Lisa

I chose the cello because I think it's the best instrument on the planet. I love the sound, the repertoire, its role in ensembles large and small.

I've heard so many people say that they hate their instrument and they just play because they are using it for scholarship or that they wished they played something else. How can people play an instrument and devote so much time to something that they don't love?

My mom's eye doctor says she may have retinal detachment and she's waiting to see a specialist. I've been reading about it but its not very comforting. Have you had this before or know someone whose had it? Will her vision be forever impaired? I've read that it can range the gammut and, of course, its vague. What have personal experiences been?

I know the answer to this, but I figured it would be fun to see what people knew about the cello's history WITHOUT looking it up. Yes, you read correctly! For once, I don't want anyone to look anything up. Tell me what you know! Have fun!

I've been puzzling over the order for my Master's recital program. I know I don't want to start with Bach. It's so nerve wrecking! Here is the order that my pianist and I are thinking about:

Debussy's Cello Sonata

Bach Suite in D Minor

Webern's Three Little Pieces for Cello and Piano

Intermission

Elgar's Cello Concerto

My teacher usually pairs the Webern and the Debussy but I can't see ending a half with the Bach. What do you think my fellow music lovers?

~Lisa

When I was younger, I did almost anything to get out of having to practice! (Which is bizarre because now I would give a nonvital body part to have MORE time to practice.)

I made up everything I could think of: my bow thumb hurts, I have a cut on my left hand index finger. I have a blister but you can't see it. My back hurts from my dance class. The teacher didn't write down my lesson and I forgot it. I don't WANT to practice! I would shut as many doors as possible between me and my parents. I would get tummy aches.

A funny story I heard from my teacher was that he strung a line to a bell from downstairs into his room and every time someone walked up the stairs it would trip the line and ring his bell and he would start to practice again!

Please amuse me.

~Lisa

My orchestra at Colorado State just recently played Prokofiev's 5th Symphony (marvelous piece) and I sit principal cello. That is quite a ways away from the percussion section. However, the tam tam at the end of the first movement gave me a headache every single rehearsal and performance. How does one compensate earplugs with hearing one's own playing as well as the sounds of the orchestra? It is already difficult enough to monitor sound production and intonation in an orchestral setting. Also, I sit on the outside of the orchestra, it would be quite obvious if I were to keep stuffing and removing earplugs in and out of my ears.

Any people with similar problems and coping mechanisms?

Thank you!

~Lisa

I would like to hear about Shostakovich’s 13th String Quartet. It came at a time (1970) when tensions were mountain in the SU, his health was severely declining and he was in and out of the hospital. He was gearing much more towards the theme of death and 12 tone music (much frowned upon at that time). I recall the 13th quartet deals a lot with death or themes of death, maybe perhaps because he was nearing his own with his severely declining health and cancer.

I don't know much about its performance history or really, how one goes about preparing a Shostakovich string quartet to be played. I've been listening to a lot of his works on recording but technically I'm still a bit lost how to get his particular sound in my music. I'm not sure if I've made this clear enough, but hopefully you can expound a bit on the subject.

Thanks in advance,

Lisa

I would like to know who your favorite cellist is, your favorite recording and/or performance of theirs, and why. I'll tell you mine just before I choose the best answer.

And not only which quartet, which incarnation?

I've just been accepted into Colorado State's Graduate String Quartet program so I'm now a master's student! Yay!

Anyway, what is everyone's favorite piece of chamber music? I'm currently obsessed with Schubert's Piano Trio in Eb.

~Lisa

Hello everyone!

I'm back from Israel and missing my classical music. Klezmer and Israeli music just didn't do it for me. I'm now in touch with my Jewish roots.

What has been happening my friends?

~Lisa

This is more informative than anything. I will be leaving for Israel today. I'll be gone for two weeks so my activity will be minimal.

Here's a question though, since I'm supposed to be asking one, hee hee.

Is there any particular kind of music that was based in Israel?

If so, have any musical ideas that began in Israel found their way into western music?

Thanks all, and a bientot!

Oh. My. God.

Someone just offered me a full tuition, stipend included scholarship to be in their quartet program.

