontero.com ) is also known her skill at improvisation. While dating at least some in the audience, she played improvisations based on, "The Mickey Mouse Club" and then "The Adams Family Theme". It wouldn't surprise me if Ms. Montero relaxes after a concert with some improv playing into the wee hours.
Yuja Wang is young still. The intermission interview was kind of funny as a senior classical music critic in the city tried to engage her in ready conversation. Instead her answers were brief and matter-of-fact. She likes playing the music that she plays.
Rachmaninoff is for me a composer who stretches out my emotions. I find his music full of breath. It resonates in some profound place without fail.
I had already reported that I was set to go to two concerts in June. Despite being busy I was blessed to be able to go to both. Each featured a pianist currently popular on the classical music scene and a prominent piece by Rachmaninoff. Gabriela Montero played Variations on a Theme of Paganini and Yuja Wang ( www.yujawang.com ) played the 3rd Piano Concerto.
For both concerts I was positioned on the floor on the left hand side so that I could get a good view of all that hard work. While classical music is highly developed, it really shouldn't be thought of as derived. It needs to have life and the involvement of the musicians is just as important as when a pop performer is clearly "into" their song. It is also the spirit of co-operation between soloist, conductor and orchestra members that I find very inspiring. Each role requires consistency, trust and significant personal identification with the music and the other musicians. It is very rich and is not paralleled too much in other genres except perhaps jazz. Most other music we listen to is the product of the same musicians working together. In something like a piano concerto a great many musicians come together for a short but very intense encounter.
Gabriela Montero ( www.gabrielamontero.com ) is also known her skill at improvisation. While dating at least some in the audience, she played improvisations based on, "The Mickey Mouse Club" and then "The Adams Family Theme". It wouldn't surprise me if Ms. Montero relaxes after a concert with some improv playing into the wee hours.
Yuja Wang is young still. The intermission interview was kind of funny as a senior classical music critic in the city tried to engage her in ready conversation. Instead her answers were brief and matter-of-fact. She likes playing the music that she plays.
Rachmaninoff is for me a composer who stretches out my emotions. I find his music full of breath. It resonates in some profound place without fail.
