Last night I marveled in the glory of Joshua Bell and his lovely Strad. I bought tickets for my parents as well and we scurried into our upper balcony second-to-last row seats just as Robert Spano stepped onto the stage. After careful strategic planning, we met from three different directions at 285 to drive in one car. Sadly, we were victims of traffic due to an accident on 85S.
Aaron Copleand's Appalachian Spring was first. I knew I'd heard it somewhere in the back of my mind the entire time it was playing, like seeing an old friend after so many years. Listening, I kept hoping that Simple Gifts was part of the piece. There was a repetition of the melody that is called.....Goodness, I'm forgetting my musical terminology! The melody played in various instruments throughout out the orchestra, each instrument/section playing it and passing it along. The melodies also wove together and on top of each other, which is referred to in music by a specific term that escapes me at the present. All of my piano and violin teachers over the years would be apalled at this.... As I kept listening, I knew that eventually the entire string section would play the melody together slowly and as sort of a recap before ending the piece. I came to see Joshua Bell but in Copeland I got to savor all the memories of music from my life -- Simple Gifts has been a favorite song of mine since elementary school.
And then, Joshua Bell! These last few months I'm always stressed out about something and it was a wonderful gift to be so relaxed. The almost two hours of the symphony went by so quickly -- even Mom said at the end of the Bartok of the 2nd half, "is that all?" She echoed my sentiments.
Mom and I waited in line to have a CD signed (a CD we bought while in line.) I had used half my $20 to pay for parking while we were rushing in, so I only had enough for the $20 CD. Mom found a $10 in her purse. With our money powers combined, we bought a CD. We were almost at the end of the line and I marveled at how Joshua kept his composure. He came out what seemed immediately after the performance to sign CDs and pose for pictures so that as many people as possible could interact with him/buy CDs before intermission ended. Mom and I missed the first two movements of the Bartok waiting in line but it was worth it. As we stepped up, I was caught up in how relaxed he was. And patient. His smile was very kind and I couldn't do anything but look him in the eye and smile and say thankyou -- twice, once before and once after he signed the CD and mom had him sign the insert. I wasn't starstruck, only aware that there seemed to be very little I could tell him that he hadn't heard -- that he is a phenomenol musician, etc. I could have gushed. But I only looked him in the eye and smiled, giving thanks.
I wish I could have had something more to say but there were other people in line. I couldn't imagine pressing for more time with him after he had so much careful patience for every person in line.
Lyndsey, if he goes to Bloomington or DC or NY we should go see him. Maybe between now and then I can think of something better to say than "thank you" =)
Aaron Copleand's Appalachian Spring was first. I knew I'd heard it somewhere in the back of my mind the entire time it was playing, like seeing an old friend after so many years. Listening, I kept hoping that Simple Gifts was part of the piece. There was a repetition of the melody that is called.....Goodness, I'm forgetting my musical terminology! The melody played in various instruments throughout out the orchestra, each instrument/section playing it and passing it along. The melodies also wove together and on top of each other, which is referred to in music by a specific term that escapes me at the present. All of my piano and violin teachers over the years would be apalled at this.... As I kept listening, I knew that eventually the entire string section would play the melody together slowly and as sort of a recap before ending the piece. I came to see Joshua Bell but in Copeland I got to savor all the memories of music from my life -- Simple Gifts has been a favorite song of mine since elementary school.
And then, Joshua Bell! These last few months I'm always stressed out about something and it was a wonderful gift to be so relaxed. The almost two hours of the symphony went by so quickly -- even Mom said at the end of the Bartok of the 2nd half, "is that all?" She echoed my sentiments.
Mom and I waited in line to have a CD signed (a CD we bought while in line.) I had used half my $20 to pay for parking while we were rushing in, so I only had enough for the $20 CD. Mom found a $10 in her purse. With our money powers combined, we bought a CD. We were almost at the end of the line and I marveled at how Joshua kept his composure. He came out what seemed immediately after the performance to sign CDs and pose for pictures so that as many people as possible could interact with him/buy CDs before intermission ended. Mom and I missed the first two movements of the Bartok waiting in line but it was worth it. As we stepped up, I was caught up in how relaxed he was. And patient. His smile was very kind and I couldn't do anything but look him in the eye and smile and say thankyou -- twice, once before and once after he signed the CD and mom had him sign the insert. I wasn't starstruck, only aware that there seemed to be very little I could tell him that he hadn't heard -- that he is a phenomenol musician, etc. I could have gushed. But I only looked him in the eye and smiled, giving thanks.
I wish I could have had something more to say but there were other people in line. I couldn't imagine pressing for more time with him after he had so much careful patience for every person in line.
Lyndsey, if he goes to Bloomington or DC or NY we should go see him. Maybe between now and then I can think of something better to say than "thank you" =)
1 comment:
Should? Should? We WILL go see him.
And thank you for sharing this; reading through the description of Appalachian Spring made me feel like a real music major again. It also makes me want to see the ballet! (BTW, the repeating melody is called a "motif," and the inter-weaving melodies sound kind of fugal...I could be wrong though. So rusty!)
After Gene Weingarten's "Pearls Before Breakfast", Josh Bell has my heart forever. Name your time!
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