Prairie Oboe Companion

Wicked!

2009-10-21T20:03:00.002-06:00

OK, I'm just copying and pasting what I put on Team Camwell, so if you've read that, skip this. Stay tuned for a swab-stuck-in-oboe story.

I had a great time playing with Wicked, but it was very tiring, and I'm happy to be back home and back to the usual routine. Here are some photos from my last day at Wicked.

On Sunday October 18, the Des Moines marathon started and ended across the street from the Civic Center.

The Start Line

The Finish Line with the Civic Center on the left. Notice the Wicked display on the windows.

The Finish Line with some runners coming through.

I spent a lot of time with two other local musicians, Sonya (piano) and Sandy (flute). I will miss hanging out with our trio!

It turns out I know the touring drummer from my first year with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada! Romano Di Nillo! And...unfortunately he wasn't with the group when they came to Des Moines. He's on a leave of absence. Fortunately, there was an excellent drummer and super nice guy to take his place. Here's Rich in his drummer's cage. (Don't worry, they unlock it to let him out at the end of the show each night. They only forgot once in between shows on the weekend.)

As if those drums weren't enough, the show also uses a plethora of other percussion instruments. I couldn't get them all in one shot.

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 1:

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 2:

Ridiculous amount of percussion, angle 3:

Local musician Mark Dorr and his ridiculous amount of percussion set-up (I wonder: how much doubling does he get paid??):

Reeds 1, 2 and 3. Clarence (clarinets and soprano sax...wait, he doesn't want to publicly admit that he plays sax!), Jill (oboe, English horn) and Sandy (flutes). Sandy and I normally don't share a chair.

All the local musicians. Top row L-R: Contractor (as in the guy who hired me!) Harold, Sonya (keyboard), Brett (horn), Grady (trombone), Andy (trumpet), Gary (bass), Mark (percussionist with his eyes closed). Front row: Clarence, Jill, Sandy.

And finally, some photos for which I hope I won't get in trouble! The book that stared me in the face every night and four times a weekend for four weeks:

Everyone's favourite oboe solo in the show--I have to play right into the mic.

My least-favourite oboe solo in the show. This page is preceded by English horn stuff, then a super-quick change to oboe, continuous playing (not super-tough but hard enough), and hardly a change to breathe before a 6.5 measure solo. I usually left out most of the B before the solo so that the first notes of the solo would actually speak.

Some of the hardest music of the show: The Bow/Exit music! Of course, I nailed it each time. ;)

Back to reality now!

In summary

2009-02-01T21:18:00.002-06:00

Great game! Forgettable commercials. Were the commercial spots so expensive, the advertisers didn't have enough money left over for creativity?

And I think they should be awarding the "Super Bowl"...as in a bowl that's just super! Hey--the Stanley Cup is a cup! :)

And cut your hair, boys!!

See you next year! (And I do hope to blog here before then!!)

See?

2009-02-01T21:00:00.001-06:00

Wow!! I'm not usually into football...but wow! Nice job, Steelers!! Amazing play! (See, I told you I didn't really care either way!)

Forget commercials!!

2009-02-01T20:58:00.002-06:00

What a game! I guess because of Kurt Warner and the Iowa connection, I realized I was cheering for the Cardinals along with Dave. Great. Now they'll lose. I'm closing my eyes with 49 seconds to go. 43.

McGruber

2009-02-01T20:34:00.003-06:00

We watched SNL last night...well, this morning after church actually. :) We love the McGruber skits. Not too expensive for NBC to use something they already had in their vault either! Well played!

Now we want to see the edible Pampers commercial again!! Click here.

So sorry I'm losing my (only?) reader, Patty!!! Have fun at Cosi!! Do you play Principal? I've played both parts, and I love it! Some great solos!

What is Hulu?

2009-02-01T20:28:00.001-06:00

Don't know. Not about to go to the website. But Alec Baldwin was hilarious!

