This will be a short blog post, because I don't have any pictures, didn't go on any expeditions and spent most of the week practicing for the recital tonight which M and I are sharing. It has been doocedly hot here, which I dislike. The days have been packed with things like rehearsals and competitions and lessons. Even this weekend has been full of stuff, which I also dislike. And I haven't even started studying for the Music History exam this Tuesday.
The one notable item this week was International Freak Day, which takes place on February 19th.
Hope to give you a better blog post next week (but don't get your hopes up - after all, y'all don't pay me for these publications ;)
- Antisocial Violinist
Sunday, 22 February 2015
Sunday, 15 February 2015
February 15, 2015
My theory was correct!! After the dress rehearsal before the Monday orchestra concert, our section leader said to the violas, "In Uranus, are you guys putting down your bows for the pizz section?" The principal violist didn't hear him and said "What?" So our principal said again, even louder, "In Uranus...." and Scott interrupted and said "The Magician, say The Magician, it just avoids so many problems..."
I was quite pleased to have my theory confirmed.
Scott also thought we should play the movements out of order, and have the audience guess which planet is which. I supported this idea. We could have a poll, and prizes for those who get them all right. I greatly enjoy audience participation.
This weekend I went on some expeditions with my new caching friends. Yesterday we were in and around Golden Gate Park and the Panhandle, and today we went to Pine Lake Park and Merced Heights.
- Antisocial Violinist
I was quite pleased to have my theory confirmed.
Scott also thought we should play the movements out of order, and have the audience guess which planet is which. I supported this idea. We could have a poll, and prizes for those who get them all right. I greatly enjoy audience participation.
This weekend I went on some expeditions with my new caching friends. Yesterday we were in and around Golden Gate Park and the Panhandle, and today we went to Pine Lake Park and Merced Heights.
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| Cachie |
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| But what about the Liberal Scots |
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| I think this is one of the artsiest photos I have ever taken. |
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| Found a pencil in the branches |
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| Pine Lake |
- Antisocial Violinist
Sunday, 8 February 2015
February 8, 2015
This week Ken Slowik was in town to play a concert with Ian and our baroque cello teacher. He's the curator of the Smithsonian Musical Instrument collection and an accomplished cellist, gambist and fortepianist, which is what he was playing in the concert. I managed to make myself useful during their week of rehearsals by lending Ian a baroque bow, tying gut strings, checking the balance, lending them my black wire stand and turning pages at the concert. It was wonderful to see them rehearse. When all was done, Ian gave me half a tuna salad sandwich (???) as compensation (???) and I ate it for dinner the next day (???).
But that's not the whole story. What actually happened at the concert was this: the 3 of them played a Haydn trio, then Ian and Mr Slowik played a Schubert sonata. I was watching them as they finished the first movement, which has a soft and gentle ending, and as just they were playing the last note I saw some strange lights begin to flash. Then an obnoxious alarm began to whoop loudly. Then the intercom came on and informed us that the fire alarm had been pulled. Perfect timing! We had a full house, and the entire audience had to troop outside and stand on the sidewalk in the night while the firefighters came and checked things out. Ian began to express a desire to call it a night and go home. Fortunately everyone wanted to hear the second half, so when we were allowed back into the building, they resumed the Schubert from the second movement.
I found some of this "Pretend Play Money" lying around in the lift at crew. I think it's from one of the opera scenes.
I filed my American taxes and was reminded that if I am married, I am married. Even if my spouse is not in the USA, I am still married.
On Saturday I went to Bernal Heights with some friends. I was displeased with the walking tempo of the others (you'd think they were 100 years old) and with the monologue of one of our companions (who shall remain nameless) which lasted almost the entire duration of the expedition. However, it did not spoil the trip (it takes a lot to really spoil trips) and the rain came on and off, and there was drifting fog over the city which made it look like an alien town. M said she felt like we were on another planet. I took some photos which don't do it justice so I won't post them, except for one shot which I think turned out to be very effective.
On the way home we found some slides and an angry restaurant.
