I just love getting presents in the mail. However, I’m pretty terrible about MAILING presents. In fact, I have a small pile of gifts from my cruise (yes…almost two months ago) that I keep meaning to mail. Or maybe I’ll just wait and deliver them in person. In any case…not the point.
The point: Today I received a small package in the mail from my sister Leslie. Now, she could have waited to give me this in person, but lucky for me she didn’t! She was in Luzerne, Switzerland for a few weeks over the summer.
It's a cowbell and a luggage (violin case) tag!
The package was ringing when I got it, so I knew it was a bell of sorts, but WOW! It’s a fantastic bell.
Tonight we went to Pi in the Central West End for some (long awaited) pizza. Chris and I split a deep dish pizza…I love the crust there. It’s corn meal based, and is just uniquely delicious and crunchy. When we go we usually split a pizza and a salad–the salads come in a large size, perfect for sharing. Tonight we had the Bada Bing, and the pizza was a mix of the South Side Classico and the Western Addition (half and half, not some odd combination). We left feeling completely stuffed and happy!
The rest of the week should be okay, especially with such an easy Monday (thanks again Columbus Day!). I’m most excited about my first 5k race on Saturday and my chamber music rehearsals (for the Chamber Project Concert) on Sunday. I’ve been working hard for both–I ran 2 miles STRAIGHT today (NO walk breaks), and of course I’ve been practicing. We are playing three pieces: Beethoven Trio for Flute, Violin, and Viola; Ravel Introduction and Allegro; and Mozart Clarinet Quintet. (I feel like there is just too much punctuation in that sentence, but I’m currently quite tired and don’t feel like looking it up. The Beethoven is the only one I haven’t played before and is therefore most difficult. There is a really neat variation movement I am looking forward to, among other parts. I just love Beethoven variation movements (I’m sure my readers can think of many–Eroica, Op 18 #5 for starters).
Today is a half day for me as one of my schools is closed. Though I don’t get paid vacation/days off, they are still really nice to have on occasion to regroup.
Sunday was a great day. I met a good friend, Melissa, for brunch at Koppermann’s Deli in CWE. (She had a Groupon). The food was quite good, and the weather was perfect for outdoor seating. I always like to try the eggs benedict at new breakfast places (even though I doubt the hollandaise sauce is actually “diet-friendly”) and though I still think nothing compares to the Inn on Coventry (in Cleveland Heights), this was pretty good. It was a nice place to eat, and I would definitely return if the weather was nice outside.
After brunch we headed over to St Louis Community College to see our friends at Chamber Project St. Louis play a concert. They did a bunch of shorter pieces for various combinations of instruments by composers such as Jennifer Higdon and Libby Larson, among others.
Program:
AMERICAN ACOUSTIC
with guest
Amanda Kirkpatrick, piano
Program for October 10, 2010
DASH (2001) and Lullaby
Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962)
flute, soprano saxohone, piano
Doppler Effect (2008)
Adrienne Albert
flute, clarinet, piano
Black Birds, Red Hills (1987)
Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
viola, clarinet, piano
American Counterpoint (2002)
David Gillingham
flute, clarinet, saxophone
Barn Dances (2001)
Libby Larsen (b. 1950)
flute, clarinet, piano
I enjoyed watching/hearing them play! I look forward to performing with the group on their November 5th concert.
It was a nice relaxing Sunday–got to practice, ran 4.5 miles on the treadmill (including some hill practice) and did a bit of reading as well. I’m just reading for fun right now–I’m loving the True Blood series of books by Charmaine Harris. I recommend reading the series if you need quick, easy entertainment.
Remember my obsession with the “retro camera” app? I thought it would be fitting to get a few “retro kitty” pics.
Tonight I played for my student Ben’s wedding. He has been taking violin with me for close to two years and asked me to play for his wedding. I was honored to do so! I met his fiance (now wife) Erin at the class recital in June and the two are a great couple.
I wanted to take some pictures during the ceremony but I thought it would be obtrusive as we were seated up front. I used the retro camera app on my phone to take a few beforehand.
View from our seats of the Artists Guild in ClaytonWhat a gorgeous fall day!The chairs were all around these gigantic flower bedsTheir Huppah
All in all, it was a beautiful wedding. We had been invited to stay for dinner, but there was a small series of unfortunate events and we had to leave beforehand. The venue was really nice (Artists Guild in Clayton) and the band sounded fantastic (I’ll have to ask Ben who they were, might have been friends of his as he is a musician.) Congrats to Ben and Erin and best wishes in the future!
It’s a three wedding day. I have done two so far, and I took some neat pictures that I wanted to share. I have an HTC Hero and have recently been messing around with some camera “apps.”
Butterfly House in Faust Park
The first wedding was outdoors. Originally they set us up in the sun next to a bunch of flowers, which were buzzing with bees. We moved to get a bit further from the bees (imagine that! Not wanting to play for over an hour next to a large amount of bees.)
The second wedding was at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Soulard. When we got close, we saw that it was a gorgeous old church. I tried a few different camera settings for fun.
My friend Ranya actually took this one, and I love it!
This was the "Polaroid" setting.
Inside the church, using the "retro camera" app.
My next wedding is outdoors in Clayton at the Artist’s Guild. I am playing for a student (and friend)’s wedding and am looking forward to it! The weather should be just perfect, and we are staying for dinner of course. It should be a nice evening.
Just got home from a wonderful concert with the SLSO (or should I say, St. Louis Symphony, as they are “rebranded”). Grieg Piano Concerto with Andre Watts, Dvorak Symphony #8 and Steven Mackey “Turn the Key”. Gilbert Varga was conducting.
The first piece (Mackey) was cool, especially the beginning where the audience was clapping. At first, I just thought some crazy guy on the main floor was clapping (stranger things have happened) but then the conductor seemed to be encouraging it. Suddenly people were clapping in rhythm (well, somewhat) and then we joined in from the balcony. Finally I saw that Will James (principal percussion and a friend of mine) was leading the clapping from the main floor. The conductor encouraged us to clap louder, and then cut us off abruptly as the orchestra started. A great beginning!
The Grieg was full of colors. Andre Watts was fantastic. I know I have played with him somewhere, but I just can’t remember where. I DO remember when I used to play with the Youngstown Symphony he canceled at the last minute two different times. We in the audience really wanted to hear an encore, but he didn’t seem to be up to it.
Last but not least was the Dvorak Symphony. I have loved this piece since I played it as a member of WYSO at Interlochen Arts Camp in high school. The orchestra sounded better than they have in a long time. There was wonderful dynamic contrast, lyrical string playing, and some really lovely wind parts as well. I think the last movement is just so much fun!
All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable concert, much better than I have seen the orchestra play in recent history. BRAVO!
