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Yeah...so I know I've been kind of dead here lately (aka: completely dead).
Being in three ensembles kind of does that to you .
I guess I should bring things up to speed.
1) I'm sitting principal in the UT Symphony. So I have to appear to know what I'm doing. We're playing:
- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Really entertaining. Pretty standard. I live for The Hut of Baba Yaga.
- Corigliano: Promenade Overture SUCH a mess. It's the opposite of the Haydn "Farewell" symphony, because instead of the instrumentalists leaving one-by-one, they come on the stage one-by-one. Imagine...marching cellists. No, seriously.
- Shostakovich: String Sinfonia on Quartet No. 8. WHY are we playing this? Yes, this is the same quartet I played for a freaking year... except all the parts are like...8-pled. It's kind of a disaster.
UT streams the concerts live, so if you are interested in hearing it, I'm going to post a link on the concert day (Monday) and everybody can listen to it from the comfort of their home .
2) I'm also the only violist in the New Music Ensemble, which is playing one of the most entertaining programs I've been on. Highlights:
- FUCKING FRANK ZAPPA. G-SPOT TORNADO. End of discussion. It has a mandolin, harp, celeste, guitar and xylophone. And is totally amazing. - Daugherty: What's That Spell? It's a song about Barbies. Yes, the plastic dolls. Including a "Lament for Ken"...staged with two soprano Barbies and the cellist as "Ken."
This is also streamed, but on Tuesday night. I'll post a link to that as well.
3) I went to ACL Fest and it was FUCKING AMAZING. I was up front for Muse, again (just like last year) -- except this time their show was on the main stage, and since the White Stripes cancelled, they became the main act and thus played for an hour and a half. I was hoarse for two days from screaming in some bitch's ear. I also got autographs from Dax Riggs and Andrew Bird, which was really nice. Pictures:
Spoiler:
Matt is playing a clear-lidded Kawai piano with lights that correspond to the keys. Hot.
Crazy big screen with lyrics in the background.
Dancing robots in the background on Supermassive black hole.
Andrew Bird. I couldn't get very close to the stage, but I shook his hand, so it's all good.
4) My digital camera bit the dust. I'm buying a new one this weekend, but it sucked because I couldn't take pictures at ACL Fest . I had to spend $12 on a stupid disposable camera which took shitty pictures. See above.
5) My parents are coming!
Also, I pinched a nerve (the ulnar nerve, to be exact) in my arm from practicing that Frank Zappa piece. I couldn't really play for a week, because my ring and pinky fingers were basically numb and therefore couldn't do anything on the viola. However, it's a lot better now, thanks to rest and some B vitamins.
There. That's what I've been doing.
And tomorrow (today?) is my birthday So I'm 22. Yay.
Boy talk and salsa dancing -- later.
Response to:
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No, seriously.
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. I had to spend $12 on a stupid disposable camera which took shitty pictures. See above.
