10.14.2004
music
The sheer numbers of musicians here at Oxford are incredible. I mean, not just people who play music or sing, or dabble here and there, I mean solid musicians. People with talent or drive or something that makes them excel. It's amazing. And then thee's me... I'm a tenor and I'm a bassoonist: naturally, I'm in high demand. But I had no idea how high... I auditioned for and earned spaces in three orchestras, and five choruses. I can only do two and two with any reasonable sense of sanity. So I unfortunately have to choose. It's tough, or course, and I think I have already annoyed half of the choral community here by auditioning for and not accepting offers from their groups. Of course, there's the other story I was told about a girl who auditioned for everything but told each panel exactly what else she was auditioning for. Overall results: she got into nothing. As one singer told me, there's a fine line to be walked, and absolutely no one ends up walking it.
So I'm a member of the Queen's College Choir, which sings at an incredibly high standard despite only rehearsing for a few minutes before each service. Yes, I have to wear a purple cassock in services. It's really quite funny. I am also on the depth chart for Magdala, a stunning collection of singers at Magdalen College. They are incredible, and the chapel in which we sing was built at the same time as the music being performed was written. It's about as close to custom-built as you can get. I'll be playing with the Oxford University Orchestra this term, which I look forward to. My last decision is between the Oxford University Sinfonietta (a smaller ensemble that does more modern music and classical era pieces that don't require a lot of members), and the Oxford University Philharmonia (an entirely student-run organization with big plans). Gosh, I don't know... There are pros and cons to everything, like the first bassoonist in the Philharmonia, who is incredibly good looking. ;)
I might also be rowing and playing some ultimate frisbee. Sweet.
Classes have been excellent, save Greek, which is the only one I absolutely *have* to attend. It's getting better, though. Not good, but better. The lecturer said yesterday "sometimes you just have to translate what sounds better in English, and not be so strict with the Greek." I can think of, oh, at least thirty people with whom I have worked or studied that would dispute that on the spot. A class on Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound has proven fascinating, and there's a great introductory lecture by Nicholas Purcell which was a ton of fun on Tuesday. Today's lectures: Classical Political Thought, Roman Architecture (that's a maybe), Greek Coinage (that's a maybe), and a graduate seminar that's not in the least bit a maybe.
I'm glad that Oxford is fun, because the Red Sox are just depressing the heck out of me.
So I'm a member of the Queen's College Choir, which sings at an incredibly high standard despite only rehearsing for a few minutes before each service. Yes, I have to wear a purple cassock in services. It's really quite funny. I am also on the depth chart for Magdala, a stunning collection of singers at Magdalen College. They are incredible, and the chapel in which we sing was built at the same time as the music being performed was written. It's about as close to custom-built as you can get. I'll be playing with the Oxford University Orchestra this term, which I look forward to. My last decision is between the Oxford University Sinfonietta (a smaller ensemble that does more modern music and classical era pieces that don't require a lot of members), and the Oxford University Philharmonia (an entirely student-run organization with big plans). Gosh, I don't know... There are pros and cons to everything, like the first bassoonist in the Philharmonia, who is incredibly good looking. ;)
I might also be rowing and playing some ultimate frisbee. Sweet.
Classes have been excellent, save Greek, which is the only one I absolutely *have* to attend. It's getting better, though. Not good, but better. The lecturer said yesterday "sometimes you just have to translate what sounds better in English, and not be so strict with the Greek." I can think of, oh, at least thirty people with whom I have worked or studied that would dispute that on the spot. A class on Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound has proven fascinating, and there's a great introductory lecture by Nicholas Purcell which was a ton of fun on Tuesday. Today's lectures: Classical Political Thought, Roman Architecture (that's a maybe), Greek Coinage (that's a maybe), and a graduate seminar that's not in the least bit a maybe.
I'm glad that Oxford is fun, because the Red Sox are just depressing the heck out of me.
