The Lockdown Drill and more Carmen

This morning started with an all campus "lockdown" drill from 10:40-11:00. Music Theory started at 10:30, so we were walking down to class and we watched Marsh and Newby get into Newby's car and drive away. We were like "well there went our professors...". Apparently since there was a drill, they just postponed class until 11:00 and went to Starbucks. So we turned around and Andrew and I went up to Queen Anne (he to Jamba and I to Peet's Coffee (one of my favorite coffee shops)). Dr. Hanson was sitting in Peet's doing some work (I guess everyone just left campus for the lockdown drill). Class was good. Newby explained more of Set Theory and it makes a lot more sense now. He said once you get used to it, its actually easier than roman numeral analysis. I guess time will tell. Andrew experimented with it when we got back (of course) and came up with a really weird, but awesome piece of music.

After the chiropractor, I actually had a little time to take a nap before heading to rehearsal. It was very nice (and much needed). Carmen is proving to be very interesting. The horn section is getting shuffled around and people are missing rehearsals, so other people are coming in to cover the part for the night and we're switching parts around to get them covered. I hope we can pull it off. As it is, I'm playing a different part for each of the shows. I'm playing 4th Saturday night and 2nd on Sunday afternoon. It won't be a problem, but there's a few songs I've never played 4th. It won't be a problem, but its a little scary to think about. The first time you ever play something will be at a performance where it costs like $35 to get into. Ah well life goes on. Now I'm just hanging out and listening to Tosca - so far my favorite opera. I really have only began my opera journey. My interest really has only started this year. I am finally realizing the incredible beauty of it and how powerful it can be. I've only seen 2 operas live (The Flying Dutchman - Wagner and Tosca - Puccini) and I do like Wagner, but Dutchman is not my favorite. Carmen is the first one I've actually played. I really like it, but I do think Tosca still wins. Enough opera rambling.

Migraines and PCC

Today was quite an interesting day. It started with Kirstin's migraine, the first since the Reconciled concert (March 30) which was a really good run. I had music theory with Dr. Newby at 10:30 and he lectured about so much stuff, it was unbelievable. We learned that theory is only to be done if you are going to have fun, which makes sense cause it royally sucks if you aren't having fun. To quote "and if you're not having fun, an hour will seem like a freakin week." Words for the wise. We started looking at Prelude VI from Book I in class. We talked about pitch class as opposed to keys and how sometimes pitch classes will formulate modes (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor), Locrian), but other times will be tonally ambiguous. We began talking about Set Theory, which we just barely started talking about and I hardly understand. Set Theory is a method of writing/analysis which is entirely number based. For example, if you have the pitches A Bb C D F in your pitch class, you can assign those pitches numbers. Each half step is one number. Let me assign the pitch class numbers.
A = 0, Bb = 1, C = 3, D = 5, F = 8
Now when you go to write, you use number formulas instead of dealing with standard chords and pitches. This was the birth of atonal music. I'm stopping here because I don't fully understand the concept yet and I'm sure I'm explaining something incorrectly. That is what happens when you get 2 hours of Dr Newby with no break and no warning. Your brain freaking explodes.

The rest of the day proved even more interesting yet. I started to feel weird on the way to the chiropractor. I got in and got adjusted really fast and was definitely feeling a headache coming and realized it was definitely a migraine. Yay, both Kirstin and I have migraines. What a fun couple. I had work at PCC in like a half hour, so I took 2 Excedrin and worked from 3:30pm-12:30am. Which, by the way, is not fun with a migraine. Thankfully the Excedrin kicked in enough so it wasn't unbearable. It was a pretty slow evening, but definitely eventful, mostly thanks to Kjell.

Now I'm just unwinding from the day and am going to head off to bed. Yet another adventure filled day awaits, just lingering in the distance.

Carmen and Debussy

Carmen is great fun. I am having a ton of fun playing 4th horn! The orchestra is great (although small). After 2 rehearsals, we already sound pretty darn good. Tomorrow the singers are added, although I will miss for work. Too bad. But seeing how I'll be there Wednesday and Thursday too, I don't think I will die.

Speaking of dying, I'm taking a short break from analyzing Prelude X from Book 1 of Debussy's Preludes for Piano. It is a strange piece that uses a series of ascending, open 5ths over drones that move down by whole steps starting on G and arriving at C at the end of the first page (all we are working on for the assignment). I believe it is intended overall to be in C major, but there is a section that I think can be analyzed in E lydian (basically E major with an extra # (A#) - or B major starting on the 4th). I apologize if that confused you (it makes my head hurt too). I cannot be held liable for any head injury thus inflicted. Bis spaeter!

In the Eye of the Storm

Due to recent demand, I have emerged from the hurricane of events in which I live from day to day in order to impart further insight and observations to the masses.

My life is full of music. Everything reminds me of something I've heard or played. Sometimes that's really cool. But it can get annoying too. Part of my education is becoming familiar with tons and tons of music. I spend time listening to different works with scores and studying pieces I haven't played yet in preparation for playing them in the future. The library here on campus is a great resource. They have a ton of CDs and scores to most major works.

I don't get a chance to talk to some of you who read this very often so I will give you a quick update on some of the concerts I have been able to play recently and coming up soon. I still play with the Thalia Symphony, but instead of assistant horn, I've been moved the 3rd position (a great part) from now on. We are preparing a concert of Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer, Stamitz's Viola Concerto and Dvorak's 7th Symphony in d minor. Our last concert consisted of the Grieg Piano Concerto and the Northwest premier of Grieg's c minor Symphony. I was also able to fill in as an assistant horn for Seattle Philharmonic when they played Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony a month or so ago.

Starting tomorrow night, I will begin rehearsal for Bizet's Carmen with Bellevue Opera. This is the first time I will play an opera. I'm looking forward to the excitement and challenge that goes along with performing opera. Rehearsing every night in Renton will be a challenge that will hopefully pay off. I've now listened through Carmen twice (once with a score) and I really enjoy this opera. I will keep you updated with how the process of preparing for this opera unfolds.