No time to rest

Bene Basso Performs

2005-03-05T22:50:00.000-08:00

Tonight we performed the Brahms Sextet No 1 (Op 18) at West Portland United Methodist Church. Not an large crowd, and the concert got started late, but all in all the piece went well. There were several musicians I know in the audience and they had positive feedback. One violist complimented me saying "you're such a solid chamber player". That feels great considering I've only been back at it for less than three years and played my first Brahms chamber work less than two years ago.

Chamber Music Northwest Brahms Festival

2005-02-23T23:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight was the second installment of Chamber Music Northwest's Brahms Festival Concerts. I attended both last night's show and tonight's. Having played a good amount of Brahms' chamber music, I have been looking forward to the concerts and came away more than satisfied. Tuesday night's highlight (for me) was the F minor Piano Quintet. Tonight's was the Piano Quartet Op. 25. I know there were a number of people there to see the Clarinet Quintet, but having made several (unsatisfactory) attempts at playing it, I just couldn't shake my unease. The Piano Quartet (even though I prefer Op. 60) was fantastic. Heavy, deep music played energetically and enthusiastically and the entire crowd was moved (and to their feet at the end). Roaring applause brought the musicians back to the stage four times (though I was a bit surprised there was no encore).

There was an added bonus for me. In addition to the dozen or more musicians I know in attendance, I was seated directly adjacent to Carlos Kalmar, the Oregon Symphony's Conductor and Music Director. I had occasion to introduce myself and we had a nice conversation about chamber music (there will be more information in this space in the near future about this conversation). Also, four seats to my right sat the Oregon Symphony's concertmaster, Amy Schwartz-Moretti, whom I greatly admire.

There is really much more to say here, but it'll have to wait. For now, I'll simply say it was a fantastic, energetic and inspiring performance and I look forward to the summer festival program. Next up, Brahms Requiem on Monday night.

Practice, Practice, Practice

2005-02-22T18:58:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was the first time I've gone two days without playing in months. And, to boot, I actually played my violin on Saturday. So, no viola on Sat through Mon. Incredible. However, I've found that sometimes these short breaks actually help my playing (but not always). Had rehearsal at Portland State today and just felt great. I suspect it also had a bit to do with seeing Brahms 2 last night at the Schnitz. Hopefully tonight's Chamber Music NW concert will help out my Brahms Sextet as well. In honor of the Brahms Fest (perhaps, but probably not), we played Academic Festival Overture. I believe this is for PSU's joint concert with the SFSU strings in March.

Eagle Creek

2005-02-22T00:32:00.000-08:00

Had a chance to do a little hiking this weekend. While Southern California is drowning in rain, Portland is having balmy weather. Ironic? Anyway, walked up the Eagle Creek Trail to Punchbowl Falls. Followed up with an early dinner at Charburger in Cascade Locks. Photo features Nelly (violinist) and Mike (trumpeter).

Gwen Toth

2005-02-22T00:01:00.000-08:00

Have been trading emails with Gwen Toth, a rock star harpsichordist, and apparently quite an authority on baroque and renaissance music. Turns out she too has owned weimaraners in the past, so we have more than just Brandenburg Concertos to talk about. Anyway, she was a great coach for our Brandenburg Cycle Concerts last weekend and is a nice person to boot. Buy her CDs.

Bene Basso - Brahms Sextet

2005-02-21T23:35:00.000-08:00

A quick addition to the performance calendar. Playing the Brahms Sextet for Strings #1 on March 5 at some Methodist Church in SW Portland. The info is here. Hope you can make it!

Brahms Fest begins...

