Luckily, the flu wasn’t me. Unluckily, it was 13 of my 25 students. Ten of them were out at the same time two weeks ago. That’s left me playing catch up because of our strict pacing schedule. We are getting closer to being back on track but not there yet. Hopefully, by the end of this week we will be.
Guatemala celebrated Independence Day a week ago. One of the biggest parts of our school celebration was colorful carpets made out of sawdust. Each class made one with different decorations. Unfortunately, my iPad won’t let me post pictures right now. Hopefully, I can get that fixed tomorrow.
Finally, I’ve been busy with choir. I’m in two different ones. Capella Cantorum had a concert the week before last, we sang for a wedding yesterday, and have three more concerts next week! The other choir is much more low key. We are getting ready for a Messiah concert in December but it’s easy for me since I’ve already sung it plenty of times.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Monday, September 24, 2018
Sunday, August 26, 2018
And I’ll Sing Once More...
Last Sunday, I wasn’t in any choirs here in Guate. This Sunday, I’m in one, a practice quartet for it, and should hear by tomorrow about a second choir I auditioned for today.
The group I’m in so far is a small ensemble (around 20 members) that sings mostly short a cappella pieces. We’re working on a Lauridsen piece, two Masses, and assorted Spanish language songs. The audition today was for a group that sings Messiah part 1 each year. The audition was fine except a mixup about what I had to bring. I wasn’t at fault (I had specifically asked about it ahead of time) but we’ll see if that keeps me out.
After a year and a half of no musically stimulating group to sing with, it’s great to be back in the swing of things!
The group I’m in so far is a small ensemble (around 20 members) that sings mostly short a cappella pieces. We’re working on a Lauridsen piece, two Masses, and assorted Spanish language songs. The audition today was for a group that sings Messiah part 1 each year. The audition was fine except a mixup about what I had to bring. I wasn’t at fault (I had specifically asked about it ahead of time) but we’ll see if that keeps me out.
After a year and a half of no musically stimulating group to sing with, it’s great to be back in the swing of things!
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Russian Composers
When I was in college, I was very excited to take a course on Russian and Soviet history. Unfortunately, the teacher left MUCH to be desired in her "teaching" of the class. As our final project, we had to write a research paper. I gambled that she wouldn't read it and wrote completely bogus information about Russian composers and music.
Fast forward to Summer 2016. I took the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Beijing to Moscow and then continued to St. Petersburg. There is a famous cemetery in St. Petersburg which happens to contain the graves of all the composers I wrote about. Here is the footage from my trip as tribute to them and their work.
Fast forward to Summer 2016. I took the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Beijing to Moscow and then continued to St. Petersburg. There is a famous cemetery in St. Petersburg which happens to contain the graves of all the composers I wrote about. Here is the footage from my trip as tribute to them and their work.
Introductory video
Glinka
Balikirev
Cui
Borodin
Unfortunately, the final two videos are two large for Blogger... I will try to post them on FB
Russian Composers
When I was in college, I was very excited to take a course on Russian and Soviet history. Unfortunately, the teacher left MUCH to be desired in her "teaching" of the class. As our final project, we had to write a research paper. I gambled that she wouldn't read it and wrote completely bogus information about Russian composers and music.
Fast forward to Summer 2016. I took the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Beijing to Moscow and then continued to St. Petersburg. There is a famous cemetery in St. Petersburg which happens to contain the graves of all the composers I wrote about. Here is the footage from my trip as tribute to them and their work.
Fast forward to Summer 2016. I took the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Beijing to Moscow and then continued to St. Petersburg. There is a famous cemetery in St. Petersburg which happens to contain the graves of all the composers I wrote about. Here is the footage from my trip as tribute to them and their work.
Introductory video
Glinka
Balikirev
Cui
Borodin
Unfortunately, the final two videos are two large for Blogger... I will try to post them on FB
Monday, April 15, 2013
Third time's a charm: a tale of three grandpas
When I was 11, my grandpa got very
sick. We didn't know until the very end but he had been fighting bone
cancer for a long time and it hadn't been treated because the doctors
insisted it was just diabetes complications. He was in hospice at
home and I remember visiting and trying to avoid sitting in the
living room because it was just too depressing to see the once vibrant
man lying on the sofa hardly able to move. I also distinctly remember
a “hospital smell” that didn't help things at all. One of the
times we visited, I sneaked out of the house without going and saying
good-bye. He died before I could see him again.
At 18, my grandpa died unexpectedly. My
family was living in Europe at the time and only my mom was able to
fly back for the funeral. I didn't feel the guilt like I did the
first time because I hadn't chosen to ignore him but I still missed
it.
My grandpa is retiring this year from
his job as professor/choir director at my university. He has been one
of the biggest inspirations in my life for the past seven years. I
don't know how many classes I had with him in school (definitely more
than 12). He accompanied me on both my junior and senior recitals as
well as many juries and concerts. We roadtripped with assorted other
music students to choral festivals. He was always ready to discuss
problems and help in any way he could. I felt a huge connection to
him from the very beginning which has only grown over the years. I could write on and on about this man and the impact he has had in my life but I'll sum it up pretty simply: if someday I am half the teacher he is, I will have done my job.
 |
| In front of University Choir |
When I heard that he was retiring, I
knew I had to make it home for his last concert. Thankfully, this was
a much happier occasion than a funeral but I knew I would always
regret it if I couldn't come. I wasn't going to let this opportunity
slip through my fingers. I kept my trip a secret from almost
everyone. I am friends with him on facebook so I was especially
careful not to mention anything on there. By the week before my trip
only four of my friends (and my immediate family) knew I would be in
the States.
 |
| Teaching philosophy: every lesson should have an "AAhh," "Ahha," and "Haha" moment |
Most of this blog post is being written
while I sit in airports before and between my flights going back to
Hungary. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to travel home
for this concert. Yesterday, I spent most of the day in PA. I saw
friends who I haven't seen in years. I had a chance to catch up with
various professors. And, best of all, I saw the way his eyes
lit up in shock when he realized I had come from Hungary just for the
concert. He later mentioned it in the middle of the concert as he
spoke of how touched he was that so many music alums had made it.
“Someone even came all the way from Hungary. Yes, for real.” I
had multiple people come up to me after saying they had no idea I was
there until they heard what he said.
In the end, I wouldn't change a thing
about my trip. It was completely worth the cost and travel time even
though I was traveling nearly as long as my time in the US. Besides
the concert, I was able to spend time with another friend today
(Monday), see my therapist, had a dr. appt, ate tons of Mexican food,
enjoyed two full days of ungraded English conversation, purchased
more stickers for my students, had a phone interview about my
internship for next year, and spent time with my family. I've needed
this trip with how lonely I have been (I had two friends last
semester – one moved to Budapest, the other “broke up with me”
because she claims she has too many meetings to ever see me).
 |
| With some of the other "music kids" |
I might have messed things up the first
two times with my grandpas but I have nothing to regret about this
time.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
"Behold, I tell you [some] myster[ies]"
Thoughts from last night's performance of (about two-thirds of) Handel's Messiah in no particular order...
1. Singing "Thou Shalt Break Them" with a "clothespin on your nose" is HIGHLY inadvisable. It may result in much of the choir and orchestra turning around to attempt not to laugh and the audience to stare in bewilderment. Also, it is painful. When it comes to extreme nasality: Just say no!
2. The group has grown. It was so enormous (100 was the program count) that there were not enough chairs and a handful of the basses ended up sitting in the pastor's lounge behind the organ and slipping in to stand next to us sopranos for the choruses. I've missed singing with a good group of people but having some great basses next me was an extra treat. Especially since...
3. Thanks to some rearranging after my solo, for the last chorus and the second time we sang the Hallelujah Chorus, I was right next to Erik who was one of my best friends in high school... with our former choir director on his other side. Talk about a blast from the past. It was like being in AC Choir all over again. The only thing we needed was our friend LaKedria singing "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" with us :-D
4. (Actually from rehearsal on Monday) A fire engine drove by. And, yes, this time it really was a fire engine ;-) "Glory to God"
5. There are reasons that "The Trumpet Shall Sound" is typically played on a piccolo trumpet. While I am sure there are people who could play it fantastically on a regular B-flat, the two trumpet players we had.... could not. To put it nicely. It was a hot mess. I kind of felt bad for the soloist (my high school choir director) because it seemed to be throwing him off.
6. There were some really fantastic high school kids singing solos. In particular, "The People That Walked In Darkness" -- honestly, the kid's breath support was unreal. One almost had to wonder if he was circular breathing.
7. I've learned my lesson: always bring water out with you if you're not sure about an intermission. By the beginning of Part 2, I was getting drier than dust and it didn't help my solo ("If God Be For Us"). I managed to get through it and it could have been much worse, but it also could have been much better. Even so...