I just burst into tears. I can't even think.

I have a job lined up for next year. I have a house...but....oh my God. I can't think.

What do you think?

I've been working on this as my more 'modern' piece for my auditions and although I have the notes under my fingers, I've been finding interpretation to be a bit difficult. I don't know much about the composer and finding information on his cello sonata is difficult (I love Romantic music and I'm also trying to widen my 'playing' field). Does anyone know of any journal articles that may help me or perhaps telling performances of the piece in its entirety? I'm learning the first 3 movements for an audition and the entire piece for my rerpertoire. I keep finding things on everything BUT the SOLO cello sonata.

Thanks so much in advance.

When you are about to start a new piece, how do you feel? I'm about to start a Faure Piano Quartet (not sure what yet, I just got an e-mail that I'll be working with music graduate students and the violin professor.) I'm so excited I wanted to go get the music from the library right now and START! I am so distracted right now. All I want is my cello, the music and my quartet! Let's go!

Does anyone else get this excited?

I keep seeing stuff about the education and the 'tastes' of one versus the other and I must say its quite ridiculous. I, for one, am American, I'm very well trained, I'm in a circle of very good classical musicians who are educated in theory, piano, history, harmony, orchestration, etc, etc. (This happens elsewhere too; at the moment, shall I cite politics)

One argument that keeps coming up is about the 'mixed' genre of blending techno with classical. If people like it, it doesn't say anything about their classical music education level. I know for a fact people in both places listen to it with differences levels of classical education. I also know there are ignorant people about classical in both places.

Why must a distinction be made? We, as 'North Americans' know where it started and was cultivated. We appreciate it. What are the views of people from different places? I'd especially like to hear from those outside North America and Europe (and of course from those within).

So we who are very involved with classical music may come off as obsessed (which we are) and a bit snobbish (which we also are). But what else are we all into? What is something people wouldn't guess we are also into?

I'm an enormous college basketball fan. Like a super-scary fan. I also play in an Indie rock band, I love make-up and jewelry but I hate most really girly pursuits (weird, I know!). I also love to write fiction: romance (both adventure and the love kind), fantasy. I also love writing non-fiction and rewriting fairy tails with unique takes. Like Beauty and the Beast without the magic. I also enjoy collaging (I have a wall sized collage I'm working on, about 6x5).

How about the rest of us?

Is necessary for an instrumentalist or a vocalist? I know enough piano to play all the barebones accompanyment of my pieces. But I feel like I should know more. Cello studios used to be required to be able to play each other's accompaniments in full. Do you feel it should still be that way?

I've seen an unusual number of cellists on here lately and I wanted to address them and find out the scoop! Hehe.

So here are a few questions.

1) Where you from and how long have you been playing?

2) What role does cello play in your life?

3) What piece have you learned that had an extremely memorable 'learning process'? By this I mean, which piece did you really have to do some hardcore exploration to understand and play. What did you learn from it? Techniques? Ways to think? Ways to relax?

4) Do you know a lot about the physical make-up of the cello or do you focus solely on the performance realm? By this I mean do you know a lot about the different parts that make up our instrument? The wood? The process the luthier goes through? I found that I knew some, but I leanred so much more by reading and talking to the luthier! I can't believe some of the decisions I made as a novice!

5) Any other juicy tidbits to share? Or that you want me to share?

~Lisa

Okay, I normally focus on classical music, but I can’t help but branch out into the television section. I finally have watched the

Season Finale of Grey’s Anatomy and I’m so happy! I loved the whole thing except for one part. So I’m going to give my break down and I’d love other fans reactions!

Izzie: Finally instead of acting like a bumbling idiot she grew some balls and did what she had to do.

Miranda: I’ve always loved this woman, but she did what she had to do to get her family back together. I love this character. I like how she dealt with Izzie and her decision making in this one. Also, I’ve been annoyed with her family situation so finally finally finally.

Alex: Very in character the whole episode. It was very believable and I liked his vulnerability at the end.

George: YES! He gets to take the intern test. That whole deal with Callie turned me off to his character but now he’s getting to be the George we once knew and loved. Go George!