San Francisco

Concert Series at the Presidio, San Francisco Debut


Debussy:
l'Isle joyeuse
Reflets dans l'eau

Poulenc:
Napoli Suite
Barcarolle
Nocturne
Italian Caprice (intermission)

Ravel: Ondine
Chopin: Nocturne Op. 27.2
Prokofiev: Sonata #1

The clapping was enthusiastic at the end of the Prokofiev both nights, and many were standing. On Friday night, an older gentleman in the audience ran up to present me with a handful of beautiful wildflowers! So, I gave an encore:

Marciack
Île St. Louis from Impressions de Paris

This was the last piece that I studied with Monsieur Marciack in Paris. He composed two books of "Impressions de Paris" for his students to play. He cried at one of the last performances I gave while studying with him, and I wondered, 'why would someone cry to music?' Although I studied another one or two of his works with Christina Van Dohm in Antwerp, I put the books away when I moved to Wisconsin. For some reason, I packed them with me when I went off to College (not sure what I was thinking) and found them again when I was living with my Grandmother during the Spring term.

I looked through the pieces, and was reminded of many early musical memories associated with Monsieur Marciack, his handwriting, his music, his mannerisms, his laugh, his love for me... and then I played through the Île St Louis. I started to cry at the end of the first line and cried during the whole piece. It reminded me of everything that was Paris, everything that I learned musically there, every pain I had felt leaving, and every pain I had felt there. I was reminded of how many 'weird' things I did that were simply cross-culture conflicts and how much I loved Paris, Music, Monsieur Marciack, and how blessed I was to have all of those things.

After each performance, the audience greeted and congratulated me in the foyer and to my surprise, I noted accents (especially European) from the majority of the audience members. They thought that Marian Marciack might have been a famous French folk song, Schumann, a Song without Words, MacDowell or Gottschalk... he would be flattered. Others told me they felt it was my prayer. It was.

Liz Olson, my best friend from High School surprised me by attending both concerts and took me out to see her favorite spots in San Francisco, favorite roads, favorite ice cream place, and favorite real San Fransiscan restaurant. She and many other audience members asked when I would be coming back? soon in any case. If this was a 'debut,' that simply means 'beginning' (it's french, of course). So I will return. with friends. and perhaps more musical instruments. ;) see you then.

Underground Parisian Music

When we’re not above ground getting live performances, there’s always more underground—the metros are full of musicians. Most of them can’t really play, but every now and then there’s a Great accordion player, or the Navaho-looking guy who plays several different types of South American flutes with percussion accompaniment. And I give money to any of them more often than I do the other beggars. On this trip, most of the metro instrumentalists I heard were violinists… and I was not impressed with one of them (all pickiness aside. Honestly). Disappointment. Ah well.

But there’s not only Metros in the underground.

It’s going into the jazz piano bars with the gypsy guitarists with their fellow accordion and bass players. Never seen such quick guitar fingering. And jazz is always better in a crowded, smoky dark room late at night. By far the best quality music you can find in the underground.

And then underneath the bridges and along the seine, there are groups of friends who come together with dozens of instruments to throw folk songs together, dancing, clapping, singing and playing. Most of them needed work (especially the clarinetist…) but it never detracted because of the ambiance. It was so much fun to on the quai with them, and so often that is what music needs to be about—a good time.

Musique à Paris

The incessant rain turned us away from our plans to see the night show at Versailles Chateau and instead we ran through the clouds to find tickets to one of the the two operas in paris, both closing on Saturday: Cosi Fan Tutte and Othello. At the old Opera House (Palais Garnier), Cosi was already sold out, and the chances of getting through the stand-by line were so slim, we decided on Othello at the Bastille.

There are two lines to buy day-of tickets. One is for full price tickets- whatever's left. Once that line is completely through, they start on the 'student' line and sell all tickets for 25 Euros. We (of course) divided and conquered to be in both lines to secure places. But once the full price line went through, the only tickets left were over 105 Euros. So we moved to our places in the student line, hoping...

Yes. We had 9 of us in 170 euro seats as music students in Paris, hearing the best pit orchestra I have ever encountered. Congratulations to maestro Marco Armiliato. The 3+ part cellos in the end of act 1 and most of act 2 break your heart, the tutti strings' pizzicati never more artistic, the solo english horn / oboe so mournful... we all cried for Desdemona--Tamar Iveri. if not for her goodness, her pianissimo high La's. I was enthralled.

We have been completely spoiled here as far as musical performances go. Within a week, we've had the opportunity to hear:

- Randall Scarlata, Baritone, with Benjamin Boyle on the piano performing the Dichterliebe, Faure's Horizon chimérique, Barber songs as well as Boyle's own Passage des rêves

- April Clayton, flute, with Teddy Niedermaier and Philip Lasser on the piano playing 'Jacques le Romain,' Bach's Sonata in em, Philip Lasser's Sonata (magical! Absolutely Loved it), and Prokofieff's famous Sonata for flute.

