Our next show

[Big RR]

I'm sure it is as fun to play as it is to listen to.

[Sue U]

I'm sure it is as fun to play as it is to listen to.

Fun? I dunno. Mozart is fun to play. Shostakovich 5 is a challenge both mentally and physically. It's nearly an hour of intense concentration (it's not traditionally intuitive) and pretty strenuous bowing, with a number of very difficult technical issues in execution. In fact, one excerpt from the first movement is a notorious viola audition requirement for many orchestras (there are a number of on-line tutorials with different approaches to playing it). But it's certainly rewarding to be a part of bringing this brilliant work to life. It's how composers are made immortal.

[BoSoxGal]

Sometimes the Universe is just plain cruel - like when you Google Shostakovich + BSO and you find out you've just missed an entire month long program on the works of Shostakovich.

Pages 16/17 for the full program - I'm sick at heart to have missed it all.

https://dgpuo8cwvztoe.cloudfront.net/up ... kovich.pdf

[Big RR]

Fun? I dunno. Mozart is fun to play. Shostakovich 5 is a challenge both mentally and physically. It's nearly an hour of intense concentration (it's not traditionally intuitive) and pretty strenuous bowing, with a number of very difficult technical issues in execution. In fact, one excerpt from the first movement is a notorious viola audition requirement for many orchestras (there are a number of on-line tutorials with different approaches to playing it). But it's certainly rewarding to be a part of bringing this brilliant work to life. It's how composers are made immortal.

I guess fun might not be the best word, but I usually find it more "fun" to sing challenging pieces than easier ones (although I enjoy singing both). But maybe the correct word is "rewarding".

I know I generally have problems with heavily syncopated pieces (much as I love jazz, I just don't have the "feel" for it), but when I put the work in to learn the piece, I do find the performance "fun/rewarding".

[Sue U]

Sometimes the Universe is just plain cruel - like when you Google Shostakovich + BSO and you find out you've just missed an entire month long program on the works of Shostakovich.

Pages 16/17 for the full program - I'm sick at heart to have missed it all.

https://dgpuo8cwvztoe.cloudfront.net/up ... kovich.pdf

Wow, that's a great line-up with what looks like a really good educational component. Shostakovich's politics and relation to the Soviet state are super-interesting context for his music.

[Burning Petard]

Vivaldi Four Seasons is my most unfavorite piece of classical music. I am sure there are many pieces that are much worse, but that one seems to be on every classical music radio station's top 40 list. When it comes on I change stations. I will even listen to Rap (music?) over that one. but that is why every radio has an off switch.

snailgate