8. Here's a really shocking tidbit: If someone has an summa cum laude degree in voice performance, there is a good chance that they can sing decently. Which my former choir director might have known ahead of time had he ever come to either of my recitals in Ohio (high school senior recital or the one I gave this summer -- both of which he claimed he was coming to) and heard me sing (or, I don't know ... cast me in a musical in high school) before this. The hug and shocked approval that I got from him was amusing. I often say that all of my music teachers have gotten me to where I am today. Most of them, thanks to their support and encouragement (my hs voice teacher, all the SHU profs -- huge shout out to MH who is most directly responsible for my still pursuing music) but this man because he pushed me to succeed simply to prove him wrong. That I AM a musician and DO deserve more than just two chorus numbers in a musical my senior year of high school. [rant over :) ]
All in all it was a good evening.. so nice to be singing real rep again and with a good chorus!
1. Singing "Thou Shalt Break Them" with a "clothespin on your nose" is HIGHLY inadvisable. It may result in much of the choir and orchestra turning around to attempt not to laugh and the audience to stare in bewilderment. Also, it is painful. When it comes to extreme nasality: Just say no!
2. The group has grown. It was so enormous (100 was the program count) that there were not enough chairs and a handful of the basses ended up sitting in the pastor's lounge behind the organ and slipping in to stand next to us sopranos for the choruses. I've missed singing with a good group of people but having some great basses next me was an extra treat. Especially since...
3. Thanks to some rearranging after my solo, for the last chorus and the second time we sang the Hallelujah Chorus, I was right next to Erik who was one of my best friends in high school... with our former choir director on his other side. Talk about a blast from the past. It was like being in AC Choir all over again. The only thing we needed was our friend LaKedria singing "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" with us :-D
4. (Actually from rehearsal on Monday) A fire engine drove by. And, yes, this time it really was a fire engine ;-) "Glory to God"
5. There are reasons that "The Trumpet Shall Sound" is typically played on a piccolo trumpet. While I am sure there are people who could play it fantastically on a regular B-flat, the two trumpet players we had.... could not. To put it nicely. It was a hot mess. I kind of felt bad for the soloist (my high school choir director) because it seemed to be throwing him off.
6. There were some really fantastic high school kids singing solos. In particular, "The People That Walked In Darkness" -- honestly, the kid's breath support was unreal. One almost had to wonder if he was circular breathing.
7. I've learned my lesson: always bring water out with you if you're not sure about an intermission. By the beginning of Part 2, I was getting drier than dust and it didn't help my solo ("If God Be For Us"). I managed to get through it and it could have been much worse, but it also could have been much better. Even so...
8. Here's a really shocking tidbit: If someone has an summa cum laude degree in voice performance, there is a good chance that they can sing decently. Which my former choir director might have known ahead of time had he ever come to either of my recitals in Ohio (high school senior recital or the one I gave this summer -- both of which he claimed he was coming to) and heard me sing (or, I don't know ... cast me in a musical in high school) before this. The hug and shocked approval that I got from him was amusing. I often say that all of my music teachers have gotten me to where I am today. Most of them, thanks to their support and encouragement (my hs voice teacher, all the SHU profs -- huge shout out to MH who is most directly responsible for my still pursuing music) but this man because he pushed me to succeed simply to prove him wrong. That I AM a musician and DO deserve more than just two chorus numbers in a musical my senior year of high school. [rant over :) ]
All in all it was a good evening.. so nice to be singing real rep again and with a good chorus!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
An old story with modern application
A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. "Master, I wish to become your disciple," said the man. "Why?" replied the hermit. The young man thought for a moment. "Because I want to find God."
The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. "Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water."
"Air!" answered the man.
"Very well," said the master. "Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air."
That is exactly how I feel about music right now. I NEED music in my life. It's not just that I want to be singing. I NEED to be singing. There is as longing in the depths of my soul to be learning new music, polishing old pieces, and performing. Unfortunately, I must not be at the drowning level yet as my attempts to do anything more than sing in the choir at my parents' church (where I don't even live anymore) are being thwarted no matter how hard I try.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Leaving
Since I've "officially" announced this everywhere else and passive-aggressively alluded to it on my blog, it's time that I let the world know what's going on in my life.
I quit my job.
And am moving back to the US.
Next week.
I don't feel like going into all the nasty details but suffice it to say working here has become a danger to my mental health thanks to a variety of people and their actions. As I mentioned before, I am truly heartbroken to be leaving Budapest. I feel as though I am being forced to breakup with someone that I deeply love because of circumstances far beyond our control. I know that I will be back but, in some ways, that makes it worse. Leaving just seems so futile. However, I know that this is the only decision I could make at the moment.
One of the most telling things that this decision was the right one is how violently my employers have reacted. It reminds me of breaking up with my ex this summer. There were things that bothered me enough to the point where I realized that I had to end the relationship (or in this case, job). But it was when I actually ended it (or turned in my letters of resignation) that things REALLY went sour. Anyway.... more on that (maybe) when I leave the country. Suffice it to say, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am better off not working for this organization.
I've gotten a lot of comfort from music lately and want to share a few songs which have really "spoken" to me.
1. "Moving On" by Sixpence None the Richer (I couldn't find a recording on youtube)
It has gotten to my head. Permeates the path I tread.
But I tread, I'm moving on in a new and happy song.
I can sing about the night, how my tunnel without light
Led me to the other side where the sky is blue.
It's all I can do to not let them ruin me.
I will not let them ruin me.
I will not let them ruin me again.
This song reminds me of the saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." That's why I'm leaving -- so it doesn't get to the "fool me twice" stage.
2. "You Can Still Be Free" by Savage Garden
No regrets or promises
The past is gone
But you can still be free
If time will set you free
Time now to spread your wings
To take to flight
The life endeavor
Aim for the burning sun
You're trapped inside
But you can still be free
If time will set you free
But it's a long long way to go
In the middle of my struggle with my decision, this song came up on my ipod one day on the way home from work. As I listened, it moved me to tears. That was one of the first moments that I knew what I needed to do. Yes, I can't change what's happened and it will be a long way to go, but in the end, I will be free.
3. "Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly
The same day that "You Can Still Be Free" spoke to me, this song did as well. At this point, my parents weren't completely on board with my decision. I'm very different from my parents in some ways and one of those is that I am much more open about feelings and emotions. This song has always seemed to be what I think (and hope) my parents would say to me if they talked about things like this. Also, the line about needing to reach for the sky is so key... if you're just existing that's not much of a life.
4. "Kell meg egy szo" by Dolhai Attila (you know I had to include at least ONE song by him)
Nézz rám, s ne ígérj,
nézz rám, sose félj!
Ha nincs hely, ahol élj,
indulj haza felé!
(ROUGH translation -- courtesy of google)
I love, love, love this song. But the last line is especially perfect for this situation. "If you can't find a place to live, turn towards home." (That's my rough translation) It reminds me of what Deb keeps telling me: "don't postpone living." While living in Budapest has always been my dream, this work mess is turning that into a nightmare. It's time to wake up from that nightmare and get back to living!
*** NOTE ***
Not everyone at work has been causing me problems. I have made some good friends who I will miss a ton. Also, I love my kids. They made the decision excruciating because I have formed such an attachment to them. In the end, however, if this job is beating me down to less than my best then I am not capable of giving them what they deserve.
I quit my job.
And am moving back to the US.
Next week.
I don't feel like going into all the nasty details but suffice it to say working here has become a danger to my mental health thanks to a variety of people and their actions. As I mentioned before, I am truly heartbroken to be leaving Budapest. I feel as though I am being forced to breakup with someone that I deeply love because of circumstances far beyond our control. I know that I will be back but, in some ways, that makes it worse. Leaving just seems so futile. However, I know that this is the only decision I could make at the moment.
One of the most telling things that this decision was the right one is how violently my employers have reacted. It reminds me of breaking up with my ex this summer. There were things that bothered me enough to the point where I realized that I had to end the relationship (or in this case, job). But it was when I actually ended it (or turned in my letters of resignation) that things REALLY went sour. Anyway.... more on that (maybe) when I leave the country. Suffice it to say, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am better off not working for this organization.
I've gotten a lot of comfort from music lately and want to share a few songs which have really "spoken" to me.
1. "Moving On" by Sixpence None the Richer (I couldn't find a recording on youtube)
It has gotten to my head. Permeates the path I tread.
But I tread, I'm moving on in a new and happy song.
I can sing about the night, how my tunnel without light
Led me to the other side where the sky is blue.
It's all I can do to not let them ruin me.
I will not let them ruin me.
I will not let them ruin me again.
This song reminds me of the saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." That's why I'm leaving -- so it doesn't get to the "fool me twice" stage.
