tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85218910913485407752024-03-13T13:44:04.835-07:00Jamie in Wien!Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-32866647088207113772013-12-18T22:32:00.003-08:002013-12-18T22:32:31.629-08:00Wien, vielen Dank für AllesLiebe Wien,<br />
<br />
I wrote this and never posted it.. so I thought I should post it..<br />
<br />
Vielen Dank...<br />
<br />
for the incredible experiences I've had here -- I could never forget these memories.<br />
<br />
for the huge shove in a new direction -- I can't believe how much I've grown here.<br />
<br />
for the ???? amount of added pounds... schnitzel, mozart kugeln, croissants, kebap... the list doesn't end. How about a gym pass to go with it? =P<br />
<br />
for the caffiene addiction... your Kaffee is the best in the world.<br />
<br />
for the friends I've made whom I know I can always revisit these memories with.<br />
<br />
for the long nights of Deutsch studieren... but really not.. and then the frantic mornings of Deutsch studieren ;)<br />
<br />
for the constant musical inspiration literally everywhere I go -- I love being in a city where being in the orchestra/opera is considered really really awesome.<br />
<br />
for the opportunity to study with a Vienna Philharmonic horn player (the best one ;) !!) -- I've grown so much on horn and learned a whole new approach to playing, learning. Danke Wolfgang!<br />
<br />
I've come to love another orchestra like it's my home orch, even though they have a completely different approach than I'm used to! <br />
<br />
Wien, you will be truly missed.Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-46000828850617427312011-12-13T15:12:00.001-08:002011-12-13T15:12:53.883-08:00<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We've gotten down to the final week of the experience of a lifetime... from 4 months.. to 4 days...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
It's really been developing all semester long without me even realizing, but I've completely fallen in love Vienna and everything about it. I'm starting to feel that little pang in my stomach when I think about leaving all of this behind. When we reached the 3 month marker, the relationships that I have been building here with my peers and teachers started to feel really important to me. Now I am a little heart broken to leave behind so many amazing people and connections I've made. I know I will always carry them with me and these are experiences are some that we will always hold dear. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Every time I asked someone about studying abroad who had already done it, they gave me the "YES, you HAVE to do it. It's the most amazing experience. DO IT." They were right.. and I didn't really understand that until recently. There are moments when I have felt so passionately just over the fact that I'm here, in a completely foreign country, and I dared to do that. It was all my idea and my decision and I've made the most of it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I remember before I left, when I was applying for this study abroad trip, I never truly thought it all through to be honest. I didn't know what to expect, I just thought, hey it might be cool to go somewhere for a semester and all the music students go to Vienna.. for obvious reasons. It didn't even hit me.. until.. I landed in Vienna maybe? In all of our first meetings here, they kept saying, "You're already not like most students your age.. b/c you dared to do this." Most students don't study in a foreign country. I hadn't actually thought about it like that, but I suppose it's true and it's really cool.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I just had a really nice dinner with Ryan, Ross, and Howard and we just kind of talked about how everything moved so fast here. September and October were normal (for me they were slow), and then, as Ross said, we hit November and it was like a race to the finish line. And here we are. Those 6 weeks flew faster than any 6 weeks of my life. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I feel like it took me longer than most to really "find myself" here, but once I did, I've never been happier with my life. I want to be here for a lot longer. I feel like I've really broadened my horizons and opened up a lot of opportunities for my future. I'm looking at some many options for grad school or... whatever happens after undergrad. I'm so not ready to make those decisions yet, but I'm so ready to dive into everything. