Half-way through...

[aearwen2]

Well, this is the week I've been both looking forward to and dreading for a while now, as it is putting my piano "skilz" on display several times in public - which is very nerve-wracking for me. I'm now half-way through the week with one major presentation behind and an even bigger one looming on the horizon Saturday.

Sunday morning, the start of this week from hell, began with my needing to play some Verdi during the opening service. It wasn't all that difficult, thank the One, soI got through that ok. The duet pieces that Nashoma and I chose for our preludes that day were "Rain" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and "Air" from Handel's Water Music. Neither of them were really very difficult either. We ended the service with our favorite "Prelude in a Classical Style" by Gordon Young, which I arranged for Piano/Organ duet a number of years ago. It's a very lively and bouncy piece, perfect for convincing folks to go on outside and get ready for taking group pictures. I actually have an MP3 of that piece, with Nashoma and myself playing, posted to my website, if you are interested in listening to it.

Monday afternoon was the first of the two real challenging events for me. I was the final "act" in a Classical Music recital that included professional musicians down from San Francisco playing Rachmaninov and Poulanc and Dvorak. Sitting and listening to them got me VERY nervous, but I managed to acquit myself with reasonable satisfaction on Mendelssohn's "Morning Song" and Debussy's "Clair de Lune". By the time I finished, however, my hands were like icicles, and I was shaking like a leaf. But, it seems, my choice of music was appreciated as a nice way to "calm down" after some rambunctious and pyrotechnical modern stuff.

So now I have the next three days to practice my butt off to polish Joplin's "Peacherine Rag" and "Elite Syncopations", as well as accompany approximately 17 other bits of music for the Gay 90's Revue on Saturday nite. This will be the second major nerve-wracking event of the week - the one I'm dreading almost more than I dreaded the Classical Recital. My shoulders make practicing the ragtime difficult, which isn't fun at all, so I'm considering breaking my practice times into two one-to-one-and-a-half hour sessions per day. I'll probably need to load up on "Icy-Hot" cream on my left shoulder and arm, as well as dose myself good with Tylenol and aspirin about an hour before performance time to get through things. And then spend the night afterwards suffering from the consequences of being too tense, with muscle spasms keeping me awake most of the night.

Funzies.

Then, the week ends on Sunday evening when I am responsible for a solo prelude to the closing service. I'm not truly worried about that one, although I've chosen as the music I'll play for that Debussy's "Passapied" from the Suite Bergamasque (the suite that Clair de Lune comes from.) It's a nice and meditative piece that will lend itself to opening an evening service like that. As it is much less familiar than Clair de Lune, however, I don't have to worry quite as much about the mistakes - although typical Debussy music is so delicate that a note out of place sticks out like a sore thumb on a hitchhiker. I'm banking on the unfamiliarity to get me through, however.



So.... I figure that by the end of the week, I will have earned and fully deserve a vacation. Not gonna get one, but I will have earned it and deserve some time off. Until then, however, my nerves will build until Saturday evening is done. I'm so glad this event only comes once a year!!

If you're wondering where the writing has gone, my writing Muse kindly has stepped aside for the nonce, letting my musical Muse hold forth. But things are bubbling in the background, never fear. I have one more section to write to have the next chapter of IDD ready to post to the Lizard Council for grooming, and I need to find a way to pull things into a comfortable denouement now - at least for the Avathar portion of the tale.

I know I've been less than active lately. At least now you know why.

Comments

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I knew this was a hell week for you. I've been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Once you have this week over, I'll welcome you back to the world of the living by letting you fully dive into Helyanwe's ever-growing story - LOL. Wish I was closer so that I could give you needed massages for your poor shoulder and arm.

{{{{ Hugs to you, my dear friend }}}}

- Erulisse (one L)

[jkahane.livejournal.com]

I knew this was going to be a heck of a week for you, my dear, and am so glad that you're not only surviving the experience but you're thriving with it.

{{{Hugs}}}