music | Change Is Hard

October 14, 2013
by dawnkinster 14 Comments

Night music

Ceiling

I was lucky this weekend. I got to attend a Columbus Symphony concert on Saturday night. You know how much I love to listen to live symphony music, so it was a treat to visit Columbus, sit in a beautiful venue, and listen to such lovely music.

The program contained three pieces. The first, Brio: Toccata and Fantasy for Orchestra, was written by a relatively young composer, John Estacio, born in 1966. It felt like a lush movie background, perhaps the sound you hear behind one of those motion films seen on giant screens, where you’re in an airplane flying low across the country. At the beginning I could see herds of horses racing across the prairie, the majestic Rocky Mountains touched with snow. I felt the plane dip low into the Grand Canyon, then glide gently across farmland, barns glowing in the sun. Soon I was on the East Coast, swinging through New York’s Central Park, where the frenetic sounds of millions of commuters began to infringe on the calm. The piece ended, for me, in the streets of that city with people and taxis moving together in the crazy race of city life. I know these images are likely not the inspiration the composer used when he wrote this piece, but I thoroughly enjoyed imaging it my way.

Second on the program was Rachaninoff’s Concerto No. 2 in C Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op.18. It starts melancholy, contemplative, but my favorite part was the second movement, so sweetly gentle, such a familiar melody. You’d recognize it if you heard, (I linked so you CAN hear) and you’d smile. I smiled.

Ornate

The last piece of the night was also familiar; Brahm’s Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98. I thought my favorite movement of the four was the first. It’s so lush, so full, so familiar. But it turns out my favorite was the third movement with it’s grand entrance, jubilant and exultant moving into a playful dance.

Warming up

I was thinking, on the walk back out to the car, that if everyone could experience an evening like this just once in awhile the world would be a better place. There are so many bad things going on both here at home and across the world. Music like this is like comfort food. In fact I’ll risk calling it comfort music. I could feel the stress flowing out of my neck and shoulders as I sat and absorbed the music into my soul Saturday night.

I wish, truly wish, everyone could experience music live. If you ever get the opportunity attend a symphony concert one evening, even if you don’t think you like this kind of music. Just go. Close your eyes and let your mind float free. See how you feel. See what you imagine. It will expand your mind. It will let you breath.

Comfort music. We could all use a little more of it.

September 22, 2013
by dawnkinster 17 Comments

Music in the house

Saturday was the opening night of the 85th season for the Ann Arbor Symphony. There is something special about standing in a full house and singing the National Anthem, being supported by a full symphony orchestra, that made me realize how lucky we all were. Lucky to be in a beautiful place, lucky to be listening to such a fine orchestra, lucky to have family and friends to share it all with.

Warming up

This season will be all about contrasts, writes Maestro Arie Lipsky in the program. Opening night proved he was serious as we listened to Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein, with it’s full and lush orchestration bouncing between classic and crazy, to full on crazy with Commedia for (almost) 18th century orchestra by William Bolco, and back to sweet traditional sounds in the “Unfinished” Symphony No 8 in B Minor by Franz Schubert. And that was just the first half.

After intermission we were immersed in Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, a pounding, intense and relentless dance telling the story of a pagan rite; sacrificing a young girl who dances herself to death in order to placate the god of spring. The music is difficult, to play as well as to hear, yet it is also impossible not to be drawn in, not to hold your breath, not to let it sink into your being.

As I listened I thought about all the wonderful music that has been heard and absorbed in this place. And I wondered whether hints of all the music that has come before has somehow been preserved in the crevices of the ornate ceiling, in the dark corners of the upper balcony. Maybe entwined in threads of the velvet curtains up on the stage are bits of notes from past concerts. I image late at night all these remnants of concerts past mingle in the air creating a collage of sound. That makes me smile.

Ceiling art

As usual the audience was on it’s feet as the last bits of music exploded above us. We were on our feet as the season opened singing with gusto, and on our feet as the evening closed showing our appreciation. And in between we were transported; nodding our heads, tapping our feet, holding our breaths and letting them out in a big exultant sighs of joy. Yes we are so lucky.

Extraordinary.