2. "You Can Still Be Free" by Savage Garden
No regrets or promises
The past is gone
But you can still be free
If time will set you free
Time now to spread your wings
To take to flight
The life endeavor
Aim for the burning sun
You're trapped inside
But you can still be free
If time will set you free
But it's a long long way to go
In the middle of my struggle with my decision, this song came up on my ipod one day on the way home from work. As I listened, it moved me to tears. That was one of the first moments that I knew what I needed to do. Yes, I can't change what's happened and it will be a long way to go, but in the end, I will be free.
3. "Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly
The same day that "You Can Still Be Free" spoke to me, this song did as well. At this point, my parents weren't completely on board with my decision. I'm very different from my parents in some ways and one of those is that I am much more open about feelings and emotions. This song has always seemed to be what I think (and hope) my parents would say to me if they talked about things like this. Also, the line about needing to reach for the sky is so key... if you're just existing that's not much of a life.
4. "Kell meg egy szo" by Dolhai Attila (you know I had to include at least ONE song by him)
Nézz rám, s ne ígérj,
nézz rám, sose félj!
Ha nincs hely, ahol élj,
indulj haza felé!
(ROUGH translation -- courtesy of google)
I love, love, love this song. But the last line is especially perfect for this situation. "If you can't find a place to live, turn towards home." (That's my rough translation) It reminds me of what Deb keeps telling me: "don't postpone living." While living in Budapest has always been my dream, this work mess is turning that into a nightmare. It's time to wake up from that nightmare and get back to living!
*** NOTE ***
Not everyone at work has been causing me problems. I have made some good friends who I will miss a ton. Also, I love my kids. They made the decision excruciating because I have formed such an attachment to them. In the end, however, if this job is beating me down to less than my best then I am not capable of giving them what they deserve.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
A picture is worth a 1000 beautiful words ;-)
And here are 5 of them!!
On Friday evening, I went to the Pesti Broadway Fesztival which is two days of outdoor concerts to celebrate the opening of the season for the Budapest Operetta Theater. I was ridiculously excited because one of the stars there is Dolhai Attila... who just happens to be my favorite singer.
I went straight after work with one of the other kindy teachers and we managed to get to the side of the stage between the stage and the building where the singers were chillaxing. That meant everyone had to walk by us to get to the stage. Much excitement (and picture taking) ensued
The middle of the three guys standing in the doorway -- Dolhai Attila!!!!
Far left: walking back from stage after gracing our ears :)
Standing by the stage watching friends and singing along... precious
Coming out into the mob of people waiting for him after the show... "Ok, guys, seriously, you're scaring me a little... I'll stand over there by the other door, go line up." (not an exact translation but the general idea of what he said)
AND... Then....
I
MET
DOLHAI
ATTILA.
He asked what my name was so that he could autograph my copy of one of his CDs (which I had found second hand the day before ... for 990ft -- less than $5). I told him it was Rozsa (wasn't going to mess around with the American version... especially since it sounds like the Hungarian word for "bad"). Took two tries thanks to my terrible American accent. Then tragedy struck.
MY PEN WOULDN'T WRITE!!!!! AHHHHHH.
(I would totally throw it against the wall.... except that he touched it)
So..this was the result:
The CD, the evil pen, and the beginnings of "To Rose" or something like that (it's on his collar.. I know it's kind of hard to see... gee... thanks pen.)
Next time: picture with him.
Sadly, that will likely be years away :(
Damn you, stupid work mess!!
Edit: Maybe not years away -- just bought a ticket for Romeo es Julia the night before I leave... waiting at the stage door after the show is a distinct possibility!
On Friday evening, I went to the Pesti Broadway Fesztival which is two days of outdoor concerts to celebrate the opening of the season for the Budapest Operetta Theater. I was ridiculously excited because one of the stars there is Dolhai Attila... who just happens to be my favorite singer.
In. The. Whole. World.
I went straight after work with one of the other kindy teachers and we managed to get to the side of the stage between the stage and the building where the singers were chillaxing. That meant everyone had to walk by us to get to the stage. Much excitement (and picture taking) ensued
The middle of the three guys standing in the doorway -- Dolhai Attila!!!!
Far left: walking back from stage after gracing our ears :)
Standing by the stage watching friends and singing along... precious
Coming out into the mob of people waiting for him after the show... "Ok, guys, seriously, you're scaring me a little... I'll stand over there by the other door, go line up." (not an exact translation but the general idea of what he said)AND... Then....
I
MET
DOLHAI
ATTILA.
He asked what my name was so that he could autograph my copy of one of his CDs (which I had found second hand the day before ... for 990ft -- less than $5). I told him it was Rozsa (wasn't going to mess around with the American version... especially since it sounds like the Hungarian word for "bad"). Took two tries thanks to my terrible American accent. Then tragedy struck.
MY PEN WOULDN'T WRITE!!!!! AHHHHHH.
(I would totally throw it against the wall.... except that he touched it)
So..this was the result:
The CD, the evil pen, and the beginnings of "To Rose" or something like that (it's on his collar.. I know it's kind of hard to see... gee... thanks pen.)Next time: picture with him.
Sadly, that will likely be years away :(
Damn you, stupid work mess!!
Edit: Maybe not years away -- just bought a ticket for Romeo es Julia the night before I leave... waiting at the stage door after the show is a distinct possibility!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
I've been dying for a hamburger
You know... the big juicy kind. A huge beef patty, gooey cheese, ripe tomato, crisp lettuce, sweet pickle relish, tangy mustard soft bun. Add some potato chips and a piece of corn on the cob and you've got a great picnic dinner. Yummy.
I eat a lot of pot-roast. It's good: filling and tasty, comforting and simple. Beef, potatoes, some vegetables, gravy. Everyday food. Usually it's got the same basic form but there is always some small variation.
And, occasionally, for the special occasion - or just a random day - there's steak. Probably the most elegant of these three beef dishes, often served on china; baked potato on the side with sour cream and butter.
I've had oodles of pot-roast in the past year and even a few steaks but I was craving a good hamburger until this weekend. I hadn't had one in well over a year. Now, if you've spent time with me in the past few weeks in Steubenville, you may know this to be categorically false. Perhaps you've even seen me eat a hamburger. Things change a bit though when I mention that I'm not actually talking about food. Well, I am... but not "that" type of food. No, this refers to the type of food which satisfies much more than the growling in my stomach.
In the Catholic "Restaurant" (NOT to be confused with the "Catholic" Cafeteria!!) we are blessed with many different types of Eucharistic "entrees." The pot-roast: Sunday morning in a parish, standard hymns, homily - some created much more equal than others, etc. the Mass of the "average" Catholic. The steak: smells and bells Mass be it TLM or NO, Latin, polyphony, heady, focus on the mystery. There are numerous other options (especially when one considers the various Eastern Catholic Rites... or the new Ordinariates -- can't wait to attend one of those liturgies!) but these two have been most common in my life the past year. And they are great. Powerful. But, there is another "entree" that I love just as much.
I've been desperately missing the hamburger: charismatic worship... both within and outside of the Mass. Is it as homey as a pot-roast? Nope. Is it as fancy as the steak? Hah. But, we don't have a picnic when we want to be fancy. We picnic when we want to spend time with friends on a very real level. There is usually little pretense when gathering around a fire cooking burgers. It's the same with Mass. Simple - no complicated theological texts set to polyphonic music by some "dead white guy," we're being real with God and letting Him be real with us. While I can't speak for anyone else, I can be more moved to true worship by a simple song like "Shout to the Lord" than by a "classic" hymn... or listing to a fabulous choir sing Palestrina. I don't think they can be pitted against each other. One is not "better" than the other. And, in the end... it's all the same beef: Christ is there feeding us with His Body and Blood.
Anyway, this weekend's Defending the Faith conference was a breath of fresh air. Some people can eat steak every day of their life and be perfectly satisfied... I need a bit more variety in mine. And I desperately needed a "hamburger."
I eat a lot of pot-roast. It's good: filling and tasty, comforting and simple. Beef, potatoes, some vegetables, gravy. Everyday food. Usually it's got the same basic form but there is always some small variation.
And, occasionally, for the special occasion - or just a random day - there's steak. Probably the most elegant of these three beef dishes, often served on china; baked potato on the side with sour cream and butter.
I've had oodles of pot-roast in the past year and even a few steaks but I was craving a good hamburger until this weekend. I hadn't had one in well over a year. Now, if you've spent time with me in the past few weeks in Steubenville, you may know this to be categorically false. Perhaps you've even seen me eat a hamburger. Things change a bit though when I mention that I'm not actually talking about food. Well, I am... but not "that" type of food. No, this refers to the type of food which satisfies much more than the growling in my stomach.
In the Catholic "Restaurant" (NOT to be confused with the "Catholic" Cafeteria!!) we are blessed with many different types of Eucharistic "entrees." The pot-roast: Sunday morning in a parish, standard hymns, homily - some created much more equal than others, etc. the Mass of the "average" Catholic. The steak: smells and bells Mass be it TLM or NO, Latin, polyphony, heady, focus on the mystery. There are numerous other options (especially when one considers the various Eastern Catholic Rites... or the new Ordinariates -- can't wait to attend one of those liturgies!) but these two have been most common in my life the past year. And they are great. Powerful. But, there is another "entree" that I love just as much.
