Rach 3

Yesterday afternoon was the weekly Aspen Festival Orchestra Concert, held at 4pm every Sunday. This week featured the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3, arguably his most famous work. Those of you who have seen the movie Shine (and even those who haven't) are aware of its prestige and almost haunting lure. It is one of my favorites, particularly to see performed live. The soloist was Vladimir Feltsman, who did an impressive job playing the entire 40 minute work from memory. As per usual, I could barely contain myself during the performance. As I looked around the audience I saw that I was not the only one tweaking out. There is something about this work that really grabs listeners, whether they be musicians or not - the excitement is nearly palpable. At the end, the crowd literally jumped to their feet and screamed. It was the first time since my being at the festival that a soloist was coerced into performing an encore (which, in my humble opinion, turned out to be a really stupid little piece). Once again, I was able to enjoy this experience free of charge as part of my being a festival student. Between the concerts, the people, and the composing, I keep fearing that I am going to suddenly wake up from a really fantastic dream. 

I should also report that I am now ass-deep in Jimmy Neutron. I have to say, writing the cue with a huge orchestra at my disposal is nothing short of a blast. It is really intense as we have to get the final scores in on Friday after having only begun to score the cue this past Saturday (right after our first cue was due). I find it utterly exhilarating. 

Finally, I thought you might like to know that a group of us were standing at the bus stop yesterday when randomly a MASSIVE deer (doe) casually walked by us all, crossed the street, and disappeared into the woods. And when I say massive, I mean like you could throw a saddle on its back and ride it home. Apparently the species of deer is known as "mule deer" and is clearly much different than the white-tail variety us northeasterners are accustomed to. Where does the fun end?

And It Goes

Ok so once again a bit of a lag in blog posting, but once again it's because things are super busy and nothing has really changed. All of us continue to work our asses off on our cues every single day. I am pleased to report that I have a final draft of the score for my first cue done. Just some clean up and editing, parts, and it is all done. This is very good considering our next cue (for the huge conducting orchestra) is due a week from Friday. So, until July 5, the madness will continue. The good news is that after that date our work is done, so I will be able to enjoy the last 12 days or so without a huge pile of music on my plate. 

I have to say that as the days go by, the Aspen Music Festival continues to amaze me. It reminds me a lot of St. Michael's - a relatively small number of people living and working together, except of course that all of these people are serious musicians who love what they are doing. I can't tell you how cool it is for me to be surrounded by people who carry numerous instruments, practice no less than 3 hours a day, and who totally geek out over the same stuff that I do. 

I'll close with a little anecdote. Last night I took the 9:45pm bus back to my residence as per usual. I got home and started proofing my score when my friend Molly called me (a violist), immediately came over and we started going through the viola part. During this time, my pianist friend Sophia called me who had been looking at my trio and wanted to talk. So she came over (it is now after 10:30) and we all talked about the trio and getting it performed. After Sophia left, I went with Molly back to her apt where she took out her viola (at 11pm) and played through her part. I then stumbled upon a composer/contemporary musician party in another apartment and hung out there till after midnight. Could this happen anywhere else? I think not.

Special Guest

Ok, so I've been a bad little blogger. It has been four days since my last entry, but that's just because I am very busy and having fun. 

Much to tell. First, I've been working away on my clips and am glad to say I have both of them timed, mapped, and ready for music. My initial worry of having too busy a schedule has been extinguished. Don't get me wrong, there is still a whole lot to do, but the directors of the program have proven to be very sensitive to our needs in terms of composing time. They gave us Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday to get intimate with our cues and compose. Awesome. 

It turns out we do have a very high-profile guest in residence with us here in Aspen for two weeks - Jack Smalley (Charlie's Angels, Murder She Wrote, The Love Boat). If you check out his website, you'll see he is a ridiculously accomplished composer/orchestrator who also happens to be on the faculty of the Film Scoring Program at USC (the most renown, successful, and prestigious program of its kind). Today was our first session with him and I can already vouch for his tremendous character and wealth of knowledge. I can't even fathom what the next two weeks will bring. 

Finally, as a student at the Aspen Music Festival, I get free admission to the plethora of concerts that go on here (at least one per day). Last night I saw the Takács Quartet perform a phenomenal program that included the Piano Quintet in F minor by César Franck, a mind-blowing composition. Afterwards I went with a group of people to New York Pizza, a delicious and affordable little dive downtown. Funny how I had to come to Aspen to experience really great New York pizza... Tonight I will be going to see Joshua Bell perform Ravel's Tzigane (a piece I've not heard) among others with the Aspen Chamber Orchestra. Needless to say, life here in Aspen is good!

And So It Begins!

Today was the official first day of the program. I'm not gonna lie, it is going to be ridiculous. We meet Monday through Saturday, 9am-5pm, with all remaining time used for composing and attempting to enjoy the Aspen experience. I must admit that I'm at this moment a bit divided. On the one hand, the whole reason I came here is to get my ass kicked and be totally submersed. On the other hand I don't want to be some social-less hermit, emerging from my studio only to eat and return to my bed to sleep. The next few days should be telling! 

Our first score is due on June 21st, one week from Friday (!!). We received both of our three-minute clips today. One is from Jimmy Neutron, which we'll score with the large conducting orchestra. The other is from a movie called Greenlight, which is a creepy clip that we'll score with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. For those who might be interested, the latter clip will be recorded at the Great Divide Studios. Very chic. 

The outing tonight to the Incredible Hulk was fun, though I think there is still some ice-breaking that needs to happen amongst our group. It's funny, everyone who meets me asks if I'm a singer because I apparently have a strong singer-like personality, i.e. not at all like other composers. I think they are definitely onto something (excluding my ever-fantastic roommate, of course)... 

