Edouard Lalo + hay bales

     My lil sister is having a solo recital in December, so I took some pictures for promotional flyers. Lemme tell ya. She is one of the best violinists I have ever listened to and that is saying a lot.
Of course there is the never ending, sibling-rivalry "my instrument is better than yours" argument.
Clara: "The violin is portable which is waaay better -- people can appreciate your music wherever you go."
Me: "But violinists rely heavily on piano accompanists soooo.... basically you're lost without me."
Clara: "My violin cost more than both your pianos combined."
Me:  "Can you read the bass clef? No. Didn't think so."

You get the idea.

We had a blast during the photo shoot. Between traipsing about our neighbor's field and climbing on hay bales, it was a full morning. Clara played some folk tunes and Lalo (an odd combination). I fiddled around with camera dials and lighting. My camera is still relatively new to me, so I am learning something about it every day. The result of our shoot? Lots of laughter, dirty bare feet, and 174 pictures.
Soon I will be taking Cabe's senior photos! I am doing what I love best: photographing the people I love best.

dancing the night away.



- the petronella -
 

- whooping and calling when the tune changes -
 

- 'balance and swing your partner!' -
 

- the rhythm of the music -
 

- swirling skirts -
 

- meeting people from all over the Midwest -
 

- people watching from the balcony -
 

- getting dizzy from spinning -

- the energetic atmosphere -

- the camaraderie of the dancers -

- well earned blisters from swinging so much -

- contra dancing -

 

 

I got some precious few video clips of the dance which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRCpGXn15y4

on pomegranates and dying poets

Pomegranates:
     It has always been one of my 'unofficial' New Year's resolutions to live life more adventurously.
A phobia of mine is that I'll fall into the ruts of daily life and forget how to be impulsive and daring.
That's why I bought myself a pomegranate yesterday: I've never had one before, so of course I had to try it. (Eating a pomegranate is totally impulsive and daring -- right?)

 

     Scoop out the seeds, put 'em on a salad and BAM! you've got yourself a beautiful treat. Not only does it taste good, but it looks like you're eating bright red gems. And it's healthy.

 

____________________________________________________________________________

 



Dying Poets:
     This is what the piano looks like when there are three musicians living in the house:

Music. Is. Everywhere.
     The piano bookcase is full, so books and sheet music kinda spill out onto the piano bench/floor/parakeet cage/etc.
     Recently, I've been trying to conquer the song "Dying Poet" by Louis Moreau Gottschalk. It's not a difficult piece, but it's rather long. Sometimes I wish the poet would just hurry up and die. (Not really.)

 

What things have been a part of your life recently?

{home sweet home}

      Well folks, I’m back from my summer escapades! It feels like I have been gone for years –has it really only been 5 weeks? Sheesh. My latest adventure was in Manhattan Kansas for POE where twelve students ranging from ages 13-18 gathered for a week of recitals, organ lessons, workshops, and numerous games of pool. It is such a rare and wonderful opportunity, that I am kind of sad I haven’t gone regularly in years past. To high school aged pianists--let me give you a word of advice: GO TO PIPE ORGAN CAMP!

 

 

Twice a day, students were split up into pairs for 2 hour sessions of lessons and practice time. These were my favorite times of the day when I was completely immersed in music and had nothing else to focus on except what I was being taught. “Feel the music!” my teacher said, “make it swing and dance under your fingertips.”

Teachers also took turns presenting workshops for the students. There were workshops on practicing efficiently, how to play hymns in church, how an organ works, performance anxiety, etc.  For one workshop, an employee from Quimby Pipe Organ Company came and let us crawl through the pipes chambers.

 

 

Do you see those boxes under the pipes? Those are wind chests. You have to scoot in head first on your back to see underneath the pipes. Then, someone locks the door behind you so wind won’t escape-- that way you can see how air passes through the pipes. After that claustrophobic experience, I now have a healthy respect for organ builders.  

            Halfway through the week the whole group of us drove to Lincoln Nebraska for some sightseeing. When 12 students are packed into a 15 passenger van, chaos inevitably ensues. Towards the end of our ride all of us were impersonating Sesame Street characters, listening to classical music, talking to each other in German, and looking at gifs. Ahhhhh—such good times!

            Once in Lincoln NE, we toured Bedient Pipe Organ Company. They were so encouraging and welcoming to all of us! Thank you for letting us get a glimpse of ‘behind the scenes’.  

            Next, three different churches generously let us invade and play their organs. Westminster Presbyterian had a wonderful Casavant organ: 

 

We also visited this beautiful monster, which was by far my favorite:

It’s a Schoenstein Organ in First Plymouth Congregational Church. That thing is intimidating. Not only is it huge, it can also control a second organ in the balcony.  

And last but not least we played an Italian style organ built by Bedient in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Though it usually runs on electricity, there were bellows in the back which only the guys were brave enough to try their hand at.

 

 

 

At the end of the week all twelve students performed for teachers and parents in a recital. It was a wonderful way to end our time spent learning and exploring together. I honestly cannot wait till next year!

 

 

And storied windows richly dight,

Casting a dim religious light.