Family

June 5, 2013
by dawnkinster 9 Comments

Beyond brutal

If work last week was difficult, this week it is impossible. Since mid February there have been three women in our department whose husbands have died unexpectedly overnight. This past Sunday it was the husband of someone in my region. The resultant pain and grief among our small group is overwhelming and we all feel so helpless. Each of us wants to help her. None of us can. The work must still get done, and the volume of emails and phone calls has intensified as people hear and want to know what happened. And, of course, how to help. Today is only the third day of this never ending week. We were exhausted before. Now we are plodding, a painful slow hobble; we’re just getting through each day. Our exhaustion and pain is all consuming but nothing like what she is living through right now.

So it surprised me a bit tonight to find I could still smile and sing, even tap my fingers on the steering wheel. The CD from our spring concert arrived last night and I listened to it on the way home this evening. What a great concert; it was full of happy, fun, upbeat music. Stuff you can sing (or at least hum) along with, sway with, nod your head with, snap your fingers to. Good fun, great memories, heart singing music.

Here’s a sampling of what we played (found on youtube and played by other groups for your listening pleasure). For Lassie and Benji’s mom I give you Lassus Trombone. (She plays the trombone so I figured she’d get a kick out of this.) And New York 1927 was really fun to play. We featured the trumpets in Bugler’s Holiday …including one of our oldest members at over 70 featured as one of the soloists. We even showcased the clarinets with Pie in the Sky Polka…a piece I spent way too much time practicing.

The whole evening was really fun, and the memories of that concert kept me smiling tonight on my long commute home after another very long and sad day at work. For the concert we invited 10 or so 7th graders to play with us on a couple of the pieces. The kids looked so young. The young man sitting with us in the clarinets said as he took his chair that he was nervous. We said that was OK, we were nervous too. Afterward his grin, and the grins of most of the other kids went from ear to ear. Amazing what music can do.

I wish it was this easy to lift my friend’s spirit.

April 28, 2013
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Mahler 6

If you like your symphonies full bodied you should have been in Ann Arbor last night when the Ann Arbor Symphony did Mahler’s Symphony No. 6. With just under 100 musicians the stage was packed. And every one of those musicians played their hearts out.

The 6th is relentless…full…lush spellbinding. It could be…should be…the score for a movie. That would be something wouldn’t it…to make a movie…perhaps a silent movie (the better to enjoy the music).. to fit the drama of Mahler’s 6th. It has everything an epic movie should have; marching armies, intimate battles, galloping horses, angst, star crossed lovers, mothers tenderly watching their children who grow up to march in armies heading off to battle, gentle love scenes, peaceful pastoral settings…more marching armies. Life. Death.

The musicians played 80 minutes and there were very few of those minutes that allowed any of them to rest. Those of us in the audience sat still for 80 minutes, only letting our breaths out for the few seconds between each of the four movements.

We enjoyed fantastic woodwinds, royal trumpets and stunning horns. The strings played as one, the harps were ethereal, the percussion added a sense of drama alternating with humor. The music swelled and lifted us in ever tighter revolutions, higher and higher into rarefied air and then let us down gently onto a moss strewn forest floor where we luxuriated in sunshine and harmony until the music swept us up on the next wave of emotion again. Over and over we raced high above earth and then floated back.

Mahler wrote about this piece as he was composing it. He said it was going to be like nothing the world had heard before. Last night it often seemed bigger than the world, as if it could touch every corner of our planet. The sound was bigger, brighter, more luminous than words can describe. You had to be there. You should have been there.

Finally the whole piece came down to the last measures, measures as soft and delicate as a final breath. They gave me goose bumps. And as the musicians let that last note go, as the conductor stood still with his hands in the air as if to hold on for one more moment, as the audience held it’s breath, my eyes filled with tears.

Profound.

April 26, 2013
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Lots on my mind.

It’s a full moon and the end of the month. The combination appeared to make the mortgage industry this week simply insane. So I’m glad it’s finally Friday night.

This weekend will be pretty busy. We are going to the Ann Arbor Symphony on Saturday night. I’ve been so stressed I’m not even sure what they are playing, but it doesn’t matter. I could so use some music therapy right about now.

And on Sunday morning Katie and I are going to attempt to earn the first leg of her Novice Obedience title. I’m mostly freaked about her off leash stuff. Unlike Rally where I can talk to her and call her back to me when she wanders, Obedience doesn’t allow talking other than the heel commands after each halt. And there are a number of things we have to do, so our time in the ring is longer…without treats to keep her motivated. I’m hoping that 6 years of school click in and she’ll just do what we’ve done for years. If she is on her game…and if I don’t mess this up…well…there will be a jackpot waiting for her. Between you and me there will be a jackpot regardless of whether we “Q” or not…just because we love her.

