In an attempt to learn to write concisely (or at least not using as much time) I’m writing this before I run to class. This weekend was lovely. Saturday was a bit tiring as I went into school early to practice harp for the BCF Christmas production then had rehearsal for it from 10-2ish. I was impressed with how far we’ve come. After rehearsal I’d planned to practice more, but gave it up because I was too mentally exhausted. I cooked dinner for Veronika for a change, which made me feel very much better, though she was too appreciative. I made potato salad, which she loved and American omelets. Stephanie sent a text to see if I wanted to hang out and I thought it was a lovely idea. She brought over chocolate chips, brown sugar and American measuring stuff and as she arrived Veronika’s guest came home so I fed them both and all four of us went to look at Christmas lights on a castle with a moat. How romantic! I have to say it was so lovely to be domestic for a few hours and bring people pleasure by serving them. Stephanie was gracious that most of the time was spent in English/German conversation with everybody and baked the cookies with talkative company, but around 10:30 we got the kitchen to ourselves and had some lovely girl talk time. She is such a blessing to me. Praise the Lord for his abundant provisions to us. Even better, she appreciates my friendship too. :)
We went to bed too late, but I say it was worth it. The next morning at church we had a surprise for the orchestra: all the music stands were missing! We improvised with chairs and podiums and the like. It was rather funny but we managed to do pretty well despite. I improvised a lot on the harp stuff, but nobody seemed to notice. That’s unintentional improvisation mind you. It’s “Oh shoot, I don’t know where I am and I played a wrong chord what can I futz around on until I find myself again?” not “I’m bored so I’ll add my own musical thoughts to the music” though I did some of that with oboe on the last hymn.
Yikes, I was going to be short. After church we had a time of cookies then Sarah took the orchestra out for drinks and then I zipped off to the station to meet folks going to the concert in Freiburgh that Stephan arranged. The weather was rainy and cold, but we enjoyed the Christmas market there and it was amazing to be in a concert in such a huge gothic cathedral. We heard Swiss composer Arthur Honegger’s Christmas Cantata (Stephan’s favorite piece) and Josef Gabriel Rheinberger’s The Star of Bethehem op. 164. I was sufficiently entertained trying to read the German poetry (both pieces were for choir and orchestra) and I found some of it very beautiful, though of course it was difficult German.
After the concert the eleven of us ate Thai food and headed for home. I got home around 10:30 tired going into another week! I feel okay now, and the Lord is my strength! Ha, this took 15 minutes to write. Now I’m off to practice. Blessings, love, and more love! Janet
It’s “Oh shoot, I don’t know where I am and I played a wrong chord what can I futz around on until I find myself again?”
That reminds me of what happened to us this past Sunday. Our soloist with loads of talent and musical education found that his gorgeous tenor voice failed him at the last minute. Fortunately, our "regular" tenor with the strongest voice had practiced the solo in rehearsal and was able to pull it off. Not, however, without a reaction much like yours at a tense moment of your standard-transmission driving experience, as he found out just seconds before the anthem that (1) we were singing a different anthem from the one he'd expected and had especially practiced, and (2) he would be singing the solo! Actually, he theoretically had the help of two other men, but one (Dad) hadn't practiced the solo since he can't make our rehearsals, and the other had voice only sufficient for singing bass after three EPCOT "Candlelight" performances the day before.
B (the strong tenor) rose to the occasion and did very well, and his not-appropriate-for-church gut response and subsequent embarrassed apology served to give us a much-needed stress-reducing laugh.
One person not noticing of course doesn't prove that nobody noticed, but I didn't.
And I did hear the harp, not just an orchestral goop, as you might believe after my "what oboe solo?" comment later that evening. ;-)
What are un-American omelets like?
They seem to be a kind of crepe. The egg is beaten until fluffy then flour and milk are added and you end up with a fluffy souffle of sorts, I guess. Interestingly enough, they were shocked to know I put three eggs in each omelet. They were always taught not to eat more than one egg a day. Yet Ester was shocked that I had bread with jam without first putting butter on. I remember Grandpa got to do that but Mom said I could only have butter and jam together for special occasions. So, the moral is, if you don't like the definition of 'healthy' in your country, move. ;)
Okay, I confess. I've been known to put both butter and jam on my toast these days. I think it's because I'm using real butter now, instead of margarine, and that makes quite a difference in the taste. With margarine, as far as I could tell all it did was add fat and calories. But jam alone is still really good.
Try jam and cheese!
I'm not really computer-literate, so I hope I did this right--
I just wanted to express my gratitude tha Stephanie found a friend like you in a place so far from home.
I'm glad you enjoyed the cookies. I hope someday I get to hear you play.
Chet Bishop, Stephanie's Dad
Hi, Stephanie's Dad! I'm Janet's Mom. :)
And we're one big happy family around the globe! Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie's dad. She has many fond words for you and all her family. My loss of her over the extended holidays is your gain. Enjoy! Will you come to visit Switzerland sometime?
I would hope Ann and I can come for Stephanie's graduation. I have never been to Europe...Ann went once with her family.
We do not travel much.
Hi, Janet's Mom!
I didn't mean to fail to return your greeting. These web logs are a strange place to me, and navigation alone uses up most of my attention.
Janet, as I read more of your entries last night, I realized that you play the fiddle as well as several other instruments. Do you specifically mean (for instance) celtic fiddling, or are you using the term to include classical violin? (I enjoy both--just curious)
I am making my fifth violin currently...I'm not real good at it yet, but if the opportunity ever arose to listen to you test-driving one of my instruments I would be eager to do so.
I've also made two violas and a double bass--you don't happen to play them, too, do you? :-)
Chet
Stephanie's Dad
She doesn't, but you can be sure she'd welcome the opportunity to try. ;)
Well, I spoke with Stephanie this morning, who 'splained it to me-- medieval music calls for pre-baroque style fiddles-- not the later model, the violins (newfangled upstarts, scarcely 400 years on the market...).
Ah, well, the concept is the same...though she also told me that you all live in Florida, so my chances of meeting you are quite slim. :-(
Hope you all have a blessed Christmas season...it is tough, anymore, as the spirit of antichrist is growing strong. It is good to know, in times like these, that the Master has relinquished none of His authority, and we can read the "rest of the story" (with or without Paul Harvey), and see that the good guys win.
Chet
I'm happy to answer any questions, but it seems Stephanie did a good job. I play Irish music on tin whistle, but since I'm learning fiddle for medieval music I'd like to do some Irish stuff on it as well. I heard that you're making violins - what fun! I hope sometime to meet, though it does seems the chances are greater that we'd meet in Switzerland than in the states.
Yup...it does look that way.
....Christmas lights on a castle with a moat. How romantic.... I hope no one intruded on the romanticism of the moment. Seriously, it sounds like a beautiful picture, and I'm sorry that I missed it. I used to enjoy going out in the evenings to look at Christmas lights here in the States, but now that we have summertime weather during the winter (and it also seems that less people decorate), that tradition has fallen by the wayside. I hope you continue to enjoy the Christmas sights and sounds of another country!
