One Down, Two To Go

I just finished my first of three performances and it went well. I'm looking forward to completing these and starting the Beethoven quartet. I'm also looking forward to this next weekend when we will be performing a side-by-side concert with the Cleveland Orchestra. We each sit with a member of the orchestra and perform two pieces, Capriccio Espangnol by Rimsky-Korsakov and The Three-Cornered Hat by Manuel de Falla. We (Kent/Blossom chamber orchestra) will also be playing Schubert's 3rd symphony and Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin by our selves that same night.

We had to leave our dorm today because of a fire alarm going off. It went off around 3:00 and our performance was at 3:30 so most of us were just getting ready to change into our concert dress but few of us had. Apparently someone on the third floor likes their food to be really well done. It wasn't major and we were able to get back into the dorm at 3:25. We hurriedly got dressed and were able to start the performance "fashionably" late (whatever that means).

My roommate from Bulgaria wonders why we say that the "alarm went off." Wouldn't it make more sense to say "went on?"

More from Infamous Kent State

My last post was really boring because I didn't really have time to say much. I've been busy. Today is the first real break I've had for the past two weeks. So here is something a little more interesting.

I wish that I had a camera because I would show you all kinds of things here at Kent State. I found a Hearing Aid Museum (I thought my Dad might be interested in that). I walk by it everyday because the Music Department is housed in the same building as the Speech and Communications Department. I haven't been in it yet but I plan to go before I leave.

I also saw the memorials for the students that were killed here, which is the reason why most Americans have heard of this school. A recently acquired friend who I met here (we are playing the Hummel Piano Quintet on Tuesday night) has a post about it up on his blog.

I'd also show you the new hall that Kent State has. We played in it on Wed night - see my previous post.

Ok, I guess I don't need a camera, hyperlinks will do.

I am almost done with the 3 pieces for the second session, all I have left to do is perform them - one each on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. For the next and last session I will be doing just one group, the Beethoven string quartet Op. 18 No. 2.
This will leave me time to work on some of my solo stuff (Bartok Viola Concerto, Bach Suite 2, and Sinfonia Concertante) plus the orchestral excerpts I need to learn for the Akron and Canton orchestra auditions (sometime in September).

I've been working with Robert Vernon in private lessons and repertoire classes and that has been great. I'm getting lots of good direction on playing the excerpts that I'll be auditioning with in September. I'm also reminded once again of the need to really focus on the work at hand and not to waste time on other things such as bloggi...

Viola Back From Hospital

I thought I should mention that my viola is doing fine and that I also got a new grip on my bow along with a re-hair.

Most of you are probably already bored with the post at this point so I'll move on.

We performed our first Orchestra concert last night: Beethoven's 8th Symphony, Bartok's Divertimento for strings, and Eclogue by Finzi (a piece for piano and strings). The Finzi piece was played by Joela Jones, a very fine pianist.

Our conductor was Theodore Kuchar, who conducts several orchestras internationally. I've enjoyed working with him in chamber group coachings as well.

I've been reading...

...Grace-Based Parenting by Dr. Tim Kimmel. My sister-in-law recommended this book to me. I appreciate all books about parenting because each of them reminds me that there are still people in the world who are interested in raising kids. A lot of people say that children are the future but not too many of these people are actually interested in "investing."

I thought that the book had some very good experienced-based insights and observations. However, I can only go so far as to say that Dr. Kimmel is...well..."on the right track." While he has, like I said, some good examples of Godly parenting strewn throughout the book, he really complicates things more than I think a person needs to. He's gotten lost amongst the trees of the forest I'm afraid.

One of the most annoying things about the book is his lack of a definition for "grace-based," a term used extinsively in the book. He'll give a three page example of some parenting episode and then say, "That is grace-based parenting." So the reader is left to piece together the definition of the term "grace-based" from several examples throughout 240 pages of reading. If the thesis of a work is not clearly defined then it leaves a weak foundation for the argument.

My conclusion is that the book is like a nice conversation with an older, more experienced parent (on his back porch with the sun setting, a cool 72 degrees, a light wind, and an icey glass of lemonade - after a days work...ahhh nice!)-oh right, where was I...a more experienced parent from whom you might get a few gems of wisdom.

In short, I like books that make me want to go study the Bible and this one was only interested in putting forth the undefined term "grace-based."