So anyway, after a very stressful week at work I’m now sort of stressing about the weekend. And next weekend I’ll be in Washington DC at my 5th Sorrow to Strength. I need to get prepared for that too…but I can’t seem to think about it too much until I get past the Obedience Trial.

Sometimes I wonder how I get myself into all this stuff. But really? It’s just that almost everything interests me and if I could have my way I’d be doing even more things. But for now I’ll focus on the symphony on Saturday and on getting to the trial on time for Sunday.

I’m sure Katie will take it from there.

What you talkin about Mom?

March 25, 2013
by dawnkinster 19 Comments

Finding spring in Columbus

This past weekend I spent a delightful evening at Ohio’s Columbus Symphony which worked in tandem with the BalletMet to celebrate spring. I can tell you first hand it was worth the four hour drive.

The first half of the concert was filled with Debussy and Ravel. The haunting and gentle flute solo of Debussy’s Syrink with its low soft notes was played beautifully by a musician standing in a theater box above the main floor. It was a perfect introduction to the night’s emotional music and a backdrop to the slow sensual dancing of two members of the ballet.

Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun followed immediately and continued the low but lush theme. As the music grew you could almost see the green shoots emerging from the damp earth, you could smell the hint of rain and see the buds on the trees swell. Soon I could imagine all sorts of birds, some walking along the shore, others soaring over head accompanied by the undertones of bull frogs among the reeds and, yes, the fawn frolicking in the afternoon sun.

The first half of the concert concluded with Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole. Influenced by Spain, the first three movements felt as soft and wonderous as the preceding pieces and I was still imaging that pond full of wildlife, though sometimes the frogs were sounding less Midwestern as the Spanish rhythms became more apparent. The fourth movement finally provided all the expected fire of a Spanish dance and was brought to full realization by members of the ballet.

At the conclusion of the first half, just before the applause began, you could hear a collective sigh from the audience. The symphony and the ballet had held us all spellbound.

Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring: Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts filled the second half of the performance; Part I, The Adoration of the Earth and Part II, The Sacrifice revolve around villagers dancing in celebration of spring. The group dancing during these pieces was spectacular and engaging. And of course I especially enjoyed the clarinet work. Of all the pieces played that evening, this piece had the biggest sound, the most intense feeling, the fastest movement. It was as if we were all moving through spring, and bursting out into summer on the other side.

Of course there was a long standing ovation. As soloists, both dancers and musicians, were recognized the crowd continued to applaud. And we were all smiling. Because for a couple of hours we experienced the touch of spring. No matter that more snow was forecast, that the temperatures were frigid and the winds blowing. For those moments inside a packed concert hall we stretched toward the sun and felt the warm breeze on our faces. We witnessed joy.

And in the days ahead as we shovel the heavy spring snow and bundle up against cruel temperatures we can remember the soft beautiful music of green sprouts unfurling, of birds soaring overhead and fawns playing in the sun, of dancers celebrating. We were lucky to be touched by a bit of spring this past weekend, thanks to the artists in Columbus.

And that will help us make it through these last weeks of cold.

March 12, 2013
by dawnkinster 12 Comments

So tired

Have you ever been so tired that you can’t even make it to bed? So tired your legs and feet ache, your hands tingle and your head seems to be in a fog?

That tired?

That’s where I am right now. A long day at work followed by a long rehearsal has me sitting here wondering how I can get myself out of the chair and off to bed. How to make myself go to sleep.

But my mind is running circles around my physical self. Lots to do at work. Should probably work late tomorrow night. But have lots of music to practice too. And the dog needs to work on heeling before class on Saturday; she can’t do that by herself. I need to order dahlias for next summer. I was supposed to do that in January. Should find the order form. We have no groceries in the house. What will we have for dinner tomorrow? I think I was supposed to call my college roommate last night. Or tonight. Can’t remember for sure. I promised some people at work that I’d develop a self employed training unit by the end of March. What’s today’s date? Good I have time. Our next concert is the end of May. How many weeks does that give me to practice? I really want to run another race…but I haven’t run in two (or more…how long HAS it been) years. I should try to run one day after work this week, see how it goes. Wonder where my running clothes are. Haven’t seen my running watch in a long time either. Guess I don’t really need a watch, it’s not like I’m running fast. The guestroom needs organizing. Probably could find my running stuff if I did that. And I need to look for that photo of my brother and his friend as kids, I promised to send it to them. It might even be in the guest room closet. Should get organized.

