IrishOboe

I woke up this morning to find that my morning classes had been canceled.  I decided to celebrate by writing an update before prepping piano lessons and getting some practice in – which otherwise wouldn’t have happened today!

The second week of April started with my birthday, which was plenty busy.  That evening was the Eric Mentzel concert where we performed all the music from the Codex Calixtinus we’d been working on for the past week (and had started in the workshop last semester).  It was a little nerve-wracking since I’d missed so many of the rehearsals, but I’m not a singer so I wasn’t too picky about my voice and I enjoyed performing with such great musicians.  The audience got confused as to where we were in the program, so the bows we planned didn’t work and it made the whole concert a little uncomfortable, but the music was good.

The rest of the week was full of rehearsals for the Baroque dance performance and it was exhausting, but enjoyable.  I enjoy dancing a great deal since it takes all my concentration and there’s no room left for being very critical of myself – not that I could if I wanted to because I don’t know that much about dance.

Thursday, (April 17^th) I played in Anais’s recorder diploma concert.  [I thought it was the 10th so I included this week only to realize my mistake later.]  I was happy with how much progress I had made since she first asked me to play.  I learned a great deal and though the performance wasn’t brilliant, it was decent and I enjoyed myself.  For the record, I played gothic harp with Anais (recorder), Annie (voice), and Baptiste (fiddle) on Adam de la Halle’s (ca 1240-1287) monophonic song “On demande mout souvent” (A f. 14v/15r).  In case some of that did not make sense to you, the information at the end is what you need if you want to go find the piece yourself (since you are all itching to do so).  A is the abbreviation of the manuscript the song is found in.  Unfortunately, I don’t know which one that is.  I’m much more familiar with the body of manuscripts that I was when I first came, but there is a lot of knowledge left to pick up.  “f.” stands for folio, which means page and each sheet is given a number with two sides: v is verso (left side of book or ‘front’ of page) and r is recto (right side of book or ‘back’ of page).  Thus this piece is spread over page 14 on the left to page 15 on the right.

If I’m not careful I’ll use up all my working time explaining mundane details that probably won’t be of use, but I was confused when I first looked at a Schola program . . .

Friday, April 11^th I went to Mary’s birthday party and we had a great time eating and talking.  We were supposed to bring something for ‘show and tell’ and I decided to bring some Baroque music and teach some Baroque dance.  It seems that people enjoyed it and they did a great job.  I was reminded again how much I like teaching, and dance especially, though I’ve only taught dance a few times in my life.

Saturday, the 12^th, was the big Baroque dance day.  After the dress in the morning, which went well enough I had some time to chill in the afternoon before getting there massively early so I could try to do my hair.  Despite having long hair that everyone likes to play with, I haven’t spend much time experimenting with it so I was worried about coming up with some ‘Baroque-like’ hairdo.  Barbara explained verbally what I should do, and it took me a good while to get it all up, but I was pleased enough with it in the end.  I had one stray hair, but the rest held up throughout all the bouncing and dancing, and that made me proud (again, ignorance is bliss).  I had a blast and the hall was packed.  There were some minor issues, but no major mistakes and I enjoyed myself throughout, especially when the choreography brought me through the audience and by chance close to people who had come to see me.  There was quite a show of support and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  There are pictures, but they’ll probably come later. (No, they come now, due to more procastination on my part.  Remember you can click on them to see a large image.)

The Orchestra (period instruments played by schola students) 

The Birth of Venus

Celebration Dance

 Jean-Fery Rebel (1666-1747) Les Caracteres de la Danse (1715)

With our teacher

With my sweetheart

Looking at my sweetheart

 The Hair (with roses given to me by my sweetheart for my birthdday)

Afterwards I relaxed with three members of the Stuecklin family and Stephanie at an Indian place.  It was lovely to relax with people I love after an intense performance and after dinner I went with the Stephetc. club to Stephan’s place for tea.  I dropped into bed late at night exhausted but happy.

Sunday, the 13^th, was BCF’s Pasta Lunch after church.  I enjoyed the time of fellowship and sat with a rather Swiss crowed and got some Swiss German practice in.  That was the day I had planned with Stephan to celebrate my birthday since I thought there wouldn’t be time before then.  Despite having the surprise birthday party Stephan still took me out to a fancy place for dinner that evening and I took the opportunity to initiate my new red shoes.  I hope to get a picture up, and I’m realizing now that I sported quite the international attire.  Swiss shoes, Italian dress, Japanese purse, American coat (a loaner from Steph) and earrings.  I think Stephan had a Japanese suit and an Australian hat.

I found it interesting that I was more comfortable in my ridiculous Baroque dress than in this modern-day formal wear.  I think it’s because I assume a role for the former and I am no one but myself in the latter.  We anyway had a lovely time and I had flaming shrimp and scallops on a stick.  And yes, my feet were happy to be free of the shoes by the end of the evening, but the whole ensemble was appreciated and therefore it was well worth all the effort. ;)

That is the end of that crazy week and I’m still a month behind.  I think I’ll try to get pictures up rather than write more since I have a feeling that would be most appreciated.

Love to all,

Janet