I've been desperately missing the hamburger: charismatic worship... both within and outside of the Mass. Is it as homey as a pot-roast? Nope. Is it as fancy as the steak? Hah. But, we don't have a picnic when we want to be fancy. We picnic when we want to spend time with friends on a very real level. There is usually little pretense when gathering around a fire cooking burgers. It's the same with Mass. Simple - no complicated theological texts set to polyphonic music by some "dead white guy," we're being real with God and letting Him be real with us. While I can't speak for anyone else, I can be more moved to true worship by a simple song like "Shout to the Lord" than by a "classic" hymn... or listing to a fabulous choir sing Palestrina. I don't think they can be pitted against each other. One is not "better" than the other. And, in the end... it's all the same beef: Christ is there feeding us with His Body and Blood.
Anyway, this weekend's Defending the Faith conference was a breath of fresh air. Some people can eat steak every day of their life and be perfectly satisfied... I need a bit more variety in mine. And I desperately needed a "hamburger."
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Absence makes the heart ...
... ache more when you have to say good-bye again?
The past few days have been crazy. Since I'm in the States for my Grandma's funeral, I had the chance to go back to SHU and see so many close friends and mentors. It was wonderful: the chance to celebrate Candice's birthday, spend time with Chris, Kaitlin, Kelly, Sam, Colleen, Brittany, et al., hang out with Caitlyn at "our" house, talk to teachers, sit in on a "Music in Secondary Education" class -- the topic for the day was middle school psychology: I don't think there could have been a more useful topic for me right now, sit in on a choral society rehearsal and then continue a tradition into its fourth year by getting cheesesticks and talking with Candice for hours.
It was such an unexpected gift. And yet, it had a dark side.
The realization of how much I have changed and how much my life has changed since graduation hit me like a ton of bricks. And, at the same time, so many of my friends are still where they were when we were in school together. If not the same mental, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual place then at least the same physical location. We've all grown... in different ways. It's been easy enough to accept that from across the ocean, but being confronted by the fact, in the place where I spent so many hours with these people who are so dear to me was really difficult. I'm happy where I am and there are things that I wouldn't trade just to go back to SHU but it still wasn't easy to see how firmly the door has closed on that chapter of my life.
That wasn't the only difficult part. I had the chance to participate in handbell rehearsal because a few people were absent. Later I went to choral society -- my first "real" choral/vocal anything since MAY. That's almost a year. Additionally, various people asked me where/if I'm singing these days. I hate the answers to those questions. Because, it's easy to ignore how much I'm not singing and how desperately I miss it when I'm not reminded what it's actually like. It's difficult to admit to someone else (particularly those who have been musical mentors to me) that I'm not doing anything with music outside of the little teaching I do. Singing is something my soul needs. And it has been starving for the past (almost) year. This must change. Now, it's just a matter of figuring out how.
Finally, along with missing music, I miss learning. Of course I'm learning much from teaching, but I miss being the receptive student not the constantly active teacher. Yet another reason to start looking at grad schools again.
On a completely unrelated note:
Have a blessed Triduum!
The past few days have been crazy. Since I'm in the States for my Grandma's funeral, I had the chance to go back to SHU and see so many close friends and mentors. It was wonderful: the chance to celebrate Candice's birthday, spend time with Chris, Kaitlin, Kelly, Sam, Colleen, Brittany, et al., hang out with Caitlyn at "our" house, talk to teachers, sit in on a "Music in Secondary Education" class -- the topic for the day was middle school psychology: I don't think there could have been a more useful topic for me right now, sit in on a choral society rehearsal and then continue a tradition into its fourth year by getting cheesesticks and talking with Candice for hours.
It was such an unexpected gift. And yet, it had a dark side.
The realization of how much I have changed and how much my life has changed since graduation hit me like a ton of bricks. And, at the same time, so many of my friends are still where they were when we were in school together. If not the same mental, emotional, spiritual, or intellectual place then at least the same physical location. We've all grown... in different ways. It's been easy enough to accept that from across the ocean, but being confronted by the fact, in the place where I spent so many hours with these people who are so dear to me was really difficult. I'm happy where I am and there are things that I wouldn't trade just to go back to SHU but it still wasn't easy to see how firmly the door has closed on that chapter of my life.
That wasn't the only difficult part. I had the chance to participate in handbell rehearsal because a few people were absent. Later I went to choral society -- my first "real" choral/vocal anything since MAY. That's almost a year. Additionally, various people asked me where/if I'm singing these days. I hate the answers to those questions. Because, it's easy to ignore how much I'm not singing and how desperately I miss it when I'm not reminded what it's actually like. It's difficult to admit to someone else (particularly those who have been musical mentors to me) that I'm not doing anything with music outside of the little teaching I do. Singing is something my soul needs. And it has been starving for the past (almost) year. This must change. Now, it's just a matter of figuring out how.
Finally, along with missing music, I miss learning. Of course I'm learning much from teaching, but I miss being the receptive student not the constantly active teacher. Yet another reason to start looking at grad schools again.
On a completely unrelated note:
Have a blessed Triduum!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
My week...
1. Got the "new" date for my wedding... I told 6a that I couldn't get married last Sunday because I didn't know where and what time. Of course, I'm not going to the school tonight at midnight (or was it this morning at midnight? They didn't say.) So, I still won't be married when Tuesday comes around again.
2. Vocabulary lessons looking over some 6a projects:
3. I dislike conflict. There was some miss-communication at work, and I almost ended up not being able to go home next week. Thankfully, it's all sorted out and...
4. I'm going home (well to Toronto for my grandma's funeral in NY) in 5 days!! Not happy for the reason but really excited to be going!
5. I saw Bank ban last night at the opera. It was good. I wasn't blown away, but it wasn't as disappointing as Vespers was in January. Acting-wise, my favorite character was Tiborc, a peasant friend/helper of Bank's. He was really into his character and had more idiosyncrasies that made him believable. Melinda and Bank sounded great (especially their scene together in Act II where - in a nutshell - he curses their son, she begs him not to, and he relents). I felt Melinda could have been a bit more believable in her aria ("Ölj meg engemet, Bánk" or "Please kill me, Bank") during that scene. Yes, she was on the ground by his feet, but singing straight to the audience rather than to Bank was a little bit odd. Also, Gertrude must have been bloodless in addition to being heartless because when Bank stabbed her she didn't bleed even a drop on her white night gown -- strange. (Having worked at scrubbing stage blood out of cream colored duchess satin, this really disappointed me)
6. Spent another couple of hours on the trampoline with the kindy kids yesterday. Best moment... getting tackled by three little boys who decided that I was General Grievous (they were Anakin, (Luke), Obi Wan (Vader), and I'm not sure who the third was pretending to be).
7. I'm currently "bugging" Ss. Anthony of Padua, Gabriel the Archangel, and Matthew the Apostle (patrons of mail, post offices/postal workers, and customs officers respectively) hoping that a package comes before I leave for the States... if you want to bug them on my behalf that would be cool. Yet another reason I'm glad I'm Catholic!
2. Vocabulary lessons looking over some 6a projects:
Doubt: when someone(1) founds someone (2) and it lives at someone(2) it helps it as it child. (I think they were looking for "adopt")
Longing: when something gets longer
Fancies: little fances (in Hungarian, this would be the logical guess)
Purr: The sound of a gun OR when a cat bit you, a little bit
3. I dislike conflict. There was some miss-communication at work, and I almost ended up not being able to go home next week. Thankfully, it's all sorted out and...
4. I'm going home (well to Toronto for my grandma's funeral in NY) in 5 days!! Not happy for the reason but really excited to be going!
5. I saw Bank ban last night at the opera. It was good. I wasn't blown away, but it wasn't as disappointing as Vespers was in January. Acting-wise, my favorite character was Tiborc, a peasant friend/helper of Bank's. He was really into his character and had more idiosyncrasies that made him believable. Melinda and Bank sounded great (especially their scene together in Act II where - in a nutshell - he curses their son, she begs him not to, and he relents). I felt Melinda could have been a bit more believable in her aria ("Ölj meg engemet, Bánk" or "Please kill me, Bank") during that scene. Yes, she was on the ground by his feet, but singing straight to the audience rather than to Bank was a little bit odd. Also, Gertrude must have been bloodless in addition to being heartless because when Bank stabbed her she didn't bleed even a drop on her white night gown -- strange. (Having worked at scrubbing stage blood out of cream colored duchess satin, this really disappointed me)
6. Spent another couple of hours on the trampoline with the kindy kids yesterday. Best moment... getting tackled by three little boys who decided that I was General Grievous (they were Anakin, (Luke), Obi Wan (Vader), and I'm not sure who the third was pretending to be).