Yep. Should get organized.

Or go to bed.

Tired.

February 24, 2013
by dawnkinster 12 Comments

When music fills the air

We made it through our back to back concerts, one Friday night for family and friends and one Saturday morning at a festival of community bands. We had a lot of fun, but it sure took a lot out of me. I napped most of Saturday afternoon and on into the evening. But now I”m up and awake and I can tell you all about it!

Friday night we invited the Pontiac-Waterford Big Chief Barbershop Chorus to share the stage with us. They did about 30 minutes of music, their harmony wonderful, their voices warm, they smiles big. I’d say the average age of the men singing was late 60’s, maybe even early 70’s and their love of music was obvious. Our love of their work was obvious as well, as we gave them a hearty round of applause at the end.

Then we were up.

We had only three pieces of music, but they were each long. And mostly fast. And difficult. For me, the sound in the auditorium was different than it ever has been before, and I felt more exposed, though I was practically hidden by a grand piano that was being played during our last piece. Some of the work felt mushy, a little less intense than I’d heard it in rehearsal. But the audience seemed to enjoy it – we got spirited applause from the small crowd. And we knew we would have another chance the next morning to make the music fly.

Saturday morning we needed to be an hour or more west by 9:00 a.m. Given we’re in Michigan we worried about the weather and most of us left early. Turns out it was only snowing at our destination, so the ride over was uneventful.

Soon enough we were in the warmup room trying to get settled into our music. Just before we went on stage the director asked us to do something she asks of her 6th graders before a concert. She asked for 30 seconds of silence. For the kids the goal was to get them to settle down. We used those seconds to focus, to take a breath, to settle into ourselves, and if we were inclined, to ask for a little divine support. I think it helped us stand taller and feel more centered and less rattled as we took the stage.

It worked. The music flowed so much clearer on Saturday morning. The sound moved across the band; from one side to the other we were one. Even our troublesome second piece of music sounded like music rather than warm up exercises. Of course we had hiccups. One was probably obvious to the audience, certainly to the judges in the back, but most only we knew about and I’m not sharing.

I’m not saying we played as professionals. Because we’re not. We’re just a bunch of mostly older people who love to play and are grateful to have a venue. Being invited to play at the community band festival is the highlight of our season and just about the most fun a middle aged band member can have.

Friday night I talked with one of the Barbershop Chorus members. His grin was wide, his enthusiasm was contagious. He was just back from his high school reunion where he was the only one left of his old singing group. He said he couldn’t believe, at age 77, that he was still doing something he loved so much, how lucky he felt to still be involved with music.

Amen to that sir. Amen to that.

February 21, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Don’t want to jinx it

Our community band plays a concert tomorrow night and then we’re on to the band festival Saturday morning. We’ve had several weeks of solid rehearsals including this past Tuesday. I don’t know when I’ve felt so prepared.

Which begs the question…good dress rehearsal…bad performance? Of course not! And really, Friday night IS rather like a dress rehearsal for Saturday’s event. Still, I hope we play our hearts out tomorrow night for family and friends…and still keep some in reserve for the next morning too.

Wish us luck. And if you’re around…7:00 Clarkston High School Friday night. It’s free.

Resting and waiting for tomorrow.

February 17, 2013
by dawnkinster 11 Comments

Beautiful Beauty and the Beast

Last night husband and I went to see the local high school production of Beauty and the Beast. Several members of the community band I play with were either playing in the pit, singing and dancing on the stage or working lights from the booth. What a treat. So many talented kids. Wonderful music, great costumes and sets merged with joyous laughter, thunderous applause and standing ovations. Love poured from the group on stage to the audience and was tossed right back to the performers.

You see the best in a community when you watch an event like this. The coordinated effort of students and adults creating something fine and good. It was wonderful to watch. And what of our favorite door?

She was adorable.

Change Is Hard

…but change is certain.

Tag Archives: music