Finally, a fun anecdote. The director of the program, James, was going over some of the basics of the studio with us today. He informed us that we are not at all allowed to bring any food whatsoever to the studio... Apparently two years ago one of the students was working late and brought some dinner back with him and was cornered by a BEAR, who was clearly in need of a snack. Yikes!!  

Hot Sun

Before I write another word, I must take a minute to introduce someone you've all been waiting to meet. My wonderful, tremendous, superfantastic roommate - Jude: 

Jude is in the composition DMA program at Juilliard. He lives in NYC, but is a native of Texas and has been acquainting me with some of the customs and slang of his homeland. What it do! 

So, it may seem like a silly notion, but at 8,000 feet you are really a whole lot closer to the sun. Though the air temp has been perfect, the sun is very powerful and can burn you just by standing at the bus stop. I definitely got some serious color on my face and arms today. But not to worry, I have invested in sunglasses and sunblock - I am good to go. 

Tomorrow is the Convocation, which, for those of you from St. Michael's, is a term that invokes sheer horror and boredom. According to the Aspen veterans, it is an event where we will be united with all our fellow program comrades. Tomorrow also brings my first session in the Film Scoring Program - woohoo! 

Campus

Main campus is nestled in the woods with a fantastic stream (Castle Creek) running through. Not only is it great to sit and watch, it provides a lovely soundtrack wherever you may be.  The campus extends deeper into the woods where there are isolated practice huts (at least that's what I call them), a bike shop, and the film music studio. Below are some pictures. Loading pictures remains an atrocious task, but worth it. I am going to devote an entry to the film music studio once our sessions start. 

Pond

Practice Huts

Castle Creek Building (classrooms, computer lab)

Welcome to the Aspen Music Festival

First, some fun facts. For those of you who don't know, Aspen is one of America's foremost music festivals with the primary focus being performance. When I attended EAMA in Paris (a life-changing experience) there were approximately 55 students, nearly all of them composers. Aspen hosts over 700 students, the majority of them performers spread out over five orchestras, countless chamber groups, The American Academy of Conducting, Opera Studio, Composition, and Film Scoring, all with a built-in myriad of opportunities for performance, group coachings, solos, and private study with some of the foremost figures in music today. It really is an incredible operation.

Students are spread out over three different residential complexes, all of which are used primarily for housing skiiers in the winter. As many of you might have guessed, Aspen is most definitely a ski town - the first snow falls at the beginning of October and stays until May. Pitkin county (encompassing Aspen and Snowmass Village) has a full time population of 15,000 that swells to over 25,000 during its peak in the winter. We are lucky to be here in the off-season, where the main attraction is  (aside from the music festival) the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, a three day festival for which a standard pass costs $1150. ha!

I live in a residence call Burlingame. When I walk out my door, this is what I see:

The complex consists of little quads like this:

where at any point during the day you can walk around and hear the sounds of cellos, flutes, trumpets, oboes, etc, being practiced. It is really sublime.

Next entry I'll reveal pictures of the main campus and (hopefully) the film scoring studio. I would put them in this entry, but the internet is really bad in my residence, making uploading pictures a royal pain in the ass. Besides, I want you to keep coming back! :) 

Winter Festival?

So the weather here in Aspen has been unseasonably cold. Yesterday the high barely broke 50, which was considerably decreased with the wind chill. In fact, as I waited in line to register it began to flurry... yes, SNOW flurry. I daresay that the majority of the students here (even the returners) are unprepared for such a low. But I must say, after escaping the inferno that was New York City, I most certainly welcome it. Today is picture perfect with blue skies and the high just barely 70.

Today I found the film music studio and met the assistant who was busy setting up all the equipment. One of his jobs is to sit in the studio and assist us with all our technological issues, which, as many of you know, I have many. Needless to say, I am very pumped.

Our first "class" will be on Monday. We'll be meeting in the studio at 3pm, talking shop, then as a group we'll see The Incredible Hulk and discuss the score over dinner afterwards. Not too shabby!

I have been collecting some fantastic pictures to share, but unfortunately the internet is still being fixed in my residence. It should be up and running soon, so look out for my next entry, which will be an introduction to the school, scenery, and my residence, all with photos!

I have arrived

So, after listening to some shmuck in the seat behind me snore relentlessly for four hours, then taking a connection flight on a plane roughly the size of my Saturn, I arrived safely in Aspen at the most adorable airport I've ever seen (yes, even cuter than Burlington). Not wasting any time, I started talking to people while waiting for the shuttle bus and made three friends who live in my housing complex. Not a bad start ;) Here are two of them (Gina and Rich): 

Since I didn't actually get to Aspen until 10:30pm, all of the scenery remained a mystery to me until I woke up this morning and looked out my window. Everywhere you turn there is yet another breathtaking view involving snow-capped mountains, rustling streams, and lush forest. The short bus ride from my residence to campus alone is enough to take a camera full of pictures. Here is just one: 

I went "downtown" this morning and discovered that Aspen is indeed an upscale resort town. Its streets are filled with stores like Gucci, Prada, and Burberry, but luckily it is not without its affordable local haunts. I had the most fabulous blueberry bran pancakes at a place called The Weinerstube (?). Most of you know I am a huge fan of good food, so rest assured there will be plenty more restaurant reviews to come.

Lastly, I have to say that what everyone says about "adjusting to the altitude" is most definitely true. Aspen is at 8,000 feet and let me tell you, you can feel it. I pretty much feel drunk most of the time (as do my friends), which is for me not ideal, but it certainly keeps things interesting. Lots of water and taking it slow until the body adjusts hopefully in a few days.

As of right now I am working on getting internet in my room so I can upload pictures. I will post entry-relevant pics as I'm able, so check back. I think I'm gonna like this blogging crap!

Right now it's off to register and figure out what the hell I'll actually be doing here. :-D