7. I'm currently "bugging" Ss. Anthony of Padua, Gabriel the Archangel, and Matthew the Apostle (patrons of mail, post offices/postal workers, and customs officers respectively) hoping that a package comes before I leave for the States... if you want to bug them on my behalf that would be cool. Yet another reason I'm glad I'm Catholic!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
What is music really about?
A blog about Sweden will be up in the next couple of days (for some reason, my camera doesn't want to transfer some of the pictures to my computer)... for the moment, I'm turning to a different topic.
A few days ago, I was asked to sing for a kindergarten party (parents) with a '50's theme. Some of the other teachers will be playing as a small jazz ensemble and one of them asked me if I would sing "Fever" - as I responded "sure" he continued with something to the effect of "I don't know if you would want to because it's kind of risque - not exactly Adoramus Te."
Le grand sigh.
Really? Is that honestly the way I come across? That I wouldn't ever sing (or think or do or say) anything not appropriate for church? That my entire personality is "good little Catholic girl" (aka a "Catholic Duggar")? Because, if it is... then people are pretty mistaken. If that was the case, it would have been really difficult for me to have gotten a degree in voice performance. With the exception of sacred pieces, I would challenge anyone to find me a piece of classical vocal music which isn't about love in some form. And some of it gets pretty provocative. That's just what music is about. Ever seen/listened to an opera? Same thing. Love, in it's many forms, has been a, if not the, common theme of music for the entire history of Western classical music.
For the sake of the argument (what I would sing) the following (rough) translations/texts only include things I have actually studied and performed. This means I'm not counting the story of when a close friend had to be told by a coach what the theme was of a French art song titled "C'est l'extase" (Is Ecstasy) ... gee, sounds like a song about a baby playing with a puppy dog, right?
"Offrande" by Hahn (French art song)
On your young breast let me rest my head
Still ringing with your last kisses,
Let it be stilled after the sweet tempest
And let me sleep a little, while you rest.
"Deh vieni, non tardar" from the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Susanna is singing to herself thinking of her husband, knowing that he is listening, and knowing he believes she is singing about the Count.
The moment which I will enjoy
without anxiety, in the arms of
my idol, has finally arrived.
Timid feelings, leave my breast;
don't come to disturb
my pleasure!
"Mesicku na nebi hlubokem" from Rusalka by Dvorak
Rusalka, a water nymph, is talking to the moon about her lover, a human.
Give him your beams afar,
tell him, that I wait for him here!
Oh, if his human heart dreams of me,
let this vision awaken!
"Dearest Mama" from The Ballad of Baby Doe by Moore
Baby is writing a letter to her mother telling her about the married man she has fallen in love with.
Dearest Mama,
now I've found him
And he loves me truly too.
Ev'ry moment we're together
We both know it had to be.
But, dear mama, he's not free to marry
It is wrong for us to feel the way we do.
I know he needs me
And that I love him
But I have to give him up
And we must part forever.
Vergebliches Standchen by Brahms (Lied)
My door is locked,
and I won't let you in:
My mother has advised me well!
If you came
It would all be over for me!
Here's a bit of "Fever"
"Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever
In the morning
Fever all through the night"
Would I sing it? Why not? Personally, I'd rather sing "I'm beginning to see the light" because I have sung it before ... but considering these are some of the lyrics, while I'm fine singing it, maybe it's too much for them :-D
"Then you came and caused a spark
That's a four-alarm fire now
I never made love by lantern-shine
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
I'm beginning to see the light"
Ok, rant over :-) ... Sweden will come soon, I promise!
A few days ago, I was asked to sing for a kindergarten party (parents) with a '50's theme. Some of the other teachers will be playing as a small jazz ensemble and one of them asked me if I would sing "Fever" - as I responded "sure" he continued with something to the effect of "I don't know if you would want to because it's kind of risque - not exactly Adoramus Te."
Le grand sigh.
Really? Is that honestly the way I come across? That I wouldn't ever sing (or think or do or say) anything not appropriate for church? That my entire personality is "good little Catholic girl" (aka a "Catholic Duggar")? Because, if it is... then people are pretty mistaken. If that was the case, it would have been really difficult for me to have gotten a degree in voice performance. With the exception of sacred pieces, I would challenge anyone to find me a piece of classical vocal music which isn't about love in some form. And some of it gets pretty provocative. That's just what music is about. Ever seen/listened to an opera? Same thing. Love, in it's many forms, has been a, if not the, common theme of music for the entire history of Western classical music.
For the sake of the argument (what I would sing) the following (rough) translations/texts only include things I have actually studied and performed. This means I'm not counting the story of when a close friend had to be told by a coach what the theme was of a French art song titled "C'est l'extase" (Is Ecstasy) ... gee, sounds like a song about a baby playing with a puppy dog, right?
"Offrande" by Hahn (French art song)
On your young breast let me rest my head
Still ringing with your last kisses,
Let it be stilled after the sweet tempest
And let me sleep a little, while you rest.
"Deh vieni, non tardar" from the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Susanna is singing to herself thinking of her husband, knowing that he is listening, and knowing he believes she is singing about the Count.
The moment which I will enjoy
without anxiety, in the arms of
my idol, has finally arrived.
Timid feelings, leave my breast;
don't come to disturb
my pleasure!
"Mesicku na nebi hlubokem" from Rusalka by Dvorak
Rusalka, a water nymph, is talking to the moon about her lover, a human.
Give him your beams afar,
tell him, that I wait for him here!
Oh, if his human heart dreams of me,
let this vision awaken!
"Dearest Mama" from The Ballad of Baby Doe by Moore
Baby is writing a letter to her mother telling her about the married man she has fallen in love with.
Dearest Mama,
now I've found him
And he loves me truly too.
Ev'ry moment we're together
We both know it had to be.
But, dear mama, he's not free to marry
It is wrong for us to feel the way we do.
I know he needs me
And that I love him
But I have to give him up
And we must part forever.
Vergebliches Standchen by Brahms (Lied)
My door is locked,
and I won't let you in:
My mother has advised me well!
If you came
It would all be over for me!
Here's a bit of "Fever"
"Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever
When you kiss me
Fever when you hold me tight
Fever
In the morning
Fever all through the night"
Would I sing it? Why not? Personally, I'd rather sing "I'm beginning to see the light" because I have sung it before ... but considering these are some of the lyrics, while I'm fine singing it, maybe it's too much for them :-D
"Then you came and caused a spark
That's a four-alarm fire now
I never made love by lantern-shine
I never saw rainbows in my wine
But now that your lips are burning mine
I'm beginning to see the light"
Ok, rant over :-) ... Sweden will come soon, I promise!
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Phantom of the Opera is there.. inside my dreams
Wherein Rose reflects on a strange dream and is amused by the musical her old high school is doing.
I've been dreaming a fair bit lately, maybe because I'm sick, maybe because I've had less work to think about, I don't know. Either way, there have been some strange dreams. Like last night, my dream included having a baby brother with a square head, taking some of the kindergarten kids to McDonalds, and trying to go to work only to have maintenance guys hot-wire my car (a conversion van my family had when I was in high school) so it would take me back home because I was still sick. I escaped from them and ran into the school (although I wasn't supposed to be there that day) where the head of the school was giving everyone big boxes of candy wrapped in Christmas paper even though it was March. And then, some of the other teachers started posting things on Facebook about how I wasn't supposed to be at work because I was sick. Bizarre. Although I don't put much faith in “dream interpretation” I often wonder what makes people put such random things together. I suppose some of this makes sense or relates to what I've been doing (or, rather, not doing – as in working) lately, but it's not like I was thinking about any of this before I went to bed. Who knows... guess I'll add this to the list of questions for The Big Guy someday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One can often find out the most interesting information on Facebook. Like the other day, I noticed that one of my sisters plans to see the SHS musical in a few weeks. They are doing The Phantom of the Opera. I laughed. Observations:
Miriam told me her drafting teacher is calling it “Phantom of the Oprah” … if things haven't changed in the drama club/thespian troupe since my time in high school this is probably a more accurate title.
That music isn't for the faint of heart. I sang the title duet my senior year as part of our thespian show cabaret. Although there are some funny memories attached with it, including the saga of my one and only high school detention, it was really pushing the limits of being safe. I worked for weeks to get the final high B flat (CORRECTION!!! it's a High E Flat... really not sure how I missed that). Finally, no more than a week before the show, I told the director and my ex-boyfriend that I thought I had it. I didn't want the rest of the cast to get excited in case I couldn't actually get the note and somehow thought that if Mr. W. and Erik were the only people actually in the choir room no one else would hear it. Anyone who has attempted to sing something that high as a high school kid knows it's basically impossible to sing it at anything other than full voice. I hit the note both then and in the show but listening to recordings, I can't help but wince. And that was only singing one song from the show... nothing close to singing the role. That music isn't high school music, not by a long shot.
