cloud_wolf

Christmas holidays are obvious over and this means that the orchestra compositions for the next season are revealed. And it's so awesome: Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev.
Some reasons why:
1) RUSSIAN COMPOSER, DURHUR.
2) Romeo and Juliet! I looove this play and I love how Prokofiev puts all the drama in his music. I know, I know, it's overrated but I don't love it because it's a lovestory (though I love the Knights of Summer theme this play has) but because of the drama. Mercutio, Tybalt, the sense of loss, etc.
3) I actually learned something: It's a violine solo (plural is violini soli?) because violin is masculine in Italian. But it's a viola sola (plural is viole sole?) because viola is feminine. I personally think this is awesome. And not just because we violas are finally getting a damn solo.

I mean, who DOESN'T know the Dance of the Knights (Montagues and Capulets)? (famous part starts at 1:35) It isn't the signature tune for the Soviet Era for nothing. And the other acts in the suites are really beautiful too, but you can only find the Dance of the Knights on YouTube :/

But! I'm also sad we're not doing number 7: The Death of Tybalt (awesome dramatic PWNAGE starts around 2:34) No seriously, this is music worthy of Tybalt. Nobody does cello and copper like the Russians.

Also, I really like the fact that the Netherlands is in a iceskating mania right now. Really, it's awesome to have a lot of actual natural ice (Last time was 1997! Dude!). But the cold isn't helping my cold. Still, ice skating :D

I got an 8 for my first uni exam, people (though it's still subject to change). That's in the top 2% of 425 people. Oh God, now I can finally sleep peacefully XD

Had thorax two weeks ago. Got to dissect a sheep's thoracal organs. Had fun sticking my finger into the aorta and seeing it come out of the a. brachiocephalis. Had abdomen in cuttingroom last week, saw many intestines, which was fun (some smelly, some diseased. There was this one... nevermind, you don't want to know). Had hip area this week. Saw a lot of dead male and female genitalia. Felt a bit uneasy. Was not the only one. Death is something you get to think about a lot here. Had a college about what can go wrong in childbirth, with accompanying pictures. Felt my ovaries shrinking, so to say.

Orchestra practice was cool, Cesar Franck's Symphony in D minor. Links for those interested:
Movement one, part one, and two.
Movement two, part one and two.
Movement three.

It's very pretty, very much impressionistic. One is passionate, and dark. Two is subtle. Three is exuberant. I wish I wasn't this sleep deprived. Might've been more convincing >.>

Writing like Rorschach. Sorry.

Memes tomorrow. Now it's time for beautiful glorious sleep. *happy sigh*

Okay, so this is my first post in my LJ, but this is because I just had one of the most bizarre experiences in my 17-year long life.

So, background: I'm in an youth orchestra and I play the viola. Our orchestra wants to go on a tour in Florence. Money is needed. Astoria Lounge needs an orchestra in their "Dance meets Bach and Beethoven" party and is willing to pay 1500 euro's. Ka-ching!

Little did we know that this was an exclusive party in a CHURCH, the most important one in Rotterdam, the Laurenskerk. We also didn't know that people had to pay 50 euro's to enter, and that everybody had to wear a Venetian mask (I'm talking really expensive ones but they were OMG so pretty!). Before we practiced we walked around and discovered that the drinks were ridiculously overpriced (I'm talking in the hundreds etc.)

(Intermezzo: this was a party for 25+ and then they ask a youth orchestra. WTF. When our conductor told them we had kids of 15 they acted all surprised.)

Well this is all fine and stuff, but then there's the performance itself. We had to play these tunes and then there'd be a famous DJ, Miss Monica, who'd mix it all, or something. Turned out her part was all tape recorded and that she would just stand there acting like she was DJing. Also, playing with ridiculously loud dance music is somewhat different from playing a Brahms symphony, so that was rather special as well.

We had two hours between performances, so we could mingle. I really started having fun when the gay dancers in lakey uniforms (and shirtless and with little umbrella's) started their job. a) they were pretty good, b) the expression on our conductor's face = WIN! ahaha! c) it's a church.

The best came after though, according to the website, we're a international professional orchestra. We wish! We're the only youth orchestra in the most uncultural big city in the Netherlands.

This may sound rather boring, like this, but wow, bizarro land for me.  

P.S. The Iranians are doing their best and using their sneakiest tricks to get more oil (it's rationed). I'm so proud of their cunning ways. *sniff*