Cash4Gold

2009-02-01T20:18:00.002-06:00

Ha! I love that they're poking fun at themselves with MC Hammer and Ed McMahon.

Coke & Prokofiev

2009-02-01T20:00:00.003-06:00

Nice graphics! At first I thought they were making direct references to Peter & the Wolf, the story, but Coca Cola fell short of that. Could have been super clever. Instead, it fell short. Kind of like pretty much all the commercials tonight.

Monster.com

2009-02-01T19:38:00.003-06:00

Moose head in the boss office. Moose back end in the poorly lit unfortunate working chump's office on the other side of the wall! Funny!

I'm actually enjoying the game tonight! More than the commercials?

Why?

2009-02-01T19:26:00.001-06:00

Why did we have to catch up to live TV during local commercial time??

Mute.

The Boss

2009-02-01T19:19:00.002-06:00

No opinion one way or the other. I wouldn't recognize Bruce Springsteen on the street...or on the radio. I do, however, have a question about the sax player's robe (jacket?)...what?? Dave thinks that for that kind of music, it's mainly about the robe.

Almost caught up now. Gotta love DVR!

The baby is back

2009-02-01T18:56:00.002-06:00

And he's brought a friend! Still creepy? I actually liked these commercials last year. Baby commercial #1 of the night--meh.

With making dinner and looking after our own (non-creepy) baby, we're about 25 minutes behind on the game/commercials. We're hoping to catch up during half-time. Dave is putting Harry to bed now.

Commercial batch 2

2009-02-01T18:30:00.002-06:00

Apparently they're better between the first and second quarters of the game.

I liked the Pedrigree Adoption Drive with the various pets (ostrich running after the mailman is good!) and the Budweiser commercial with the horse playing fetch.

I guess I like animal commercials!

Doritos

2009-02-01T18:26:00.000-06:00

Three words: Low Brow Humour

Bridgestone

2009-02-01T18:02:00.001-06:00

Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head...very cute! Love Mrs. Potato Head switching to her angry eyes.

Commercial batch 1

2009-02-01T17:52:00.002-06:00

Any worth mentioning? Maybe, if I could remember them.

Apparently the motto this year, in these economically-trying times, is: Spend millions of dollars on commercials, but don't bother with the mental energy to match the cost.

As it turns out, the game is more interesting than the commercials this year. And I don't like football.

Make it memorable!

Are you ready...

2009-02-01T17:22:00.002-06:00

...for some commentary?

Observation #1

Jennifer Hudson was amazing!!

However, I don't think that's the point of an anthem. Is it surprising that this nation of over-the-top productions had an extravagent national anthem to start the Superbowl? Isn't the point of an anthem to bring the people together and raise their voices in patriotism? Is that even possible with such an arrangement, however amazing it may be?

Thoughts?

20 to 30 in ten years!

2008-11-18T09:51:00.004-06:00

I don't know if people still check this blog, so what better place to ruminate?

It's my 30th birthday today, and I feel great! I've actually been looking forward to getting out of my twenties. While 30 definitely is not old, 20 certainly is YOUNG! What a difference ten years makes. I have many friends in their 40's and beyond (including 3 out of 4 brothers...oh wait, Mike isn't 40 until next year--ha! Outted you!...wait, he doesn't read this blog, so nevermind!), and I know that 30-40 isn't nearly as much of a difference as 20-30.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'd like to reflect on some of the things I've done in the past 10 years:

1) Met my future husband when I was 20! This entire decade with this wonderful man. We've grown together and have learned a lot.

1a) Was married to previously-mentioned wonderful man.

2) Traveled to 4 continents.

3) Received three degrees from three different universities.

4) Lived in 2 different countries, 3 different states, 4 different cities, and 9 different apartments or houses.

5) Won my first, second, third and more auditions.

6) Decided what I wanted to be when I grew up.

7) Got my Greencard!

8) Made friends. Lost friends. Made many more.