I really hope the girls playing Christine and Carlotta (apparently switching back and forth on opposite nights... strange because the vocal requirements are extremely different **** correction**** there are two girls playing each, NOT two girls switching back and forth) are seniors. High school theater politics being what they are (or at least what they were back in my day) I hope they don't hurt themselves and make their parents regret “buying” the role for them. Who knows... maybe things have changed.
The “bigger is better” attitude with high school musicals doesn't always pay off. There are plenty of good musicals which are much more appropriate for that age group. I wish them well (honestly, I do, and really hope no one hurts themselves) but it's a shame they are being pushed to do the biggest thing possible. Better to do a smaller show brilliantly than to muddle through something more “impressive.”
My heart goes out to the student head of costumes. Although I can pray the “curse of the costume crew head” has been broken (which extended both before and after my time in that position), I kind of doubt it – unless she (or he, I suppose) is only interested in tech.
Two things I wonder... do the guys still use “Make a Man Out of You” from Mulan as a pre-show warmup? And.. will the costume crew head make a “Who's going commando sign” like I did a couple of times or have the boys actually learned not to leave underwear in the dressing room?
Can't wait to hear all about it from my sister, that's for sure!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Never Been Unloved
Sometimes, God looks at us, wrestling with the latest problem or worry, and knows that we are too stressed to listen for His small voice. Rather than abandoning or simply being silent, He can also speak through those people and things around us. Riding home from work today, God choose to speak through my mp3 player. As soon as the song started, I knew it was what I needed to hear, but listening to the lyrics, it was even more meaningful than I could have guessed. Hearing the song didn't fix anything. It didn't make things any easier or change situations. But, along with being a message by itself, it reminded me of the verse below. No matter what, there is nothing that can happen or I can do which will make God love me less. That is a beautiful thing.
Never Been Unloved: Michael W. Smith
I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful
I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I have been undesirable
And sometimes I have unwise
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved
I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I've been unapproachable
I've been unemotional
I've been unexceptional
I've been undecided
And I have been unqualified
Unaware
I have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved
It's because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Romeo es Julia
What is it about some stories that makes us return to them over and over, the ones that we never tire of and always come away with some new insight? Are they just well written, engaging? Is because of the depth of characters or plot? Or because we can relate - see ourselves in the characters? I expect it's a mixture of those things. Everyone has different stories that they connect to like this, but mine are Jane Eyre and Romeo and Juliet. These are my "go-to" books: if something is bothering me they are one of the most common places I turn. In fact, I had an issue this fall because, unthinkably, I moved to Europe without a single copy of Jane Eyre. Even though I don't read it all the time, I almost felt like I was suffering from a sort of withdraw. I needed that book and it wasn't there for me.
It's not just the books either. I love the music from Jane Eyre: The Musical (even with the awkward memories associated with it). Although I've never found a movie that I felt really captured the book well, I've seen multiple attempts. When it comes to Romeo and Juliet, my range is even broader. At least two operas, numerous films (both made for screen and filmed plays), and 3+ versions of the French rock opera by Gerard Presgurvic. Tonight, I finally saw one of those rock opera versions (the Hungarian) live. It was as if I had never heard/seen the story before.
This show has been running just shy of 7 years and some of the performers (Romeo, Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, The Prince, Tybalt, Lord Capulet) are still from the original cast. Even so, the show was fresh, the acting almost raw in places. That's the mark of a great performer: to give a performance for the ?00th time and make it seem like it's brand new. New insights for me: Romeo's smile when his friends berate him saying he had "no right" to act like he did at the ball - it was a boyish sure-maybe-you-have-a-point-but-it-doesn't-matter-because-I-love-her-way-too-much-to-care-what-you-think type of smile. Another insight was about the character of Tybalt. Although created for this show, giving Tybalt a back story actually made me feel bad for him. He loved Juliet and wanted to kill Romeo for destroying what he saw as his only chance for happiness. One of his songs also discussed the childhood he never really had and how his parents had raised him for violence. Even being familiar with the music, I hadn't realized this part of the story - and probably wouldn't have if there weren't super-titles in English!
One of the differences in this production - even from other versions of Presgurvic's show - is the tomb scene with the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare's play, Romeo drinks poison and dies just as Juliet is waking up from her sleeping drug. In response to his death, she stabs herself with his dagger and dies. Contrastingly, in this version, Romeo straps Juliet to himself and then hangs himself. The jolt wakes her and, on realizing that Romeo is dead, she slits her wrists and bleeds to death. I couldn't help but wonder what it's like for the performers to do this scene. Of course there are safety measures taken - harnesses and the like - but I imagine it's still unnerving to step off the platform.
So, what is it about this story? Why do I love it so much? I suppose part of it is the same that draws me to any substantial love story. Curiosity. Is that anything like it really is? Will that happen for me someday? (Minus the dying right after my wedding bit) Is there a "Romeo" out there somewhere for me? What is it like to have someone say "Even if they kill me, I'm staying with you" and mean it?
Another part of why I love this story is the impossibility of it. There are so many things that could have changed it if they had only happened moments earlier or later. Had Benvolio left with the letter before hearing of the "death" of Juliet, Romeo would have arrived knowing she was only asleep. Why didn't Juliet just go with him to Mantua? What would have happened if Juliet refused to marry Paris and told her parents she was already married? Why didn't Romeo wait just a few more minutes before killing himself? That's the one that always gets me. Even though I know the story so well, every time I read/watch/listen to it, I am silently begging him to wait a minute or for Juliet to wake up a minute sooner. One of the best/worst (I can't decide which it is.. haha) things I've seen, is when Juliet wakes up just as Romeo takes the poison and they have that endless moment, both realizing exactly what is/will happen.
Favorite moments/lines in the show:
Balcony scene - Julia sings the first verse while Romeo listens, hidden. As she finishes, he shows himself. Embarrassed, she asks if he heard her. He responds, a little cheekily, "only a little" and proceeds to repeat the entire verse changing their names. After the song ends, they are talking:
Romeo's Leaving - this scene is not rated PG, but then they DID just get married. One question.. why does Julia have animal furs on her floor rather than a bed? This is after the whole lark/nightingale bit, just as Romeo is climbing out the window
Ending - The song "Guilty" where the company gathers around the bodies of Romeo and Julia and sings about their guilt and that of the world ends with, and therefore ends the show with, a beautiful Picardy Third on the word "love."
It's not just the books either. I love the music from Jane Eyre: The Musical (even with the awkward memories associated with it). Although I've never found a movie that I felt really captured the book well, I've seen multiple attempts. When it comes to Romeo and Juliet, my range is even broader. At least two operas, numerous films (both made for screen and filmed plays), and 3+ versions of the French rock opera by Gerard Presgurvic. Tonight, I finally saw one of those rock opera versions (the Hungarian) live. It was as if I had never heard/seen the story before.
This show has been running just shy of 7 years and some of the performers (Romeo, Lady Capulet, Lady Montague, The Prince, Tybalt, Lord Capulet) are still from the original cast. Even so, the show was fresh, the acting almost raw in places. That's the mark of a great performer: to give a performance for the ?00th time and make it seem like it's brand new. New insights for me: Romeo's smile when his friends berate him saying he had "no right" to act like he did at the ball - it was a boyish sure-maybe-you-have-a-point-but-it-doesn't-matter-because-I-love-her-way-too-much-to-care-what-you-think type of smile. Another insight was about the character of Tybalt. Although created for this show, giving Tybalt a back story actually made me feel bad for him. He loved Juliet and wanted to kill Romeo for destroying what he saw as his only chance for happiness. One of his songs also discussed the childhood he never really had and how his parents had raised him for violence. Even being familiar with the music, I hadn't realized this part of the story - and probably wouldn't have if there weren't super-titles in English!
One of the differences in this production - even from other versions of Presgurvic's show - is the tomb scene with the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare's play, Romeo drinks poison and dies just as Juliet is waking up from her sleeping drug. In response to his death, she stabs herself with his dagger and dies. Contrastingly, in this version, Romeo straps Juliet to himself and then hangs himself. The jolt wakes her and, on realizing that Romeo is dead, she slits her wrists and bleeds to death. I couldn't help but wonder what it's like for the performers to do this scene. Of course there are safety measures taken - harnesses and the like - but I imagine it's still unnerving to step off the platform.
So, what is it about this story? Why do I love it so much? I suppose part of it is the same that draws me to any substantial love story. Curiosity. Is that anything like it really is? Will that happen for me someday? (Minus the dying right after my wedding bit) Is there a "Romeo" out there somewhere for me? What is it like to have someone say "Even if they kill me, I'm staying with you" and mean it?