2005-02-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

Went to see Oregon Symphony play Brahms 2 tonight. Great seats-4th row orchestra, near the center aisle, viola side. Probably if I weren't so familiar with the musicians, I would think less about the acoustics in these seats. But, as I'm fixated on the string players, the seats are outstanding. I can make eye contact with Joel, my teacher, and Amy, the concertmaster. It's also great to be able to pick out the sounds of each player. Ran into some old neighbors from Ladds Addition, an old PCC classmate, my stand partner from Friday's Columbia Symphony concert, and my friend Natalie. I was accompanied by Marya and my friend Paul, the cellist. Tomorrow night is Chamber Music Northwest's Brahms Fest debut.

Adam's back...Say hi for me!

2005-02-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well, Adam LaMotte is having another gig next week (see below). Sadly I won't be able to make this one as I'll be at the Chamber Music Northwest Brahms Festival. However, since Brahms is one of my favorite composers, it's a fair trade. If I have a hankering to see Four Seasons, I can see Portland Baroque perform it at the end of April.

Satan Beckons...

2005-01-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

Got this announcement from my friend Adam. If you can afford to go, I recommend it. He's a kick ass violinist. Plays in the Portland Baroque Orchestra and traveled with us last summer on the PSU European concert tour as a featured soloist. He was also featured in Friday's Oregonian. 'Nuff said.

The Viola Room

2005-01-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, during the Vancouver Symphony performance intermission, I decided that my bow was somehow "not right". I had been thinking for several weeks (or months?) that my bow technique was really lacking, but it suddenly dawned on me that perhaps my equipment is failing me. With that in mind, I tried a few things, and played a few friends' bows, and determined that my new perspective was sound. On Tuesday I took my bow to Kerr Violins to have them take a look. Sure enough, they noted that the bow is slightly unstraight where I was having troubles, and that the canter of the bow was a bit flat.

Rather than leave me bowless (I had two rehearsals that same day), they offered to lend me a bow (or two) while mine was being repaired. To make it a dual-purpose trip, I opted to try out some bows that are of better quality than mine. I'd been thinking about upgrading and this was a great opportunity to try out some bows for a potential future purpose. Ok, let's just state that I love Kerr Violins. Despite the name, they have a comprehensive selection of violas and cellos as well as violins. In fact, this is the first place I've visited that has a Viola ROOM. So, I was given two cases of bows to try out.

I chose two brazilian bows of fairly good quality (I've chosen to exclude prices here for the security's sake) and have been using them for rehearsals over the last several days. While one has proven to be a little too light for my style, the other has definitely grown on me. I'll be hard pressed to give it back when my bow is repaired and I've started saving my performance fees for a "buy a bow fund".

At any rate, here's a picture of one wall of the Viola Room, and one of the two cases of bows I tried out...

Vancouver Symphony

2005-01-23T11:56:00.000-08:00

Performed with the Vancouver Symphony yesterday and tonight. A fun orchestra. Probably not quite the calibre of the Columbia Symphony, but the program came together by the end of a grueling week of rehearsals. Was much lower pressure to play in the back of the section as a sub and I was able to enjoy the performance much more than I might at the front desk. Don't think this will be a regular gig for me, as the schedule is too demanding on top of my other commitments. The program included Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture and Piano Concerto #23 plus the Symphonie Fantastique by Belioz (truly a BIG piece).

Update: Here's the review.

Columbia Symphony Die Fledermaus Gala

2005-01-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

Well, last Friday night before The Ice was the Die Fledermaus Gala. Though the night was a bit long and the tempos a bit slow, everyone seemed to have a good time. The house was packed and the auctions seemed to go well. Musically, I have to say that our PSU production last spring was a heck of a lot better, but considering the short rehearsal schedule and the atrocious acoustics, it was probably as good as one could hope. Here's a picture of April and Marya post-gala with their masks.

Icy conditions result in slow Saturday

2005-01-15T22:55:00.000-08:00

Finally, we got some inclement weather in Portland. The kind of weather that makes everyone stay home for their safety.

So, I spent the day playing card games and backgammon. In between games, I installed Moveable Type on my home server and maybe I'll eventually migrate this over.

