Amy, 24, Melbourne, web designer, piano student, Slytherin, nostalgia (and chocolate) addict, and languisher in all things baroque, rococo, and Tolkien.
Goodness gracious, I have been occupied!
I had nothing to post about for a few weeks but all the fun things happening lately have been concentrated into the past week. I shall take it day by day, blow by blow…
Oh, gratuitous photo time:
Saturday 2nd
One of my nieces just turned 15 so she had a Harry Potter party to celebrate. It was actually warm enough to spend the whole day outside! Almost everybody dressed up, but I think everyone was in agreeance upon the fact that Kimmy, my sister, made the best effort with her Hagrid ensemble. She even had the walk down pat.
Guests were all sorted and we played little games (“degnoming the garden”, trivia, etc.) throughout the afternoon to earn house points. There was no shortage of cheating, though Hufflepuff won the House Cup at the end of the day by a large margin. I don’t have any photos yet…
After the guests had left I set up a computer for my niece (her birthday present 
) and then picked up our friend Martin from the station, who would be staying with us for a little while.
Sunday 3rd
Adam, Martin and I headed into the city for a much-anticipated (by us…) performance by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. The program for the day was “Baroque Virtuosi” and the ACO’s new little star, a 280-year-old Stradivarius, would be debuting with Tartini’s Devil’s Trill Sonata, a particular favourite of Adam’s.
We met up with my sister and her friend, had some lunch, and then all took our seats in the Town Hall. The ACO, as vibrant and energetic and lovely (to my ears) as ever gave us the following:
HANDEL Concerto Grosso, Op.6 No.12
GREENBAUM Moments of Falling
BRUMBY The Phoenix and the Turtle I and III
LEDGER Johann has left the building (World Premiere)
VIVALDI Concerto for four violins, RV580
TELEMANN Viola Concerto
SCULTHORPE Port Essington
TARTINI (arr. Kreisler) Violin Sonata, Op.1 No.4, “Devil’s Trill”
CORELLI Concerto Grosso, Op.6 No.2
The Handel was transporting. Our seats were close enough to really hear and delight in the music this time. Stuart Greenbaum’s Moments of Falling, dedicated to (and somewhat evocative of) Arvo Part did not impress Adam, who is not so partial to modern Australian composers, but is ironically partial to minimalism and Part. I enjoyed all the pieces interspersed between the baroque concerti. Greenbaum, who is a professor of music at Melbourne University, came out to applaud the performance. In the composer’s own words, “Moments of Falling is constructed around a cascading 16-note motif in the Aeolian mode. It features a high degree of repetition, but as the motif is overlaid at different speeds in different octaves, no bar is ever exactly the same.”
Brumby made me think of butterflies, swans, the languor of Spring… the work would not have been out of place as a film score, in my opinion. Ledger’s work was turbulent and exciting, but I wonder if the piece would’ve actually made Johann leave the building upon hearing it. I couldn’t decide whether I loved it or was uncomfortable! A rather familiar Vivaldi concluded the first half of the program, for which I have no critcism.
The Herald Sun said, “Principal violist Christopher Moore gave a rich-timbred, if low-key, reading of Telemann’s Viola Concerto In G.” Moore is animated and produces a beautiful sound. Sculthorpe’s Djilile was instantly recognisable in his dynamic six-part Port Essington. I was quite mesmerised by the journey through this work. The Age describes the ACO’s performance of this as “near-reverent”.
And then, at last, the Devil’s Trill. Adam said he considered everything prior as obstacles he had to sit through to get to this. Satu Vanska’s performance was grand and literally left me wanting for breath. The work is not simply ‘virtuosic’ or at all facile in nature — it’s a masterpiece! I thought we’d never get a reprieve from the temptatious solo, it was as if someone was holding a bar of the best chocolate in the world in front of [me] in the throes of a chocolate craving, and constantly pulling it back. Or something. The refined Corelli concerto provided a nice wholesome chord for us to leave happily on.
Afterwards we met up with some of the Melbourne Lolitas, who are becoming good friends, and ate Chinese for dinner.
Me looking awkward in BTSSB and Adam’s coat
Martin and beautiful Kimberley
I had a piano lesson on Monday and rested on Tuesday while the boys went for walks!
Wednesday 6th
I’m sure this has been my favourite day so far because I LOVE SNOW. I dreamt of a misty, alpine forest the night before with a single deer in it. We drove up to our nearest mountain and were happily met by enough snow to play in and toboggan down for a few hours. It didn’t actually snow while we were there, we just got facefuls of icy rain. I would like to go back soon, before it melts. I was warm the whole time but we forgot to bring good gloves!
Down to the slopes…
Sliding down is the easy part, climbing back is exhausting!
Martin’s snow bunny
Adam giving me a ride back to the car
Thursday 7th
We stopped at a nearby town for spare teacups and second-hand books the following day, and headed up the mountain into Adam’s family’s town.
A nice antique store, and reminder of how not to pose if you are me
Adam’s aunt runs a tearoom and gardens on the property where Australian poet C. J. Dennis moved to and lived until the end of his life. He named the propertly “Arden” but it’s now called “The Singing Gardens” and features magnificent gardens, hidden paths and is beautiful in every season. We enjoyed afternoon tea there and a tranquil walk in the fine rain. My head looks stupid, aargh!