Another part of why I love this story is the impossibility of it. There are so many things that could have changed it if they had only happened moments earlier or later. Had Benvolio left with the letter before hearing of the "death" of Juliet, Romeo would have arrived knowing she was only asleep. Why didn't Juliet just go with him to Mantua? What would have happened if Juliet refused to marry Paris and told her parents she was already married? Why didn't Romeo wait just a few more minutes before killing himself? That's the one that always gets me. Even though I know the story so well, every time I read/watch/listen to it, I am silently begging him to wait a minute or for Juliet to wake up a minute sooner. One of the best/worst (I can't decide which it is.. haha) things I've seen, is when Juliet wakes up just as Romeo takes the poison and they have that endless moment, both realizing exactly what is/will happen.
Favorite moments/lines in the show:
Balcony scene - Julia sings the first verse while Romeo listens, hidden. As she finishes, he shows himself. Embarrassed, she asks if he heard her. He responds, a little cheekily, "only a little" and proceeds to repeat the entire verse changing their names. After the song ends, they are talking:
Romeo - Give me your hand.I just love how direct she is.
Julia - How many girls' hands have you already stolen?
Romeo - One. Here.
Julia - I want to be your wife.
Romeo - (nodding) My wife.
Romeo's Leaving - this scene is not rated PG, but then they DID just get married. One question.. why does Julia have animal furs on her floor rather than a bed? This is after the whole lark/nightingale bit, just as Romeo is climbing out the window
Julia - I became your wife.It sounds better in Hungarian, the English looks/sounds a little silly... but that's the way things go. Guess I just need to find a Hungarian "Romeo" LOL
Romeo - I'm glad.
Ending - The song "Guilty" where the company gathers around the bodies of Romeo and Julia and sings about their guilt and that of the world ends with, and therefore ends the show with, a beautiful Picardy Third on the word "love."
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
I don't have to imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You, Jesus, or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine!
~MercyMe
This has been done before, but it just hit me so strongly this evening that I had to restate it. I was walking home, listening to some of my "new" music (realplayer download is amazing - youtube videos get changed to mp3 and then onto my ipod they go) when this song by MercyMe started to play. The lyrics tell of the singer's wonderings about heaven and how they would react to seeing God face to face. The thing is, I, and all other Catholics, don't have to imagine.
I love Tuesday afternoon/evenings. First of all, I end my work day in music with Year 5 and then sometimes choir practice. Then, I get to leave work by 3, at the latest. I have the rest of the afternoon free and then, get to go to Adoration before daily Mass - with the Gregorian Chant group because it's Tuesday.
Getting back to imagining. I don't have to imagine what I will do when I am in God's presence or what I will do when I see His glory - because I've already been there. That's what Adoration is: beholding the face of God. Spending time with Him, in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. And then, that is followed by Mass which goes so much further than anything the singer is imagining. In the words of St. Maximilian Kolbe: "If Angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." So, not only do we have no need to imagine, we also have a privilege far greater than being surrounded by His glory.
On the other hand, kneeling in adoration a few hours later, another thought came to me. No, I don't have to imagine what it will be like to behold the Face of God. However, what I cannot begin to fathom is how He - the God of the universe - could humble Himself to take the form of a piece of bread. That's what I can only imagine.
(3 points if you can identify the Catholic speaker I quoted in the last paragraph... it's a simple statement but one of his favorites)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
X-mas in three sentences... or less
Trying something new... rather than rambling for hours and leaving out so many things I'd like to say, today's post is a number of short thoughts - as the title suggests, three sentences or less. Obviously, there is more to each story, just let me know if you're interested. Look, even this introduction is only three sentences! :)
Break
I'm so thankful to have a break from work for almost two weeks. It is especially nice since my schedule is changing yet again come January. I'll be teaching my regular two days at school, one day at the Pomaz kindy, one day at Daisy - the other foundation kindy, and one day at school writing three music curricula.Hungarian Christmas
This year marked my first "Hungarian" Christmas. The other times I've been here, Christmas was always celebrated with my family so it was decidedly American, even though we were living in Hungary. My friend, Edit, and her family invited me to their house for Christmas Eve/Day so I was able to experience an actual Hungarian Christmas.Christ and Family
Christmas is very family and Christ centered here. I was completely welcomed into Edit's family for the time I was there, from dozens of puszik (greeting kisses on each cheek) to even getting a present from what the Angel (not Santa Claus) put under the tree. Between the Christmas Eve Pastoral Play, reading the Nativity story by the tree, and Midnight Mass, approximately 2.5 hours (at least) were spent focusing on the real reason for Christmas and only 20minutes (tops) was spent on presents - quite a shift from the traditional American Christmas.Presents
Compared to what I'm used to, presents were a meager affair - but not in a negative sense; from my observations, the socks, candy, books, and other small items were just as (if not more) appreciated than the massive piles of stuff common in the States. I received a beautiful, Hungarian pottery candlestick holder and two candles. The Angel (parents) brings the presents so there is no "need" to buy extravagant presents for your family.Fish
Christmas Eve is still considered part of the Advent fast (even though it takes place after the reading of the Nativity story and presents), so the meal is traditionally fish. We had salmon which worried me a little because I hadn't tried it since I was a kid and had hated it then. I needn't have worried - it was delicious: much less frightening than fish soup could have been as it often includes "delicacies" like fish brains.Feast
Dinner on Christmas Day is a huge family affair - we had 13 people, after a couple of last minute cancellations, including Edit, her parents, her sister and brother, her boyfriend, an aunt and uncle, a cousin and her boyfriend, grandma, great-grandma, and me. Between what Edit's family had made and the things her aunt brought, there were at least five types of meat, rice, potatoes, a couple of salads, cake, begli (nut/poppy seed dessert rolls), and various wines and liquors. Everything I tried was wonderful.Small World
Edit's aunt, uncle, and cousin used to live in Columbus, OH. Even stranger, Goci, Edit's boyfriend, attended Szent Imre Gimnazium, where I went to school the first time we were in Hungary. In fact, we were both in 7th grade that year and he said I seemed familiar, although we must have been in different classes.Family
I had to leave before Christmas dinner was over so I could hurry home for a skype date with my family to open presents. It was really nice to "see" them, even with the usual squabbling and such. In a way, it was hard though; it's easier to forget how much I miss them when I don't have such a tangible reminder of how far away I am.I'll Be Home for Christmas: 2010 Ex-pat version
I'll be home for Christmas
You can wave at me.
Please share snow, I've got none, though
You'll see my tiny tree.
Christmas Day will find us
Ocean in between.
I'll be home for Christmas
But only on this screen.
(OK, that's four sentences, I guess)
Well, that's all for today. I'd love to hear from you if you're reading this... what you like, what you don't like, thoughts, anything really (no rotten tomatoes though please... I only like fresh ones). Merry Fourth Day of Christmas!
I'll be home for Christmas
You can wave at me.
Please share snow, I've got none, though
You'll see my tiny tree.
Christmas Day will find us
Ocean in between.
I'll be home for Christmas
But only on this screen.
(OK, that's four sentences, I guess)
English Mass
I've often thought that Fr. Lajos, the main priest for our Saturday English Mass community, could be very good friends with FSH from Seton Hill. Sadly, Christmas Mass proved that once again with a homily that included gems such as "I feel bad for anyone who believes Christ was born in a manger," "We need to discover the humanity of Christ so we can discover our own divinity," and "God doesn't put us in situations we don't like," along with an ad-libbed Consecration. Only God knows if it was even a valid Mass.Friends
After Mass was our regular tea gathering, this week including an impromptu carol-sing. Then I went to South Budapest with some family friends for a rousing game of Monopoly, pizza, and rebroadcasts of Christmas services from Britain."Choir"
Sunday Mass was trying to say the least. The problem with the "choir" seems to be getting larger every week. If I hadn't already decided to leave, Sunday would have helped make that decision.Tenor Gorgeousness
One of the highlights of my break has been the Attila Dolhai Christmas Concert on Sunday afternoon. Of the many things that struck me, the strongest was "it's really fun to watch a performance when the performer is having fun" - something I need to remember more when I sing. The music selection ranged from Christmas songs (both Hungarian and English) to pieces from various musicals - a Sing-along version of "Zene az vagyok en" (I am the music) from Mozart! was fun but Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar was unreal - and then the second half was "original" songs. (OK, this paragraph is going to be longer... sorry ... haha) I can honestly say that I have sung with Attila Dolhai (well, along with the other 100's of people who were at the concert but I'll leave that part out). After a couple of encore pieces, the 2.5 hour concert finally ended with a simple, quiet arrangement of Csendes Ej (Silent Night) - too beautiful for words.Well, that's all for today. I'd love to hear from you if you're reading this... what you like, what you don't like, thoughts, anything really (no rotten tomatoes though please... I only like fresh ones). Merry Fourth Day of Christmas!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Selfishness
There are times when I think everyone has to be a little selfish. Not in an "I don't care about anyone but myself" way but more like "if I don't take care of myself there is no way I can help anyone else." This is why the intention for the first decade of my daily Rosary is for my day, what ever struggles there will be (more often than not... just that I will "get through"), anything special happening, etc. If I don't put my life into God's hands first, how can I offer prayers for anything/anyone else? I know that my classes will suffer if I am cranky from not getting enough sleep. So, I have to be selfish when it comes to spending time with people in the evenings.