Last night was a pretty good time at the Die Fledermaus Gala. Though April went unaccompanied, she still ended up talking to lots of people, saw someone from her old work, and was able to visit with Marya and me during the intermissions. We won two silent auctions: a 2-for-1 ad coupon for the Daily Journal of Commerce which I'll use at work, and an artistic, framed photograph of a flock of geese taking off.

Marya seemed also to have a good time (though she was even more annoyed than me at the slow tempos the conductor took) and her mom Ritva came along as well.

All in all, a pretty good evening followed by a very quiet Saturday.

4 1/2 hours of rehearsal...

2005-01-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

Well, a typical Thursday. Mostly just music stuff going on. Two orchestra rehearsals after work. Set up a performance of the first Brahms Sextet for March 5. Got an opportunity to play with the Vancouver Symphony for their concert next week. Kind of a big time suck (7 services in one week), but the mad money would be nice. Ate chinese at Mandarin Cove with Marya between rehearsals and further solidified my theory that there is no good chinese food in Portland. Tomorrow, must not forget to pick up tux shirts before the cleaners close. Die Fledermaus in jeans simply will not do.

The Viola Diet

2005-01-12T23:31:00.000-08:00

According to caloriesperhour.com, a 153lbs man burns 173 calories per hour playing the violin. Conservatively assuming that a violist burns the same number (I'm guessing it's actually a bit higher), that means in a two-hour rehearsal, I burn roughly the same number of calories (346) as I do running a 5k race in 25 minutes (359). Lately I've been doubling up rehearsals (2 hours at PSU and 2 1/2 hours at Rose City or Columbia Symphony), plus the occasional practice time! So, who needs running??

No rehearsal tonight...Phew, time for a break!

2005-01-12T22:45:00.000-08:00

Looking back at the calendar, I've had a rehearsal or a concert every day but one since the fourth of January. Tonight I got a break, but I have a dress rehearsal tomorrow night and a concert on Friday. Last Sunday was the Rose City Chamber Orchestra concert, and this Friday is the Columbia Symphony Die Fledermaus Gala performance. Makes for a busy week, but mostly enjoyable. The Rose City gig was stressful as I felt it was very under-rehearsed (the guest conductor was flight-delayed by a day and a half). But, Die Fledermaus should be straightforward. I played five performances with the Portland State Opera last spring and the songs are still familiar.

Links to pieces played last Sunday:

Mendelssohn Octet
Stravinsky Danses Concertantes

Link to Friday's Gala Performance Piece:

Die Fledermaus

Smooth and Green

2004-08-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

Picked up the 2002 from Mike O'Hara Service. For about $350 got a "major tune-up", and got the heater to finally stop blowing heat into the already 95F interior. Car has never run smoother since I've owned it. Funny that $6k in engine work 12 years ago didn't get it to this point. Anyway, had to leave the other car when I paid for the 2002, so I biked there from home at dusk. Herman tells me it was 5.71 miles at about 11.6mph. Since Herman thinks I was running, I had to go to www.caloriesperhour.com to figure out calories burned. It says about 200, but there were some major hills... Off to bed early tonight.

Wednesday off to good start

2004-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

Lame--the gym has no air conditioning, so no treadmill action yesterday. Just about a .8 mile walk to/from the gym to learn that it was hotter inside than outside. Today, however, got a quick 2.2 miles in on the streets finishing up at Stumptown. According to Herman, 2.18 miles, 8:35 ave pace, 255 cal. 152.5 lbs.

Today's Compulsion: Running

2004-08-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

In spite of the arrival of my new Garmin GPS Forerunner, the outside temperature is about 90F, so I'm going to have to run the treadmill at the gym. Should be a real bore since my iPod is with April on her trip. Hoping to do 4 miles tonight if I don't die of boredom. Since deciding to do the Run Like Hell Half-Marathon on Halloween, I've got to get crackin'.

If I have any energy left over after running, I'll compulsively clean a couple rooms and maybe start preparing for my Sept 2 Columbia Symphony audition.