With Mahler's Ears

October 18, 2006 at 10:40 PM

Taking a short break. I'm starting on the Mahler 5 part that came in the mail. It is my first concert with that Symphony, which is so exciting. Going in with style! The first three pages are so incredibly hard to even know if you are even playing the wrong notes unless you stop and check each one....I've played this before, and I remember lots of time devoted to listening to the recording with both the score and my part out. I'm going to be doing that again tonight.

I looked on the JSO page and they have finally updated their roster. So my name is on there! I'm not sure why that made me happy, but it did.

I put new strings on both instruments today. Broke down and bought two sets of Obligatos. I'll have to get myself an extra gig or something in order to pay for them....but it makes such an incredible difference. Even on the viola, which was new string-old string. With one of the Aricore's still on, I plucked the other three new ones around it and then the Aricore D, and it sounded like it didn't even ring. Just kind of like.."pung". Good to know. I think I will not stray again from what I know works, nomatter how tempting it is to experiment.

I'm taking my voila to a luthier. I was thinking a trade, but he suggested that I play some violas they have there, and then they can alter my neck and fingerboard to make it the same as the size/shape that works for me. It is only 110 dollar job. Hm...I'm thinking. I need an appraisal on my viola first. And also to make sure that teh problem is really in that part of the instrument. The whole darned thing might just be outrageously heavy for it's small size.

Can always carve it out like a pumpkin.!!!

Sals,
JW

p.s. I did play yesterday, and recorded Bach Suite no. 3 Sarabande. I'll post it when I get it transfered to the computer.

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on October 18, 2006 at 11:08 PM

Cool.... Lol It made me happy also when My name was finally posted on the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra website.

From Donna Clegg
Posted on October 19, 2006 at 1:40 PM

Amen on the name thing. The SCSO still has the roster/picture from 3 years ago on its web page. Ugh. The webmaster has promised to finally do an update soon. It made me happy just to see my name on last week's program!

From Tom Holzman
Posted on October 19, 2006 at 3:26 PM

Wow! You are playing all the stuff I cannot stand. First Dickie Wagner and now Mahler. Good luck!

From jennifer steinfeldt warren
Posted on October 19, 2006 at 8:36 PM

Awww. I'm happy to be playing Wagner and Mahler. My other favourite to play in orchestra is Shostakovich. Another one I like to play in orchestra is the Thomas Thalis. Schubert is fun, too. Actually, there aren't that many pieces I absoulutely don't like to play, in the true sense of orchestral literature. It is when we have to play medly's or accompany a musician in a non-classical style, with orchestrated band parts....

Or show music. Though I suppose Wagner could arguably be show music. Opera is usually not like show music.

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With Mahler's Ears

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