God tells it without all the clutter. If you want to convince someone of a biblical truth it's always most effective to use the Bible.

You might be wondering why I'm concerned with parenting since I have no children and I'm not married. There's a simple explanation. Why wait to start thinking about how you will parent when you have children. Once you're there you'll need to be parenting!

My Viola has problems...SERIOUS problems

I had to post something about my sick viola. It started to make funny noises about a week ago and it's only gotten worse. I'm sure most of you won't be able to identify with this but when your instrument isn't sounding and responding like it normally does then it's like having...like...having...your clothes on backwards all the time. Everything just doesn't feel right and you're very uncomfortable until you fix it.

I haven't really said anything cognitive here but I do feel better.

The beggining of the end of the story is that my viola is being fixed (loose seam) and I have a loaner until Tuesday. I'm looking forward to being reunited with it so that all can be right with the world again.

Nepo-who?!?

I'm now into my second session here at Kent/Blossom music festival and I'm starting to get busy. Instead of just one 2-hour rehearsal a day(last session), I have two and tommorrow we start having orchestra rehearsals as well. I'm realizing the need to practice more on my own stuff on top of all of this. I'm not complaining though; I enjoy it very much.

I'm now rehearsing two Mozart flute quartets and a piano quintet by Johann Hummel (this is with bass instead of an extra violin). As there is only one bassist here at the festival (Matt) ,he and I are again working together as we did on the Martinu piece from last session.

Our coach for the Hummel is Jerry Wong, a pianist on the faculty here at Kent State. We had our first coaching with him today and it went well. I really like his sense of musicality and I think that he is a great chamber coach. I'm really enjoying his attention to detail. As one of my former bosses (Tim) would say, "It's the attention to detail that makes all the difference," and in this piece it's the difference between boring and interesting. There's a reason that Hummel's quintet is overshadowed by the much more famous (and more well written) "Trout" quintet that Schubert wrote. But I'm starting to think that we'll make something great out of our performance. We have another coaching tommorrow.

I'm starting to really enjoy the flute quartets as well with our coach Joshua Smith, principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra. Another great musician I get the chance to work with here. I will be performing all three of these works in a week and a half.

Interesting Facts:

1. Hummel's middle name is Nepomuk. Anyone need a baby name? For some strange reason babynames.com didn't have it in their database.
   
   
2. If you google both Schubert and Hummel, Hummel comes up with less than half of Schuberts 1.1 million hits.
   
   
3. I like hyperlinks.

This is my Martinu group. We just performed Martinu's sextet last night and it went pretty well. Standing L to R: Bekah (viola), Daisuke (violin), Jared (cello), Me (viola), Natalie (cello), Scott Haigh (our coach and first assistant principal bass of the Cleveland Orchestra). Knealing L to R: Ari (violin), Matt (bass). For those who are into details you know that sextet means six and you've probably noticed that there are seven players. That's because Martinu decided to add a bass part for when an orchestra plays the piece. If I ever played the piece as a small ensemble again I don't think it would sound right to me without the bass.

The car my brother gave me just recently. Thanks Bro. Notice the car on the right side of the photo waiting patiently for me to finish.

The really nice, air-conditioned dorms we're staying in at the Kent/Blossom Music Festival. My window is third from the right on the top - a totally useless piece of information.

My youngest niece Alisa holding my youngest nephew Tobias. She's wondering where he got all that cool hair. Are those the Jr. size boxing mitts on his hands??

My oldest niece Lydia holding my youngest nephew Tobias. She's got a sparkle in her eye like she wants to be a mom someday - oh wait, that's just a glare.

My newest nephew, Tobias Caden Holden! I'm not liable for any neck injuries due to viewing this photo.

I've been reading...

The inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany by Martin Goldsmith. It's an interesting look into the personal lives of two young musicians and their fledgling romance preceding the outbreak of World War II. This Jewish couple find themselves in the Kulturbund deutscher Juden (Culture Association of German Jews) along with all the other Jewish artists in Germany, evicted from their normal jobs in Germany's orchestras and other arts institutions. It tells of there plight during the ever increasing restrictions on Germany's Jews up to and during the beginning of the war. During this time they continued to play in the Kulturbund orchestra until they were able to obtain visas and emigrate to America in June of 1941.

