Western Wind, Day 1
Hello from gorgeous Northampton, MA, from deep in the dorms of Smith College.
It all started back with Eshet Chayil and Nashir. We were going to perform an Eshet Chayil, half an hour long, with six movements. As I looked through it, there were several tenor solos. As we got further in, I got excited that I might be able to get a solo.
It was not to be. Ben informed me that there was a professional coming in to take the solos. A professional whose group offered classes, and that I might be interested in taking those classes.
The tenor: Todd Frizzell. The group: The Western Wind.
Some time opened up in my schedule, so I took the Greyhound bus up here. Main Street is quaint, the scenery is stunning, and traffic stops for you as a pedestrian.
I got settled in the dorm, and learned from a fellow student how to put a non-fitted sheet onto the bed.
I needed to audition so that they knew how well I could sight-read. I don't count it as one of my strengths. I'm taking a course in it over the summer, and we just left the key of C last week. They gave me a piece of music, and I looked at the signature. It was some flat key, one I couldn't read. They told me what it was, and I called out a few notes. They gave me a pitch, and I started singing. I got lost a few times, but somehow my mind kept a few notes in front, I kept pulling up the pitches, and I ended up soaking wet in sweat and startled at what I'd done. They asked me to sing another song. I chose Shir Hama'alot and sang half of it. They then excused me. I'll find out where I place tomorrow.
We were later introduced to the piece that we're doing as a group. It's an Indian tune, in a slightly unusual key, in a killer 7/8 time. I was very tempted to try punching in that tempo, but Todd asked me why I was pressing on rather than relaxing and not worrying about things. I guess I like pushing. I need to put the effort in.
I realized a deadly thing about the schedule, very subtle. If you take breakfast time, and you work out when you need to get up, and then you subtract when the days end, there is no time to sleep. It's 11:30 now, and I should have been in bed about an hour ago. Oh well.
Night.
Comments
Avi,
Just a long-time lurker on your blog, but had to comment when I noticed that you're in my hometown. I grew up in Northampton and visit there frequently. I hope you enjoy your stay, drop into the Iron Horse if you get a chance and head over to Mt. Holyoke in Easthampton for some great views and food at the Log Cabin.
Posted by: Chris | July 1, 2008 1:08 PM