I actually did sleep last night, and its hard to believe, considering what's next on the plate for me. I am getting ready to play with a wonderful orchestra known as MESTO at a festival in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates next week!
I have had a nice visit here in LA while attending rehearsals for the performance. The weather has been warm-ish, and the ocean, well, the ocean never fails me, it's glorious, and calming. And, I may have just stumbled upon the reason I have been sleeping. . .
Anyway, last weekend, I attended a couple of classes at UCLA, not UCLA classes, but classes on campus in the subject of Baroque music. My friend Laszlo (http://www.mezo.us) invited me to attend and it was awesome. I heard some wonderful music and learned a bit more about a style and period in which I have very limited knowledge. The teachers were specialists in the field. Each was dedicated to exploring very deeply, Baroque music, intellectually and emotionally. And each was very excited to share what they had come to know.
I found quite interesting the discussions about the use of old tools/instruments versus the use of modern instruments, and the importance of making the music, as close to authentic as possible, no matter what tools one feels is most comfortable to use. It seemed to me that the recommendation from the panel echoed the importance of making good music and being mindful of that which might prevent it from happening. I don't know much about Baroque, but in the general sense, I couldn't agree more.
Alas, I am sitting here at my first crash pad, preparing to venture on to the home of the next kind family that will take me in for the final days of my little journey. I am excited for the trip. It is finally setting in that I will be traveling so far away, making music on a big stage, and most likely not getting much sleep!
Until next time.
Resident insomniac, me.
p.s. I will do my best to post regularly while I am out and about.
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