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WCU Orchestra repertory 2008-09 |
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 16:10 |
OK, so for the fall:
Joseph Suk - Asrael Symphony: an incredible piece about love, death, redemption. This is about 1 hour long, five movements, I think it will be a challenge, but hopefully worth doing it. Suk was Dvorak's student and son in law, and a violinist. Beautiful Romantic music.
Bartok - Dance Suite: Finally some Bartok at WCU, fun piece, based on Eastern-European folk music, only about 15 minutes.
Smetana - Moldau: Everyone loves this one.
Ives/Schumann - Variations on America
March
Mussorgsky/Ravel - Pictures at an Exhibition
senior/graduate soloists
April
Beethoven - Symphony no. 9
senior/graduate soloists
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My teacher Orlando Cole |
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Friday, 25 July 2008 16:10 |
During the 90's I had the wonderful pleasure of studying with Orlando Cole at Temple University. The highly intense doctoral program there allowed me to have lessons with Mr. Cole for 3 years. I recall my unconfessed concern about his older age - 84 yo at that point, hoping that he would stay healthy so I could take advantage of every lesson together. Who would have known that even today, in 2008, he'd still be teaching. The lessons were very different from my previous teacher, who was much more hands on about my private life (including interfering in one my relationships by lecturing my then fiance that she should not be making a commitment to a cellist who is one of "a-dime-a-dozen"). Mr. Cole was all about the music, no declarations about what I should be doing after graduation, or philosophical lectures about music and practicing. I the lesson I'd play the cello, he'd make a comment, and then play some more. Maybe 50 minutes of the lesson I was playing; that was a great example for me of a true teacher. Let the student play, don't lecture him/her because you like hearing yourself talking.
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Saturday, 28 June 2008 16:09 |
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Starting this August I am officially the new Music Director for the Immaculata Symphony. It is an exciting new relationship with a wonderful group musicians and who dedicate a lot of time to their love for ensemble playing. Most players hold a second job in a different field, or as music teachers, while several are students at Immaculata University, a wonderful Catholic school that nurtures young person's hopes and dreams and unites spiritual values with a practical approach to life, in a contemporary context. I have high hopes and goals, first of all artistic, and I will try to be that catalyst that will motivate all to go forward. I know I can do it, but I wonder if I will be successful. Not musically, I know that together we'll make great music, but beyond it. I think the organization needs to make some changes, mostly in the image department. The fund-raising can be strengthen also. The board of directors consists of mostly orchestra members, who give a lot of extra time. In any case, for the first concert we'll tackle Bruckner's 6th, a great work. The idea came this spring; Sylvia and I went to a Philadelphia Orchestra concert with Vadim Repin as soloist in the Sibelius concerto. We selected seats in the second row, right in front of the soloist, and what experience that was. You could see every smile, frown, fingering, bow turn, articulation, bow edge at the bridge and more. After the intermission we contemplated moving further away for the Bruckner Symphony, the 6th, but we decided to stay put. We were right behind Eschenbach, and right by concertmaster David Kim (whom I know from previous masterclasses we did together in Wilmington, Delaware). By the way, David Kim is a wonderful artist and a very warm person, modest, giving and inspiring. In any case, hearing the Bruckner from so close up, seeing the first violin section rip into the initial Brucknerian motive, seeing even Eschenbach get excited, was an experience that made me want to be part of this great work. So, here you have it, it came sooner than I thought, and I look forward to building those great, deep brass sonorities, and the large landscapes that make me see the Alpine ridges, snows and valleys, the noble Germanic spirit that seems full of myth and tradition. November 1st is the date of the concert, and even the season seems right for the composition.
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The Difference |
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Friday, 11 April 2008 16:09 |
The only difference between you and your dreams is "you."
After a few comments I decided to explain myself. If you want to be successful, you have to have big dreams. And small and medium dreams, too. They are all good. But the big ones are those that matter. How easy is to attain the big dreams? I think it is hard. It is so hard that most people stop before they achieve the dream. There are almost always obstacles; they will slow you down, they will try to stop you. But don't stop. You make the decision when to stop going after your dreams, so your actions and decisions make the difference between failing your dreams and achieving them.
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