Daily Doodles and an old photo.

I am WAY behind in posting my Daily Doodles - have been doing them - just forgetting to photograph them and crop and post them.

Here is Thursday's offering.

Some ideas were formed for supporting the clarinet - but my thoughts veer more towards the bass - it is supported on the floor and my right arm rests on my knee as I play - so at a lower angle AND supported - more of a possibility and certainly worth pursuing further through some daily practice..

My arm and hand were quite sore on Friday though, so had a pretty lazy day.

Friends sent this photo of my son when he was a lot younger!  

What a cutie he was!

Popcorn has come home

Popcorn came home a few days ago.  Sadly his mate died and his owners decided they didn't want him any more and asked if I would take him back.  Well I couldn't say no, so now I have to decide which group of boys to house him with and hope that he gets on with them.  He will bring my numbers back up to 20 again.

Music Practise Update:

Day 4:  Had two days off as wasn't feeling the best and it is no good playing when you aren't up to it.

Today's 10 minutes went well. Still no trembling in the hand so that is a really good sign as before I couldn't even hold the clarinet for 10 minutes without my arm shaking.  No pain while playing, embouchure still needs to toughen up, but it has only been four days so far.

1st November - here already

Things to look forward to in November

My friend from NZ is coming to stay for a few days early next week!  We have known each other since our children were babies, over 21 years now.

Further healing of my pain. (I'm thinking positive here, even though feel quite sore at the moment, hoping it is just a glitch as I had treatment this morning)

Coming off medication and going back onto Raw Foods Diet.

Catching up with housework, clearing clutter and making crafts on my To Do list.

Continuing with clarinet practice.

Day Three:  Another 10 minutes today.  Easier than yesterday - embouchure not as worn out.  Not much pain.  Yeah!  Looking good.

Music Day 2

Another 10 minutes practice completed, just scales and finger exercises.

Embouchure still finding it tough which is understandable.

Thumb a bit sore and started to feel it in the wrist, but otherwise all okay.

No discernible after effects from yesterday I am pleased to report.

A bit of fun:  Today's photo from the 365 Toy Project (A photo a day)

The book I started reading last night...A Hidden Affair.  Will report back once I have read it.

Enough is enough!

This was me performing in 2007

The one below is my last performance I played in pre-TOS decompression surgery, December 2008.  I had thought the pain was bad then, hence the surgery, little did I know that nearly four years later I still wouldn't be playing.  Not only that look how slim I was!  Now I feel dumpy and frumpy!

I was so sure I would be playing again that I had a couple of concerts booked for the April 2009.  I had to cancel.  I also got offered a permanent position in an orchestra which I had to turn down.  I had been working towards getting one since coming to the UK in 1995!

Well enough is enough!  No more!

First 10 minutes practice done this evening.

Embouchure ached - will need a lot of practice to get that in shape again.

Surprisingly I didn't think my sound was too bad.

Right thumb felt the weight a bit.

Time will tell what other effects these 10 minutes will have, but I will do the same tomorrow, and next day and the next.  I am determined to fight.

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I picked up a couple of books on the 50p stall at Sainsburys Supermarket this afternoon.

The one below slipped into my grocery basket by accident ;-) the other day.

Now which one shall I start reading tonight I wonder?

A wonderful recital

I went to a fabulous recital last night.  My friend from Uni took me, we haven't seen each other for such a long time...since the Martin Frost concert if I am remembering rightly.

My clarinet teacher from Uni was playing.  It was the first time I had had the opportunity to see him perform, and he was fantastic!

The concert opened with the clarinet and 'cello playing a Duo in C WoO27 by Beethoven

This was followed by a piano and 'cello duo 'Variations on a theme of Rossini (1942) by Bohuslav Martinu.

The first half ended with a Trio by Nino Rota which was good fun.  

The only criticism I really have is that the piano drowned out the other instruments in places, which they always insist on having a grand open at full stick in such a situation is beyond me.  I also felt the 'cello could have put a bit more into it which would have helped the blance.

As usual the amount of people attending this live concert was disappointing and something that seems to plague a lot of live classical concerts nowadays, which is such a shame as they really are missing out.

The concert finished with them playing one of my favourite composers; Brahms, his Trio in A minor Op 114

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and we all popped into the local pub after the concert (I had an orange juice) and spent some time chatting.

I came home all inspired and enthusiastic about things and even thought I would try giving the playing a go again.

Unfortunately payback time hit during the night with the worst headache ever and I have had to spend all day in bed, tried getting up twice, but it was just too bad.  Headache eased slightly now, but pain in the right side has hit with a vengeance. So nothing got done today, still there is always tomorrow.

Wigmore Hall: Martin Frost & Roland Pontinen in Concert

Well what a fantastic concert it was last night.  It really was superb.

Here I am with the wonderful Clarinettist himself, Martin Frost.

I have admired his playing since I first bought the album 'Martin Frost: Clarinet Arias' The Pied Piper of the Opera, in 2000.  My favourite track being Der Rattenfanger, ein Hamelner Totentanz, opera: Hamelin - 3 Klanbilder:; No. 3 'Am Calvarienberg' by Wilfried Hiller.  The atmosphere he creates in this piece is just absolutely amazing.