After this we drove down to the city again, showing Martin many areas along the way that were burnt out in Black Saturday’s fires. The bush has of course regenerated marvellously. Our evening consisted of another recital – this time it was a candelit programme of the complete Chopin Nocturnes, played by Australian pianist Piers Lane. My piano teacher invited many of his students and friends, as it was bound to be quite an enriching experience for pupils and non-musicians alike!
The moment his finger hit the first key (a B-flat) Piers lulled us into a dreamy state, taking us through an almost ethereal journey of peace, passion, drama, thoughtfulness and depth. His melodies sang out beautifully across the hall, Chopin’s love of bel canto evident especially in the F-minor, Op. 55 No. 1. Piers’ tenderness at the end of the C-sharp (no. 20) nocturne was particularly touching. He would pause intermittently to give us a little commentary and background, expressing that Chopin had come such a long way from the early nocturnes into the final, matured works. It was an experience I won’t soon forget. I even got to meet him briefly and tell him how very fine (and at times unexpected) his playing was! The only downside to these concerts is that we always seem to be seated next to fidgeters, throat-clearers, whifflers, whistlers, and assorted flibbertigibbets and sundry. Maybe I need to live for another few decades before I understand why one must cough through every concert.
I’ll cover the next few days in the next post!
Yay! Today we picked up our ‘new’ bed frame. Once we had it all re-assembled I threw some nice bedding back on it. It’s a little imposing (in a good way) and has been telling us things like, “I OWN this room” and “you MUST sleep in me”. It’s just really great to have a frame at last – any excuse for a four-poster! The damask I bought a few months ago may come in most handy for the curtains, since it’s really too thick for clothing. All we’re really lacking in household goods now is a washing machine and a living room set (comfort foremost). We don’t have a television but don’t plan on getting one until we start to crave a round of Mario Kart or something. All we need is the house to furnish all this with! Unfortunately our incomes only just cover the cost of living at home, so we’re playing it by ear for now, and figuring out ways to earn enough for the long run.
Next on the list of fun things is the newest adventure in the charming Professor Layton series for DS. If you have a DS and haven’t yet played these games, they’re essential! I loved the first two games and Professor Layton and the Unwound Future is also rather absorbing. And the website for Diabolical Box is designed well! I have a big crush on Hershel, and the whole thing is just so quaintly steampunk. Oh, and there are puzzles, many fun little puzzles… that’s the whole point of the game, really. It isn’t a dashing gentleman and his lovely voice, no, it’s brain strainers that quash your ego a bit every time you lose some picarats from guessing instead of thinking.
Onward. Yesterday my gentle-fellow and our special friends had an awfully good time picnicking by the river and then playing cricket in the pouring rain. We stopped after it got particularly heavy (part of Australia is being hit heavily with bad floods at the moment) and then headed home, completely drenched. I baked zucchini and cheese muffins and we all ate them and watched The Book of Eli. We’re now very sore from what almost counted as “sport”, and I’m about to settle down for bed. My grandmother was unwell for a while and on top of a horrid bronchial bout has been receiving treatment almost every single day for a nasty spider bite. She doesn’t remember being bitten or know how it came to be, but one person or another in the family has had to ferry her to the doctor’s daily to have it tended to. It’s definitely improving, and thankfully wasn’t a particularly agonising or disabling bite! There has been a lot more going on with my grandmother and her husband, which has taken up my mind and time lately (I do like having something to do though, and like spending time with her), but I think that those issues will settle soon.
And finally, I managed to get a reserve on a BTSSB dress, Dance of the Black Cats, in this exact style and colour! I paid for it today and am very excited. I can’t wait for it to arrive, and for an opportunity to wear it! I shall wear it to the next piano recital. Speaking of piano, every time I go to practise, I find myself avoiding every piece and obsessively returning (though who out of any that know the 48 preludes and fugues would blame me?) to Bach’s C# minor fugue (BWV 849). Yesterday I had great fun analysing it and circling every instance of the subject and two counter-subjects, and it’s just such a delight to see the music “revealed” through these expositions, answers, and episodes! There is something very satisfying, wholesome, and focusing about studying, playing, and listening to counterpoint.
Yesterday we found a Baroque-style dining setting for sale online. We asked if it had been sold yet and were told it was still available, so after a few hours debating our budget and our need vs. want for it, we agreed to buy it! The seller’s mother had bought the furniture new a few decades ago and it had been cared for immaculately; I assured them it was going to a very good home. The price was fantastic and it was in perfect condition (not a scratch or dent to be seen, very smooth surface on the table, hardwood, chairs perfect and no re-upholstering needed) so Adam and I went halves and picked it up today. It looks extravagant but we could’ve easily paid a lot more for something new or modern (which is not our preference) – I’m convinced that since everything went so smoothly that it was just the right decision. We’re very pleased and it’s satisfying and encouraging to be able to slowly collect furnishings and household goods for when we can eventually have somewhere to really call our own. We’re far from rich, but we manage what we make well enough and set our sights on quality bargains (furniture, appliances, clothing, shoes, etc.) that will last us a long time. It has also been really helpful budget-wise to plan meals a few days ahead and not make so many grocery trips. Nutrition is a real priority for us these days, as is a bit of forward-thinking (with a very healthy dose of spontaneity in my case).
Also on my wishlist of wonderful things are the following DVDs, specifically for the voluptuous and handsome Yvonne Kenny. I would love to see her on stage again once or twice more, I adore her coloratura and warm voice.
Sister Blog
Juliette at Classical Doll