tigidapipa

September 17, 2007 at 12:58 AM

Tigidapipa, Tigidapipa, Tigidapipa, Tigadipipa. Say that 10 times fast. Say that 3 times fast even. Then try that and play percussion instruments at the same time with 3 other other musicians.

Everyone, at some point in their life, whether they hate newmusic or not, should sit through an all contemporary music performance. No, Stravinksy and Schoenberg don't count. Sorry. I mean post 1980. Last night I got to spend a couple of hours in the very funky Telus Theatre which is located inside the beautiful Chan Centre for the Performing Arts on the campus of UBC overlooking the ocean. The Telus Theatre is set up so you can watch from all four angles of the stage or so that it's like a round theatre. I sat in the 2nd of three balcony seating areas. It was an incredible concert with really good variety. There was a piece for electrified flute which was very cool. It had some really neat percussive effects and I honestly have no clue how the guy played it. There was a piano trio which was very beautiful, by Bright Sheng. I've seen new music performed before but never in a genuine setting like that. It's always been a well received piece that's been tacked onto a program, not a program devoted entirely to stuff that people have never really heard before and the experience was an incredibly satisfying one. So, even if you've never been to see new music before or think you hate it, stretch your mind a little bit and take in a concert like that once in awhile. You might be pleasently surprised and in addition, you're supporting the future Beethovens and Mozarts of our own generation.

I've had my first lesson this past week and it went pretty well. It's going to take some time to adjust to a new and different teacher but I'm hopeful that things will work out! There's already a masterclass scheduled for October 5th and I'm supposed to have my new Bach mvt memorised and prepared for it. Help!

I got into Choral Union at school so now I have the task of mastering Verdi's incredible Requiem between now and December 1st in addition to my scads of orchestra concerts repertoire, my own repertoire and chamber stuff.

Back to practicing! And doing laundry, and grocery shopping and cooking and such.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on September 17, 2007 at 3:50 PM

Sounds like things are going real well. Good luck with the Bach at the masterclass.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on September 18, 2007 at 7:19 AM

You've got a heavy load, but you're handling it very well. Keep it up. I'm sure you'll do great things.

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