- and Emile Naoumoff: Nadia Boulanger's prodigy, pianist, theoretician, virtuoso, teacher and composer (you know, the kind that write piano concertos at age 9, whose parents fled from behind the iron curtain to let him study in Paris, and who solfege both books of the WTC in all keys for fun). We listened to him speak for two hours, but he could have gone on all day. He played Nadia's Lux Aeterna, Lily Boulanger (her sister)'s Pie Jesu, and Nadia's 'To the New Life.' His briliance extends far beyond the keyboard's connection with his fingers. He is the music. It was incredible. Wish we'd heard more. We'll have to come back. Plus, if we were always satisfied, why would we need to keep living and discovering?

practice rooms

comparisons sometimes help with description:

practice rooms I'm used to in the US colleges:

little rooms, just big enough for an upright piano with a mirror or a grand piano
no windows
frequent problems with florescent lighting
plastered walls with chunks missing and sometimes random notes pinned to the walls
claustrophobic
no ventilation
smelly
spit and rosin remains
underground

practice rooms I'm getting used to:

12+ feet ceilings
antique paned windows
spacious rooms all along winding staircases
views of Paris out the window
branches overlooking your work
room to hear yourself
intricate carving along the walls and ceiling
golden chandelier in the center of the ceiling
pleasant wind tousling your hair
busts and paintings of famous composers who have composed in this very room....
Have I already mentioned that I love it here?

Concert de Missionnaires

I run into the St Merri ward building in heels and skirt straight from the RER B--the concert started 40 minutes ago but thankfully as there are still several numbers left--I haven't missed it all yet. The missionary on the piano waves me up to the front of the room... are you serious? I have to perform now? but then they wave me in the back room of performers... who is there but Christian Frandsen (abe's best friend), an Elder now down in Chartres. Can you go on next? sure! (haven't touched a piano yet today. going with old favorites)

Donc, je vais commencer avec Debussy, Reflets dans l'eau de ses Images I et puis je vais jouer le Prelude de Bach en Sol mineur transcrit par Siloti

It was a lot of fun. I felt right at home, doing what I love to do for people I love. Most missionaries made connections with me whether their companions knew me, they'd seen a concert, or they see my story on the 'Missionnaires' video. I was impressed with Elder Frandsen, Elder Dick, & Sister Pearce's singing, of course Elder Rakotondrainibe going crazy on the piano (we played together once before I left) as well as a chinese recent convert on the flute who studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique here (picture with S. Pearce and Elder Rakotondrainibe). The room was almost full, the mission leader bore his testimony to finish... it was a success.

The other highlight was EAMA Orientation. I knew that Ryan from BYU was doing the piano program, and that there might be another flutist or two, but I jumped when Joseph walked in the room for composition! So I'm in good company. I met the other 6 conductors here and Dr. Mark Shapiro who will be working with us. You might have heard of his Cantori New York as well as many operas, orchestras, and other choruses he's conducted. I was giddy to meet him. nervous to conduct for him. and a little scared for placement exams tomorrow.

Coins Préférés

I'm home!

I shouldn't really say that, but it sure feels like home here. It took several hours to tromp around the Charles de Gaulle Airport, RERs, streets, Metros and more streets with suitcases (always nice the odd travels when I don't bring the violin!) bumbling over cobblestone, stairways, and doorways before I found where I'm staying ... and still, I couldn't be happier. I feel complete somehow.

It's not like I'm French at all. A third of my life is all I've spent there (diminishing rapidly the longer I live), and I don't believe I have a drop of French blood in me. But oh, do I love it.

It helps that the couple who has let me use their apartment is very much a home. They left pasta salad and a tarte au fraises to welcome me. This is the street where I live. After a short nap (had to tell myself very clearly: this is not bedtime, this is a Short Nap), I ran out to explore. First to learn my way around this neighborhood and then downtown. To Île de la Cité, Île St Louis, Hôtel de Ville, Conciergerie, the new Church Exposition, St Merri chapel, Sainte Chapelle (although missed the concert there), and the seine reflecting deep blue skies.

The pistachio gelato, the fresh fruit stands, the full roadside cafes at every turn. Public transportation, uneven pavement, people from everywhere in the world. The smells of fresh crèpes at every corner, smoke, strong perfumes, and body odor in the public transportation. The high fashion, the fitted suits, the pointed shoes, the strappy sandals and stilettos in the metro. The architecture, the language, the people... oh, this month is going to fly by.

This day of Wednesday / Thursday (there wasn't really night in between) has gone on long enough though, and I am exhausted (right on time!) day 1 over.

ps: happy birthday to leland spindler hope it's fabulunctious
oh and pps: I've not yet been here a day yet and I have been asked to participate in a concert... tomorrow night. HA!