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I've grown so much here.. everyone has :) There is this indescribable feeling you get, I think, when you study abroad. Kind of like that amazing feeling I had after walking out of every lesson in the Staatsoper and just feeling so content with everything. Even if there was a lot of stress with school or people or anything.. my lessons, rehearsals, and concerts were such a relief from the stress of life. It's this feeling that's reflected on everything here now. I get this really happy feeling when I get to the top of the escalator in the Ubahn and I've chosen a perfect piece on my ipod to listen to as the Opera house comes into view. Or when Wolfgang gets me backstage for operas and I look out into the gorgeous hall with an audience applauding more appreciatively than any audience I've ever encountered. And when I walk in the Innere Stadt and see incredible building after building everywhere.. the history of this city!!! There's just this utter joy from being in a city like this. I don't think I could ask for anything more from a city.. (except maybe for free bathrooms =P). But in all seriousness, I don't know how I really feel about leaving just yet... I just need more time...</div>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-16668011985058327302011-12-02T10:05:00.001-08:002011-12-03T13:35:46.660-08:002nd Concert, Vienna Phil, and Parents in Vienna!So, to continue the synopsis of November... I arrived back in Vienna from Italy just in time for out second IES concert of the semester!<br />
<br />
This was the most important concert to me, as I played my favorite repertoire for the semester. I played "Verlangen" by Franz Lachner, written for Soprano, Horn, and Piano. The piece begins with horn solo with piano accompaniment for the first theme, then cadences and the Soprano begins to tell the story. It's a really simple, pretty piece with a really catchy melody that I enjoyed playing. Then I played the finale from Brahms' Horn Trio, which is just fun :) I think I've perfected the art of looking calm although I started out very nervous.. :) It was a really fun concert and it was great to share it with so many wonderful people and musicians! It was a success!<br />
<br />
That weekend I also began voice lessons with my lovely rooommate, Emily!!! It's actually really helpful to learn what I should actually be doing and understand more about the voice and vocal chords and how to control them. We mostly did warm-ups and figured out what voice type I am (soprano.. of course). We talked about how opening the mouth will make singing higher easier, mouth shape for good tone and vowel, and numerous other things. Thinking about things that make my voice sound better seem to be really helping my horn playing sound better as well. I'm now in the process of learning a Schubert Lied!<br />
<br />
That Sunday morning, I was able to get tickets to the Vienna Philharmonic playing Brahms "Ein Deutsches Requiem." It was absolutely gorgeous. One of the most moving performances of it I've heard, although it's only the 2nd time I've seen it live. During one of the rehearsals, Wolfgang actually asked me for input on dynamics and I told him the 2nd horn needed to play the 4th mvmt solo louder and there was one other part where they could play out just to show off the interesting rhythm more. I heard it in the concert. The 2nd horn solo was absolutely gorgeous, I've never heard it played like that, he did a really lovely job with phrasing in such a short little solo! It was a beautiful and emotional concert that I really enjoyed. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm1lcXrOE6icHRmyg4BGTn45r_RN_I6JN3E71s-RijhyLAn1-caiEBS8DuE-gWy5vDovSJvfsGg9t2e184pFAeg0RSuiw42Ui5a-g1qB4pemTRjPHUTbVvRwjQr6VThLKBUzjp5KpdA/s1600/DSC01094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm1lcXrOE6icHRmyg4BGTn45r_RN_I6JN3E71s-RijhyLAn1-caiEBS8DuE-gWy5vDovSJvfsGg9t2e184pFAeg0RSuiw42Ui5a-g1qB4pemTRjPHUTbVvRwjQr6VThLKBUzjp5KpdA/s320/DSC01094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents on Kärntnerstraße!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Directly after the concert, I went to meet my parents as they arrived in Vienna!!! It was a wonderfully planned out week that turned out to absolutely wipe me out, about as much as I knew was possible!! I still had to go to all of my classes, practice, have lessons, and instead of relaxing or doing any of my homework, I spent time taking my parents around the city and finding places for them to visit and finding good food for them to eat! The first day, I took them to a concert in the Musikverein with the Concertgebouw orchestra! It was an absolutely amazing concert. That orchestra is really world class, I was blown away. The trumpet player really did it for me. They played the suite from Stravinsky's Petrushka, and I honestly didn't know that trumpet solo could sound so easy. Music just poured out of his bell like he wasn't even trying. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever heard, everything about it was perfect, and he didn't seem to flinch a bit- he was so calm. The bassoon player was the other thing that really hit me, I'm not sure I've ever heard a more beautiful sounding bassoon player in my life. It was absolutely gorgeous, I wish he had more solos! I was so glad I bought those tickets!