9) Increased the size of my family tenfold with new marriages, cousins, nieces, nephews. Lost many loved ones along the way. I'd only known one person who died before I was 20...

10) Became a mom to the most amazing little person I've ever known.

Thank you, 20's, it's been quite the adventure! Boy, 30's, you have a lot to live up to!!

"Jillian is practicing excerpts in her jammies."

2008-10-28T18:35:00.002-06:00

I have an audition coming up, and I'm finding it hard to find time to practice. Dave has had his sax quartet in town since last week, and I will finally have my husband back tomorrow. How can you make reeds and/or practice when you're looking after a baby, or cleaning up after said baby when he's asleep, or, God forbid, looking after yourself when said baby is asleep, or entertaining house guests, or cooking for said house guests, or or or or...

Recorded auditions are tough because you always have an out. I can simply not do it! No plane ticket to cancel or any face to save. Luckily I have until the end of December, but I'm going to give myself a set date at the beginning of December and go to a recording studio to do it. Cooper, you may have a reed order coming for me pretty soon!

Blogging status

2008-10-18T16:54:00.002-06:00

Maybe I would blog on this blog more often if it were more like Facebook.

Today, my status is: "Jillian is playing a concert in Cedar Rapids tonight. Yay, Petrouchka, here I come!"

I'm finally feeling pretty good about this piece. I've never played it before, but I LOVE the ballet, and I LOVE Stravinsky. And it's pretty hard! Concert #1 is at Coe College in Cedar Rapids tonight at 8pm (we are staying with my friend and colleague from the orchestra, and Dave was able to come with me to look after Harry), and concert #2 is at West High School in Iowa City tomorrow. Also on the program: William Schuman's New England Triptych and Saint Saens' 2nd Violin Concerto. Nice program! Cross your fingers for good English horn reeds!

Just a quick note on etiquette

2008-10-01T18:23:00.003-06:00

Went to Dave's fabulous faculty recital on Monday night. I think it was his best yet! Beautiful tone, extremely musical playing, and technically spot-on. Congrats, honey!

I was appalled at the behaviour of some of the students in the audience though. There were quite a few non-music students in the audience, so maybe they'd never been to a "proper" concert before, but I find that hard to believe. A couple of girls in front of me (I was in the front row of the upper section) were talking at full voice. Giggling with each other. One girl had a binder and she ripped the velcro open. All while Dave was playing. They were down-right rude. Before the last piece, I stood up, walked up to them, crouched down and basically told them to shut up. I don't normally hesitate in shushing loud audience members, and I was planning on being polite and short in my request. I was so mad though, that by the time I got to them, I really let them have it. (This is me though, I'm never rude to people who are rude!) So let me repeat what I told them, and if you find yourself at a concert or recital, this is what you need to know: We can hear you. You can't talk AT ALL during a concert. Save it for between pieces or at intermission or after the show. (Added note, I didn't say this, but I thought it: This is not a DVD you've popped in at home. This is a live human being who is playing his heart out FOR YOU. Well, not for you...you need to just stay home next time.) Back to what I told them: It is not only distracting for the other audience members around you, but for the performer on stage as well. You are being far too loud, and you need to stop it. And (to binder girl), we could hear your velcro. Very loudly. So just stop. Thank you.

Tagged!

2008-09-30T10:17:00.002-06:00

Well, I've been meaning to post something on here for a while now, and Patty has given me a good excuse. (And I have a few moments of peace, with the boy sleeping, so why not now?)

Six things you didn't know about me:

1) One of the things I hate most in this world is wringing out defrosted spinach. Is there no simpler way?

2) I aspire to be an organizer. My current method of file/important document/any object in the house retrieval involves the questions "what was I wearing the last time I saw this?" or "what was the colour of its box?"

3) I always wanted to be a children's book author. I may still attempt this someday!

4) I have my doctorate in oboe performance, and I love teaching oboe, but I have nine piano students and zero oboe students.

5) I too, have never done drugs of any sorts. I have never even been offered any, even though many of my friends in college had the occasional puff. Was there something about my look that said "good girl"?