This weekend we had orchestra concerts: "The Planets" and a piece by the winner of the composition competition. I have noticed that Scott refers to all the planets except one by their names (Saturn, Mars, Neptune etc.). I have not yet heard him say "Uranus"; instead he says "The Magician, please." I am certain he does this on purpose to avoid a word that sounds awkward whichever way you pronounce it.
- Antisocial Violinist
But that's not the whole story. What actually happened at the concert was this: the 3 of them played a Haydn trio, then Ian and Mr Slowik played a Schubert sonata. I was watching them as they finished the first movement, which has a soft and gentle ending, and as just they were playing the last note I saw some strange lights begin to flash. Then an obnoxious alarm began to whoop loudly. Then the intercom came on and informed us that the fire alarm had been pulled. Perfect timing! We had a full house, and the entire audience had to troop outside and stand on the sidewalk in the night while the firefighters came and checked things out. Ian began to express a desire to call it a night and go home. Fortunately everyone wanted to hear the second half, so when we were allowed back into the building, they resumed the Schubert from the second movement.
I found some of this "Pretend Play Money" lying around in the lift at crew. I think it's from one of the opera scenes.
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| It's smaller than an actual dollar bill - only about the length of my palm. |
I filed my American taxes and was reminded that if I am married, I am married. Even if my spouse is not in the USA, I am still married.
On Saturday I went to Bernal Heights with some friends. I was displeased with the walking tempo of the others (you'd think they were 100 years old) and with the monologue of one of our companions (who shall remain nameless) which lasted almost the entire duration of the expedition. However, it did not spoil the trip (it takes a lot to really spoil trips) and the rain came on and off, and there was drifting fog over the city which made it look like an alien town. M said she felt like we were on another planet. I took some photos which don't do it justice so I won't post them, except for one shot which I think turned out to be very effective.
On the way home we found some slides and an angry restaurant.
This weekend we had orchestra concerts: "The Planets" and a piece by the winner of the composition competition. I have noticed that Scott refers to all the planets except one by their names (Saturn, Mars, Neptune etc.). I have not yet heard him say "Uranus"; instead he says "The Magician, please." I am certain he does this on purpose to avoid a word that sounds awkward whichever way you pronounce it.
- Antisocial Violinist
Sunday, 1 February 2015
February 1, 2015
This week in orchestra we rehearsed The Planets. Scott said "Last week I had someone ask me why there was no Earth in The Planets." I REALLY wanted to say that it was because Earth hadn't been discovered yet.
After the same rehearsal we were striking the stage. One of my fellow crew members attempted to throw a plastic stand across the stage into the stand rack. It flipped upside down as it sailed through the air and hit the stage with a tremendous crash. The flat plastic part broke in half, ruining the stand. The best part was that none of us had even tried to stop him; we were watching the proceedings with interest.
In music history class we have been learning about one of Stravinsky's most famous ballets: What's Left of Autumn.
This weekend was mostly filled up with life-maintenance busywork which does not warrant inclusion in a blog, except for my trip to GGP today. I found some caches I've had my eye on for months, explored the Botanical Gardens for the first time and revisited some old spots. A very satisfactory trip overall.
- Antisocial Violinist
After the same rehearsal we were striking the stage. One of my fellow crew members attempted to throw a plastic stand across the stage into the stand rack. It flipped upside down as it sailed through the air and hit the stage with a tremendous crash. The flat plastic part broke in half, ruining the stand. The best part was that none of us had even tried to stop him; we were watching the proceedings with interest.
In music history class we have been learning about one of Stravinsky's most famous ballets: What's Left of Autumn.
This weekend was mostly filled up with life-maintenance busywork which does not warrant inclusion in a blog, except for my trip to GGP today. I found some caches I've had my eye on for months, explored the Botanical Gardens for the first time and revisited some old spots. A very satisfactory trip overall.
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| Magnolias in bloom |
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| A Lenten rose?? |
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| Big-ass tree stump with a cache inside |
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| Now here's something you don't usually see. |
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| Bloody violists never shower |
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| Yeah that's a California plant alright |
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| St. Francis? |
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| What a flower! |
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| Tree hair |
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| LOL! |
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| You see this kind of stuff a lot around here. |
- Antisocial Violinist