This is both so funny and so interesting Karena! I think the same thing that got you stuck in a 16 hour (!) musical situation is the same thing that also drives all the interesting parts of you - a willingness to be a beginner, curiosity and the jumping into an experience with 100% commitment. It’s also fascinating to see how it influenced you in little ways in the future.
Also, “I quickly learned to cook rice and curry for one instead of eight after eating the same meal for two weeks straight.” this made me laugh as I have definitely cooked a family size amount of rice for myself by accident 😂
“We took a break and his wife introduced me to my first prosciutto & melon, and the simplicity of a margherita pizza.” -- Guess MM was from this side of the world. :) Great piece, Karena. And those 16 hours were well spent, trust me.
Italian heritage. MM and his wife have elevated my taste and musical palatte many notches over the decades of our friendship. You note, however, that she did not volunteer to keep her husband company through this cycle! And yes, no time spent learning is ever truly wasted, Silvio. Are you a Wagnerian?
I did not. I have to say I'm not a classical music buff. I mean, I appreciate it. But I'm more of an "improvisation" person than a "perfect reproduction" person, if that makes sense.
Same here. My "perfect" classical music is Gershwin. As a choral singer, I find it counter-intuitive that there is sheet music for jazz and scat. Isn't the whole point that you riff?!
Miles Davis used to say that classical musicians are robots, if you take the music sheet from them, they’re lost. But Miles was very opinionated. (Not that far from my view though). :)
Karena! Thank you for the shoutout :D And trust me, those 16 hours (depending on who's conducting, you can get away with roughly 14 hours) are time well-spent. And I'd never hesitate to spend more time studying the score, watching (competently conducted and performed -- unfortunately not too many of them are, but the Met one you watched by Levine is very good) Wagner pieces from lieder to Meistersinger and Gotterdammerung, working / debating with musicians, and hearing music lovers' experiences with his works. One doesn't have to actively be a Wagner fan to enjoy his creations. His legacy lives on and marches forward with our times, and inspiring those new to the wonderous deep world of music. Like, 99% of modern film soundtracks are like variations on Wagner, Brahms, and Holst LOL
Your beautifully descriptive essay is what brought back that buried weekend, Helen. So I have to thank You! Studying the score - this was pivotal. That weekend, I learned that you can consume content on different levels:
You can buy a ticket and show up.
Or you can buy your seat, prepare, understand the context, research the story behind, dress for the event, and turn it into an experience.
Your last sentence is also so true - so much of life is recycled information. So lets upcycle it. Variations on a theme. Whispers and memories across time and generations. Leitmotifs.
Strength of character. That's the impression I'm left with about you after reading this story. Having not only sat through those performances, but also done the homework to understand them, is something that should go on a resume. I know I wouldn't have been able to see that commitment through. I like the title of your article, because giving anything a committed shot, even when we find out that it's not our thing, is so essential to learning.
Tribe Tilt has a WhatsApp group?
Not for the Tribe!
But that is where my family gets into conversations and I get raw private reflections on my writing.
This is both so funny and so interesting Karena! I think the same thing that got you stuck in a 16 hour (!) musical situation is the same thing that also drives all the interesting parts of you - a willingness to be a beginner, curiosity and the jumping into an experience with 100% commitment. It’s also fascinating to see how it influenced you in little ways in the future.
Also, “I quickly learned to cook rice and curry for one instead of eight after eating the same meal for two weeks straight.” this made me laugh as I have definitely cooked a family size amount of rice for myself by accident 😂
I hadn't seen it that way, Michelle. Thank you for that generous reflection.
“We took a break and his wife introduced me to my first prosciutto & melon, and the simplicity of a margherita pizza.” -- Guess MM was from this side of the world. :) Great piece, Karena. And those 16 hours were well spent, trust me.
Italian heritage. MM and his wife have elevated my taste and musical palatte many notches over the decades of our friendship. You note, however, that she did not volunteer to keep her husband company through this cycle! And yes, no time spent learning is ever truly wasted, Silvio. Are you a Wagnerian?
Not quite. Even though the Ride of the Valkyries gives me a kind of energy I can hardly find anywhere else in classical music.
It is iconic. Did you read Cultural Tutor Aeropagus XLIV? He opens with Halo as a conversation on classic vs classical.
I did not. I have to say I'm not a classical music buff. I mean, I appreciate it. But I'm more of an "improvisation" person than a "perfect reproduction" person, if that makes sense.
Same here. My "perfect" classical music is Gershwin. As a choral singer, I find it counter-intuitive that there is sheet music for jazz and scat. Isn't the whole point that you riff?!
Miles Davis used to say that classical musicians are robots, if you take the music sheet from them, they’re lost. But Miles was very opinionated. (Not that far from my view though). :)
Karena! Thank you for the shoutout :D And trust me, those 16 hours (depending on who's conducting, you can get away with roughly 14 hours) are time well-spent. And I'd never hesitate to spend more time studying the score, watching (competently conducted and performed -- unfortunately not too many of them are, but the Met one you watched by Levine is very good) Wagner pieces from lieder to Meistersinger and Gotterdammerung, working / debating with musicians, and hearing music lovers' experiences with his works. One doesn't have to actively be a Wagner fan to enjoy his creations. His legacy lives on and marches forward with our times, and inspiring those new to the wonderous deep world of music. Like, 99% of modern film soundtracks are like variations on Wagner, Brahms, and Holst LOL
Your beautifully descriptive essay is what brought back that buried weekend, Helen. So I have to thank You! Studying the score - this was pivotal. That weekend, I learned that you can consume content on different levels:
You can buy a ticket and show up.
Or you can buy your seat, prepare, understand the context, research the story behind, dress for the event, and turn it into an experience.
Your last sentence is also so true - so much of life is recycled information. So lets upcycle it. Variations on a theme. Whispers and memories across time and generations. Leitmotifs.
Strength of character. That's the impression I'm left with about you after reading this story. Having not only sat through those performances, but also done the homework to understand them, is something that should go on a resume. I know I wouldn't have been able to see that commitment through. I like the title of your article, because giving anything a committed shot, even when we find out that it's not our thing, is so essential to learning.
You are too generous, Rick! I appreciate this insight, because I sat to write an essay on algorithms and transition skills. You saw something deeper.
Great reminder to embrace my noobness
Noobness rooles!