Wow, I thought that was 6, and I was about to post...ok...

6) In Elementary school, I tried to start several clubs, including the "colour" club, where we were supposed to wear certain colours on certain days of the week (I remember Friday being "purple"), and the "ant buster club", our mission being to stomp out all the ants in the playground (the term "wouldn't hurt a fly" wasn't applied to me very often). None of my clubs drew many members, nor did they last more than a week or two.

Tag!

1) Karmen
2) Robin
3) Kerry
4) Shauna
5) Mary
6) Elizabeth

Wicked gig!

2008-09-02T20:44:00.004-06:00

I have now officially accepted a contract to play an extended visit with the touring production of "Wicked" from September 23-October 18, 2009. I LOVE that musical! Of course, I'm a little bummed I won't be able to see it! Maybe I could take a trip to Chicago sometime in the next year...hmmm...30th birthday present ideas, anyone?

Oboe 2

2008-08-29T13:02:00.003-06:00

I opened my mailbox, and there sat folded (grrr) my parts for the next CRSO concert. Tim and the administration worked tirelessly to find new performance and rehearsal venues, and this season is continuing with very few changes. A second performance has been added to most of the concert sets, as the new venues are much smaller than the Paramount Theater. One more concert, one less rehearsal. As a commuting musician with a baby, I'm not thrilled about the extra concert. There will be some weekends where we'll have double rehearsals on Friday (back-to-back 2.5-3 hour rehearsals), a concert Saturday evening and a concert Sunday afternoon. With a 2.5 hour drive, I could go home on the Friday night (and I'll have to if I can't bring Harry to CR with me), but it's much easier to just stay there...and that means an entire weekend away. If it was just me, no problem. Add a little one to the mix, and we're talking an extra suitcase of diapers, clothes, food, etc., plus a babysitter if Dave can't make the trip with me. If it wasn't for the drive and logistics, I would be more than happy to play an extra concert per set. I digress.

For our opening concert on September 20, I will be playing Oboe 2. The one piece with English horn was replaced, but I had already been asked to fill our second oboist's place for this concert, as her daughter is expecting a baby right around that time. A first grandchild superceded second oboe...can you blame her? On the program is Berlioz "Corsaire Overture" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, as well as some concert arias to feature the Beethoven's soloists. Yummy, yummy. I can't wait! I've never actually played this symphony before!! I've only ever played some of the first oboe excerpts on auditions and in masterclasses.

Looking through the part, I felt a wave of anxiety. My rational self brushed that aside, but really, playing second oboe can be very tricky! And although I won my job playing both English horn and oboe (including a one-octave C major scale starting on pianissimo low C--we were playing Nielsen's Symphony No. 3 which includes this in the third oboe part), I still feel like I want to prove myself to my orchestra colleagues. Of course, if I do my job right, they won't even notice me! How funny is the life of a second oboist. Here I've been basking in the light of English hornist superstardom! :)

Of course, my anxiety couldn't have anything to do with the fact that I haven't touched my oboe in...gulp...wait, I played for 15 minutes about 4 weeks ago... And reeds? What reeds? When's the first rehearsal again? I know what I'll be doing during Harry's naps for the next few weeks!

CRSO Update

2008-07-25T20:58:00.003-06:00

We have a schedule update! Yay! As our conductor Tim Hankewich has said, the devastating flood that destroyed the Paramount Theater in downtown Cedar Rapids also provided an opportunity for the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra to extend their reach into the greater Iowa community. The adminstration has been working hard to find suitable venues so that our 2008-09 concert season could go on. They are (and I am!) optimistic that this will diversify our audiences even more (with two performances per set, one of which being held in Iowa City), which can only strengthen the life and spirit of this orchestra.

I've updated my own personal website with most of the concerts we will be performing starting in September. (And looking at my website for the first time in months, I now want to record more pieces to update my playing examples...and maybe some more recent photos??)