b Saturday, May 26, 2007 a
Oh and I forgot to mention...
August 30th: University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra Auditions (AHHH!!!!)
Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8, Opus 13...Pathetique - Adagio cantabile.
In a singing style
Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune from Suite Bergamasque
Sergei Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2
Inspired and dedicated to his psychiatrist who nursed him out of depression
It's amazing what these three pieces consecutively can do for a person's mood. The first piece sets the mood, the second piece really sets you imagining Moonlight and consecutively, reflection on your deepest thoughts. Rachmaninov's opening movement stirs you slightly out of your thoughts but then proceeds to lead you through his second movement gently. In the final movement, he rouses you and awakens a feeling of joy and soaring even from the darkest despairs of your heart with the final theme of the last movement, summarizing his struggle and his triumph over depression.
Just wow...what an emotional roller coaster...
Labels: Music Appreciation, Random
The angels whisper softly 1:13 AM
b Wednesday, May 23, 2007 a
By popular request (and by popular, I'm referring to Wei Li's tag on my tagboard to the left), I'm updating.
Except there's not really much to update about. The concert on Sunday was worse than during rehearsal. I don't understand how the dress rehearsal went better than the actual concert. It's usually the other way around. People are usuall in tears during the dress rehearsal because it's so bad. Even the soloist had to go find another cello the day before the concert because it "opened up"...that's what's written on the program. I don't exactly know if it means the SOUND opened up or the whole thing actually physically opened up. Anyways, major suckage.
And for some inexplicable reason, I'm going to be very busy with music-related things until around mid-July. I guess it's okay since I'm considering a B.A. in music performance or conducting (with my pre-med stuff), but it's not so okay because my pre-med courses require a lot of stuff that I'm not sure I can remember anymore. 1 year General Chem with lab, 1 year ORGANIC (AHHH!!!) chem with lab, 2 years math, 1 year physics with lab. Then I have to take the MCATs. *screams*
Anyways, here's what's going on.
May 20th: Penang Visits (Braddell Heights Symphony Orhcestra)
June 4th: Performance for National Day Participants with the President as VIP. (SNCO)
July 7th: SSA 40th Anniversary Concert Spectacular! (Ok I made the name up...whatever) (SNCO)
July 13th (or was it 20th? I'll check this): Guest playing in concert (Nanyang Poly Symphony Orchestra)
With regards to the last concert, I have absolutely no idea what I'm playing...but I'm finding out this Saturday. As it is, my rehearsal schedule is something like:
NYPSO: Saturday mornings until 1300
SNCO: Saturday evenings 1800-2130 (sometimes Sundays)
BHSO: Sunday afternoons 1500-1800
So...weekends? Psssshhtttt....down the pipe. Oh not to mention meetings every last Sunday of the month from 1400-1530.
Not that I'm complaining. I love music. I just hate the headaches and grief that comes tied with it...I can't say I'm looking forward to practicing 3-4 hours a day when I get back to school, but I know it's a necessity and I'll feel a lot more accomplished once I do it. Now with conducting...I have to see. If I had a choice, I'd get the performing B.A. over the conducting B.A.
Hmmm this has turned out to be a bit long huh. Ah well...August 10th shall be the last day of work, and school starts August 26th for me. CAN'T WAIT!!!
Don't expect much updates from here...will be busy practicing like there's no tomorrow. Good night!
~Guang YiLabels: Random
The angels whisper softly 11:15 PM
b Sunday, May 06, 2007 a
Heylo...I've been really, REAAAALLLY busy and haven't had time to blog here. Apologies. First of all, thank you to everyone who's provided insight on what I could possibly do to help me decide :)
I've been running from rehearsal to rehearsal to concerts to functions, etc etc. Went to watch Strains of Majesty on Friday, Phantom yesterday, and went to Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra today.
Strains of Majesty was with Nina Kotova playing the Dvorak Cello Concerto. Can you believe she has both a Strad AND a Guarneri? I don't know which instrument she played on that night, but the miking was quite bad because the balance with soloist and orchestra wasn't quite there. Props to her for making herself heard though. After that was Beethoven Symphony Number 3: Eroica, initially dedicated to Napoleon, but Beethoven removed the dedication after Napoleon crowned himself emperor. Not one of my favorite symphonies as it was a bit drawn out, but the first movement is really cool.
As for Phantom of the Opera...I guess I went in expecting too much, or I'm just a spoilt child because I've seen the Broadway version. They changed the lyrics on a few of the songs...I guess it kind of worked but growing up with the original lyrics, it was a bit weird. Not to mention my seat was awful considering I paid 80 bucks. Needed to buy binoculars to see. The conductor was conducting the music a bit too fast (to the point where the actors and actresses were stringing their lyrics together). Christine...I hate to say it, but she was sharp the whole show. I don't know if it was because of a sound problem or anything...but it was just sharp. Enough to make me shuffle in my seat everytime she sang.
On the other hand, the phantom was very, very good.
I figured I needed to get myself built up stamina- and skill-wise for orchestra playing again, so I've opted to help out Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra, who're having a concert on May 20th. They're playing Saint Saens Symphony no. 1, Dvorak Carneval, and Haydn Cello Concerto. The symphony is a bit boring, the cello concerto is very good...like, the soloist is phenomenal. Very clean playing and he gets all his notes out. Carneval...ugh. Just...ugh. It's in cut time and it's high and I'm gonna have to practice it a lot if I want to get it ready by the 20th.
There's an SNCO performance in the beginning of June as well as on July 7th as well, so I have to prepare for those as well. On TOP of that, I have to prepare my solo piece for my Rochester Orchestra audition. Sigh...that'll be nerve-racking because I can't imagine what I'd do if I don't get in...ugh...
Well that's about it for now...have to work tomorrow. Medical appointment tomorrow afternoon, driving in the afternoons on Tuesday and Wednesday (thus half days off as well), and a full day off on Thursday for my.....DRIVING PRACTICAL EXAM. Woohoooooo!! Hope I pass! That's all!
~Guang YiLabels: Random
The angels whisper softly 11:19 PM