Back to last nights concert:

We had brilliant seats in Wigmore Hall, which in itself has amazing décor/architecture.

The programme was as follows:

Martin Frost: Clarinet

Roland Pontinen: Piano

Ernest Chassaun (1855 - 1899) 

Andante and Allegro (1881)

Rolf Martinsson (b.1956)

Suite Fantastique (2011, world première)

Carl Maria von Weber (1786 - 1826)

Grand Duo Concertante in Eb Op. 48 (1815 - 16)

Interval

Aleksandr Skryabin (1872 - 1915)

Piano Sonata No. 9 in F Op.68 'Black Mass' (1812 - 13)

Alban Berg (1885 - 1935)

4 pieces for clarinet and piano Op.5 (1913)

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

Clarinet Sonata in Eb Op. 120 No. 2 (1894)

I really couldn't have asked for a better programme.  Two of the pieces I played for my Music Degree.  The Brahms I played for my first final year recital  on 10th January 2006 and the Weber (along with Fantasiestücke Op. 73 for Piano and Clarinet Robert Schumann (1810—1856) )  for my final recital on 22nd May 2006.  So I was very excited to hear them played by my favourite clarinettist (besides Benny Goodman who I grew up listening to and was the inspiration behind me wanting to play the clarinet).  The performances of both the Grand Duo Concertante and the Clarinet Sonata  well and truly lived up to my expectations.  The only quibble I have, and it is a small one, is that I felt the piano could have been on half stick instead of full, as at times it overpowered the clarinet's wonderful dynamic range.  You really do have to hear Martin Frost play, his dynamic range is incredible, I think he has the most exquisite pianissimo I have ever heard and that was what attracted me to his playing way back in 2000.  That and of course his stunning displays of virtuosity which were very evident in the Weber and Martinsson which he seemed very comfortable with indeed.  

Roland Pontinen was also very impressive to listen to and it was good to have the Piano Sonata starting off the second half of the programme.  Fabulous playing indeed.  All the pieces were equally challenging to both Clarinettist and Pianist and especially the Weber and Brahms are noted for their brilliant and at times difficult piano parts, but Pontinen played them stunningly.

I was pleased to see the Alban Berg 4 pieces for clarinet and piano in the programme as I have the sheet music for this and had a go at playing it during my Masters, but I don't really 'get' the style to play, much preferring the Romantic Period for the clarinet.  However, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy listening to it, and I certainly wasn't disappointed.  Ah, that's how it should be played!

The audience was very appreciative which could be heard in the applause at the end of each work and to our delight both Martin Frost and Roland Pontinen came back to play us an encore from an arrangement by his brother  Göran Fröst, of Four Hungarian Dances by Brahms. Yes more Brahms...how lucky could I be?! 

At the end of the concert both Martin and Roland came out to do a CD signing, so I joined the 'Groupie' queue...

to get my Brahms CD signed

By both...

and of course to have a photo taken with the great man himself!

Okay, yes I was greedy...I didn't have one photo taken...but two!

What a great performance!

Woods & Son Six Keyed Clarinet.

Whilst active in music I not only played and taught but I also restored instruments, purely for myself, but it was something I very much enjoyed, and there was something very special about caring and restoring an old clarinet. I tried to restore them as sympathetically as I could and if the joints were strung, then I too would do restring them. I would try and use materials as close as possible to the originals that would have been used. My next project was going to be an antique 6 keyed clarinet by Jas Woods & Son Clarinet c1819 - 1829. I had hoped to make a start after I finished my Masters in 2007 but unfortunately not long after that I started to develop problems in my right hand & fingers/wrist and shoulder. The rest has already been rehashed on here before and I don't really want to go into it right now. Needless to say it was put on the back burner (not literally!) into storage.

As mentioned yesterday my husband when tidying and rearranging while I was in New Zealand earlier in the year, decided to take all the instruments out of where I had them stored and move them elsewhere. The result is this:

Mould has started to develop. Fortunately, I hope I have discovered this in time. I have given it a clean up this afternoon and will leave it out of its case for a few days... before putting it somewhere drier.

Unfortunately the mouthpiece is quite damaged, so eventually a new one would have to be made...

For its age, it is not in too bad a condition really. A bit of work needed to tidy it up and return it to playing condition, but not impossible. Although not possible at the present moment in time.

I love that this instrument is English. It was made by Jas Wood & Son of New Compton Street, 50 Soho, London. I could talk about many more technical aspects of this instrument...but thought I better not get too 'anorakie'.

This bottom photo was included in my final year project of my BA Mus (Hons)

Teddy Bears Picnic

Today is the day for the Teddy Bears Picnic, hosted by Melody over at The House on the Side of the Hill.

It is rather too cold and damp to have a picnic outside today, so I thought I would show you some little teddies that keep my clarinets company. Very trusted bears they are indeed. Although has to be said not looking especially happy as they haven't heard any music being played for a very long time it has to be said. :-(

Violet and Opus

Symphony

It is a good thing I 'rescued' these teddies today as my husband 'thoughtfully' moved all my instruments to behind my dressing table against the dampest wall of the house, not a good idea at all! So out they will all come today especially as it is getting colder and damper now.

A few meagre pickings from the garden yesterday, still very tasty though.

Carrots & beans.