The most striking portion of the book is chapter 24, a group of letters sent to the newly emigrated couple by their family asking them to do all they can to help them get out of Europe. In many cases there wasn't much one could do to help family, you were lucky enough to get out yourself. One letter sent from the father of the young husband was particularly berating. The author (a son of the couple) makes this poignant statement:

Try as I might, I cannot imagine what my father must have thought and felt when he opened that letter in his cozy apartment in New York. What lacerations of guilt and fear and pity must have scarred his soul! To have his own father, trapped in unspeakable surroundings, level such accusations of indifference and selfishness at him must have been unbearable.

Two thoughts came to my mind while reading this book. First, America has a great history of freedom and the level and consistency at which we have lived as a country is unparalleled. The men and women who with determination and persistence built this country have given us a great gift of liberty and well-being. This story reminded me how great our country is and how liberating it was for many people during the evil times of the Nazi Reich.

Secondly, I think the reason chapter 24 hits me the way it does is because I feel in some way the same as those Jews who made it out yet were forced to leave family in Europe to die. I am not Jewish nor did I leave any family in Europe or anywhere else, but I, like a lot of Americans can find it easy to become complacent about the rest of the hurting world while I'm in my "cozy apartment". In our case it's much easier to be complacent than for the Jewish emigrants of the 1930's and 40's. We haven't gone from oppression to liberty as they did. We don't get the full impact of the magnitude of our freedom because for many of us it's normal. The sad irony is that we who are now in a great position to help those in need, often times feel little guilt or pity for them. I'm reminded of the orphans in Haiti that I had the chance to meet. I was able to see how well I am living here in America.

Who, if not I; who, if not Christians, will be humble servants of God and care for those he loves. Why should we be complacent lovers of self. The Lord Jesus Christ isn't.

Jesus's command to His disciples could be applied to us as believing Americans: Freely you received, freely give.

Some NPR links:
Inextinguishable Symphony
The Inextinguishable Symphony Continues
Goldsmith in Germany

Oboe mating calls?

I've just finished my first week at the Kent/Blossom Music Festival and things are going great. It's very nice here and the people seem to be very nice. I have a good roommate, Stanil. He's from Plovdiv, Bulgaria and plays the oboe. He makes oboe reeds every night and when he tests them out it sounds like some kind of bird mating call. I keep wondering what might wander your way if you were to go out in the woods and test some reeds. I might try it sometime.

I'll be going to the Blossom Festival tonight to hear the Cleveland Orchestra! They're playing Tchaik 4. Should be good as always. While we're here all of us students get to go for free.

Well, I must go...my viola is calling.

Summer, Music, Free - ...

...what's not to like. I'm at Kent State University as part of the Kent/Blossom Music Festival; a full scholarship summer institute. I'm studying with members of the Cleveland Orchestra, the Miami Quartet, and conductor Theodore Kuchar. I'll be here until Aug 15th.

The mailing address is:

Kent State University
Blossom Conference
8 Midway Drive
Centennial Court A
Kent, OH 44243

I've been reading...

...Ben Shapiro's book Porn Generation : How Social Liberalism is Corrupting our Future.

First off, I have to say that I'm glad that someone from my generation is speaking up. In the book Shapiro points out all the ways that our generation is becoming jaded to the rampant decline of morality and offers suggestions on what to do about it. The book takes a good moral snapshot of America and offers insights into the jadedness of American youth.

I can't say I'm in complete agreement with all the conclusions and solutions he gives but I do want to bring out one point that he mentioned. Christians are becoming a part of the moral deviancy of America. What should we expect from the world if we as believers don't mind a little conservative deviancy too. God tells us to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2

We've conformed in many cases and in many ways. Shouldn't the culture of Christians be getting more and more different as the world gets more and more devient?

Let's be different. Let's be the ones that put the world's morality in context.

Tobias!

Yesterday I could have said that these were all of my nephews, but not any more! Tobias Caden was born today around 7:30am after many hours of through-the-night labor. He was 9-something pounds and 21 inches long. I haven't had a chance to talk to my brother - it's his boy - but I hope to soon. I'm collecting them like baseball cards! Tobias is my number 7 nephew and number 11 nephew/niece (I'm still looking for the correct term for that). Maybe some pictures are in order??

My very first post!

I'm new to blogging. I hope it proves to be a good way to keep in touch and let people know what I'm doing. I don't know how often I'll be posting but I guess we'll find out. More to come soon!