There let the pealing organ blow,

To the full-voiced choir below,

In service high, and anthems clear

As may, with sweetness, through mine ear

Dissolve me into ecstasies,

And bring all Heaven before mine eyes.

--John Milton

 

repurposed.

While I haven’t been writing on my blog that much, I have been doing pretty fantastic things in my spare time. Like going to the contemporary ballet, playing for piano competitions, and dancing my feet off at the Spring Breakdown. (If you’ve never been contra dancing, then you’re missing out on a huge part of life!)
Most recently I completed this décor piece—an idea I got from pinterest.

When the opportunity arose to get some piano keys, I greedily snatched them up and promptly set to work. They were off an old upright that was made somewhere around 100 years ago—worn and yellowed with age and use. Their antiquity made them even more visually appealing (to my advantage.)

I used a coping saw to cut off the long wooden ‘arms’, sanded the ends, and lined them up in order. Fitting the keys together was like putting puzzle pieces in the right places—I had to number all 88 of them to keep them straight.
 

Lo and behold we had a useless board lying around that was the perfect size. Not only that--we also happened to have some black spray paint from leftover projects! Things like that need to happen to me more often…. It was a slow and painstaking process to line up the keys in order, place them in a straight line and glue them solidly to the board.
 

Finished product! It’s a quaint little wall piece (if I do say so myself.) I may have found an entrepreneurial opportunity as these things are selling for a pretty penny online. If you have any old pianos that aren’t serving any purpose----you now know where to send the keys! ;) 

 

Deylight Country Orchestra

         I love nothing better than to hang out in the company of family and friends and share something very special to me..... music. I'm by no means an expert in this area, but I highly agree with what Confucius once said: "music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." It most certainly does.

          That’s why I enjoyed last Friday night so well, when the Dey family band had an opportunity to play some merry tunes for a dance.

 

         It was a dizzying night full of birthday cake, laughter, melodies floating on the air, and swirling colors. The soft flowing dances moved in perfect rhythm with the music creating a strong connection between the band and the dancers. Dances are interesting like that. Maybe that’s why I fancy them so much.  

 

Let me introduce you to the band:

My brother Austin backed up the melody with some solid piano chords. He’s the glue that holds us together sometimes:) I don’t know what we would do without him.

Cabe fearlessly led us with his back up guitar. He’s that musician nobody notices yet he adds a completely new dimension to the music. Thank you bro:)

Elissa and Clara were our fiddlers. Throughout every single tune they remained strong on the melody, carrying the dancers through till the end. Indispensable musicians, those girls are.

I played the flute. That’s about all was required of me. Sometimes I would find some curious little harmony to work off of, and sometimes I’d take a solo, but mostly I just soaked up all the happiness around me and try not to make any mistakes.

 

And then there were our faithful audience members---- namely Mom, Dad, my sister Annie and her family.  But golly! Somebody has to sit back and enjoy the music!!!!

 

 

 

Overall the entire evening was a success. Up next: another dance in February!!!!

Photo credits to my sister Elissa (ejdodson.blogspot.com) and my Dad.

    

     Okay, so everyone should be well aware by now how progressively sporadic my blog posts are becoming! Part of the problem is that I've been having a major case of Writer's Block. ---I feel all of these beautiful emotions bottled up inside of me with no desirable way of expressing them on paper. So, instead of writing, I have been playing the piano.

     For those of you out there who are musical, you will understand me when I say that playing music not only releases my emotions, but transports me into another world. I mentally leave the hubbub of daily life and revel in the poetry of music.

Albert Schweitzer describes this experience much better than I do:

Joy, sorrow, tears, lamentation, laughter — to all these music gives voice, but in such a way that we are transported from the world of unrest to a world of peace, and see reality in a new way, as if we were sitting by a mountain lake and contemplating hills and woods and clouds in the tranquil and fathomless water.

     Last night I competed in the National Piano Playing Auditions (Guild). I must admit, it was a challenge: I had to memorize 6 pieces and sight read a sonata.  The judge gave me a high score based on my "ability to play musically". I don't entirely attribute that accomplishment to myself . Yes, I worked hard to learn those pieces, but an added dimension -- the depth of the music --  was there because I was surrendering to emotion.

     So, in conclusion to this tangent, writing and music aren't the only ways to express yourself; everybody has his/her own niche. Nevertheless, it is important to express your emotions in one form or another. Am I starting to sound like a hippie? Then it is time for me to sign off;)
Expect more posts soon!!!
Ever yours,  
Laurel

busyness

Between pool parties, trips out of state, weddings, and a boat ride on the Missouri River, I regret to say that I have rather neglected my blog this past month.

Among all of these exciting things, I have recently added—to my hoard of instruments—a flute made by Gemeinhardt. I had been shopping for an Irish wooden flute to play traditional music on, but this one was more conveniently priced and will not only play different genres of music, but also in any key you like. So far, I can play all the major scales, the chromatic scale and one or two tunes, but I’m still trying to master the fingering and getting a good sound out of it.

Next thing on my shopping list: new pipe organ shoes.