Sometimes, it's not easy to tell. There is a situation at one of the English Masses that I'm really struggling with. I've rejoined the choir after singing there five years ago. The "choir" sings every week, they meet an hour (or whenever people show up) before Mass to learn the hymns, of the 6-8 people, two have some musical training (more than being able to read music), two can read music somewhat, and the rest have to learn everything by ear. It's a motley crew to say the least. We just found out that the music director's husband got transferred back to the States. She is leaving before Christmas. That leaves a huge hole in the group. There is no official church leadership, no one who would look for a new director, and no money to pay a new director. If I don't take the position, there won't likely be anyone.
Seems pretty obvious, right? I'm here, have musical training, and therefore am the logical choice to take over. Only, the week before K. announced she was leaving, I had decided that I wanted to explore the possibility of singing with the choir at St. Matyas church. That is a semi-professional group that sings for Sunday Latin Mass at the Coronation Church up at the Buda Castle. Now, I'm stuck. I don't want to be in the new director. Frankly, there is some drama amongst the choir members (people who have absolutely no right trying to exclude others) that I don't want to deal with. Additionally, the accompanist can only be there a couple of weeks a month which means I would be stuck playing (or leading Mass unaccompanied) the rest of the time. My piano skills are poor to say the least and even what I can do isn't appreciated by the choir. When I had to play a few weeks ago, they got on my case because *gasp* I played wrong notes. HELLO! I'm HUMAN. And not a pianist. And I hadn't had access to a piano for four months.
I'm so torn. I feel like I have an obligation to take the position but, at the same time, I would so much rather be singing Schubert's Mass in G at St. Matyas than struggling to teach people to sing some banal OCP ditty by ear. I really wish the two English Masses were blended. It would be on Saturday evenings, either church.. that part doesn't matter, the music from Saturday, the priest from Sunday. Oh well, not going to happen so why dream.
Thoughts? Suggestions? How selfish is too selfish?
Sometimes, it's not easy to tell. There is a situation at one of the English Masses that I'm really struggling with. I've rejoined the choir after singing there five years ago. The "choir" sings every week, they meet an hour (or whenever people show up) before Mass to learn the hymns, of the 6-8 people, two have some musical training (more than being able to read music), two can read music somewhat, and the rest have to learn everything by ear. It's a motley crew to say the least. We just found out that the music director's husband got transferred back to the States. She is leaving before Christmas. That leaves a huge hole in the group. There is no official church leadership, no one who would look for a new director, and no money to pay a new director. If I don't take the position, there won't likely be anyone.
Seems pretty obvious, right? I'm here, have musical training, and therefore am the logical choice to take over. Only, the week before K. announced she was leaving, I had decided that I wanted to explore the possibility of singing with the choir at St. Matyas church. That is a semi-professional group that sings for Sunday Latin Mass at the Coronation Church up at the Buda Castle. Now, I'm stuck. I don't want to be in the new director. Frankly, there is some drama amongst the choir members (people who have absolutely no right trying to exclude others) that I don't want to deal with. Additionally, the accompanist can only be there a couple of weeks a month which means I would be stuck playing (or leading Mass unaccompanied) the rest of the time. My piano skills are poor to say the least and even what I can do isn't appreciated by the choir. When I had to play a few weeks ago, they got on my case because *gasp* I played wrong notes. HELLO! I'm HUMAN. And not a pianist. And I hadn't had access to a piano for four months.
I'm so torn. I feel like I have an obligation to take the position but, at the same time, I would so much rather be singing Schubert's Mass in G at St. Matyas than struggling to teach people to sing some banal OCP ditty by ear. I really wish the two English Masses were blended. It would be on Saturday evenings, either church.. that part doesn't matter, the music from Saturday, the priest from Sunday. Oh well, not going to happen so why dream.
Thoughts? Suggestions? How selfish is too selfish?
Friday, November 19, 2010
Mozart!
Some things are worth waiting for. Tonight's performance of Mozart! would be one of them. I had been wanting to see Dolhai Attila perform since discovering Romeo es Julia four years ago. While, I haven't seen that yet, I finally got to see him as the title role in tonight's musical.
Assorted thoughts:
-- Sets were amazing... so many different scenes, so elaborate. Moving platforms, raising, falling, hanging, circling staircases and floor patterns.
-- Costumes (with an exception -- I'll mention later) were great. More "traditional period" than in Romeo es Julia but not completely traditional.
-- The performers were all good -- particularly liked Baroness, Nannerl, and Leopold (besides Mozart - of course!).
-- The Porcelain Child ... wow. Silent acting plus acrobatics -- really made the story. (The story is told with Mozart as an adult but this child is often with him as a symbol of his child prodigy self)
-- Attila... well, there really isn't much I can say. Some voices can't be done justice on video or audio recordings. With all due respect to the many great tenors I know, I finally saw my favorite perform tonight. All I know is if he was really Mozart, I would fight Josie M., to the death, to win him :) Well.. if he wasn't already married with three little girls, that is.
-- Music - I've heard it before but live is so much better. It's a mixture of classical (Mozart and Mozartean sounding), musical, and rock opera.
-- Staging - all around good. Seamless scene shifts, nice chorus numbers - without seeming contrived, moments between Mozart and the Porcelain Child were particularly good. Mozart's reaction to his father's final rejection was, in my opinion, the most powerful scene. Although the lyrics are asking why his father never loved him for who he was rather than just as a performing monkey, I was reminded of St. Francis by the idea of even giving back his clothes to his father.
Some things I might change...
-- Recast Constanze... clearly, I should be playing opposite Attila (haha... a girl can dream, right?)
-- One distracting costume piece - I realize that as this is a musical, the mikes are necessary. However... if you know the lead is going to mostly strip on stage, wouldn't it make sense to at least make the mike pack flesh colored? That way it would be less absurd than a big white band stretching around his chest. I'd be happy to fix this for them. It might require a couple of fittings to make sure it's perfect though ;-)
-- Super-titles were helpful but weren't synchronized very well.
All in all it was wonderful and I'm sure I'll be seeing many more shows at the Operetta Szinhaz. It was so nice to have something take my mind of the bitterness and defeat that are threatening to take over. Only God could have know what type of week I would have before this and prompt me to make sure I bought a ticket when I did. Between the misery that has been school, the new disaster that the kindy has become, and getting sick, I really, really needed this escape.
Assorted thoughts:
-- Sets were amazing... so many different scenes, so elaborate. Moving platforms, raising, falling, hanging, circling staircases and floor patterns.
-- Costumes (with an exception -- I'll mention later) were great. More "traditional period" than in Romeo es Julia but not completely traditional.
-- The performers were all good -- particularly liked Baroness, Nannerl, and Leopold (besides Mozart - of course!).
-- The Porcelain Child ... wow. Silent acting plus acrobatics -- really made the story. (The story is told with Mozart as an adult but this child is often with him as a symbol of his child prodigy self)
-- Attila... well, there really isn't much I can say. Some voices can't be done justice on video or audio recordings. With all due respect to the many great tenors I know, I finally saw my favorite perform tonight. All I know is if he was really Mozart, I would fight Josie M., to the death, to win him :) Well.. if he wasn't already married with three little girls, that is.
-- Music - I've heard it before but live is so much better. It's a mixture of classical (Mozart and Mozartean sounding), musical, and rock opera.
-- Staging - all around good. Seamless scene shifts, nice chorus numbers - without seeming contrived, moments between Mozart and the Porcelain Child were particularly good. Mozart's reaction to his father's final rejection was, in my opinion, the most powerful scene. Although the lyrics are asking why his father never loved him for who he was rather than just as a performing monkey, I was reminded of St. Francis by the idea of even giving back his clothes to his father.
Some things I might change...
-- Recast Constanze... clearly, I should be playing opposite Attila (haha... a girl can dream, right?)
-- One distracting costume piece - I realize that as this is a musical, the mikes are necessary. However... if you know the lead is going to mostly strip on stage, wouldn't it make sense to at least make the mike pack flesh colored? That way it would be less absurd than a big white band stretching around his chest. I'd be happy to fix this for them. It might require a couple of fittings to make sure it's perfect though ;-)
-- Super-titles were helpful but weren't synchronized very well.
All in all it was wonderful and I'm sure I'll be seeing many more shows at the Operetta Szinhaz. It was so nice to have something take my mind of the bitterness and defeat that are threatening to take over. Only God could have know what type of week I would have before this and prompt me to make sure I bought a ticket when I did. Between the misery that has been school, the new disaster that the kindy has become, and getting sick, I really, really needed this escape.
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