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0qOw1DDKnrI5FKeOMUMl5VFqijgIWZMSUZR_dJpUKB2YjahIheL_cQ97sE5vbFyWwSDfUT9uyVOCj7b3_lY4dQ2JzDbjYCpvluyJvGAxWyIZyg1q8it9sbt_lKLGq4obAGDEtmTWIg/s1600/DSC01099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0qOw1DDKnrI5FKeOMUMl5VFqijgIWZMSUZR_dJpUKB2YjahIheL_cQ97sE5vbFyWwSDfUT9uyVOCj7b3_lY4dQ2JzDbjYCpvluyJvGAxWyIZyg1q8it9sbt_lKLGq4obAGDEtmTWIg/s320/DSC01099.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The food I ate this week was the best food I had during my stay here. I took them to a Viennese cafe almost every morning and had a really nice, traditional breakfast. This usually includes a Melange (the best coffee ever), Semmel (round, white bread rolls) with jam and butter, and if you get a bigger breakfast, usually yogurt and musli (granola-like) and fruit, and the most important... ham and cheese slices! It's really easy to get used to these breakfasts! Then on wednesday, I had a lesson that my parents came to observe and afterwards we went out to eat with Wolfgang at a really nice restaurant. I had real Wiener Schnitzel and it was the greatest thing I've ever eaten. The Marillenpalatschinken, basically crepes with apricot marmelade, was also the best I've ever had there. Then I missed my history class (accidentally), and had coffee with them as well!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U3UtEj-M8KpOKalL3HuASzvfxDAnDAdShxQrqH7-rXiMFxELgjMgSev5FjvS8KJvi60nEm8Hu5Gj8ZRyeFzEOSuMrKX02t4Zf4E7qXlkXxrbSqAc3GNdLzz0uEW9cs2Qi236xrdXcQ/s1600/DSC01097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U3UtEj-M8KpOKalL3HuASzvfxDAnDAdShxQrqH7-rXiMFxELgjMgSev5FjvS8KJvi60nEm8Hu5Gj8ZRyeFzEOSuMrKX02t4Zf4E7qXlkXxrbSqAc3GNdLzz0uEW9cs2Qi236xrdXcQ/s320/DSC01097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy dad eating his Apfelstrudel and Weichselstrudel (apple and sour cherry)!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
My parents also went to see Tannhäuser in the Staatsoper that night. I had rehearsal that evening, so I couldn't sit with them, but I met Wolfgang and jumped into the pit after the frst act!! It was a great performance, even without the first act.. and especially the overture!! (sad face) Wolfgang took us to the sky bar after the concert, which is a fancy bar at the top of a department store called Steffl, where you can see a really gorgeous view of Stephansdom, the largest and most famous church in Vienna. Steffl is also coincidentally the name of the tower you can climb up in Stephansdom.. clever! I also ordered my first cocktail there! :) It was really nice to have my parents and Wolfgang meet and chat about music, Vienna, and many other fun, random things! It was quite a day. <br />
<br />
Other things that my parents did include: seeing the Magritte exhibit in the Albertina museum, going through some exhibits in the Hofburg palace, going in Stephansdom and Peterskirche, walking and eating at the Karlskirche Christkindlmarkt, seeing my school and apartment, watching a Vienna Phil rehearsal, seeing the Belvedere Palace and art inside it, observing a second lesson with Wolfgang at his house, shopping on Kärntnerstraße, and eating lots more amazing food!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSp3-tA4q4X49o8zLgqTch9kFMmKWDP9mP1xhtttYGiiOsK1H13N__XN1Q7LGJpf03U04LihowAT4e0DKorTHmDKeGdijlwTHNc4ObtcjST5kw1bDxWNYUpZR7evkZECj4kKua0pl6g/s1600/DSC01101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSp3-tA4q4X49o8zLgqTch9kFMmKWDP9mP1xhtttYGiiOsK1H13N__XN1Q7LGJpf03U04LihowAT4e0DKorTHmDKeGdijlwTHNc4ObtcjST5kw1bDxWNYUpZR7evkZECj4kKua0pl6g/s320/DSC01101.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and I at Cafe Central for a Wiener Frühstück (breakfast)!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was really cool to have my parents in Vienna and be able to show them around! Who would have thought I would know my way around better than them! ha! It's almost like.. I'm an adult or something crazy like that. :) I only wish they could have been here longer so that I could have done more with them and had more time to bring them everywhere! I had a blast hanging out with them! It was a wonderful week with my parents and I was sad to see them go. Or rather.. sad to see me go.. because I actually left them alone for a day in Vienna as I went off for the IES ski trip in the Alps! More on that in my next post.. for now, I'm off to get a good night's sleep!Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-10385959661374590382011-11-29T12:04:00.001-08:002011-11-29T14:13:51.385-08:00My 21st and a trip to Italy!Wow, it's been almost all month since I posted!!! So, here's a little synopsis of the month...<br />
<br />
I had my birthday: Yay I'm 21!! I went out, turned 21, had a crazy time, then woke up the next morning and stood in line for Siegfried all day :) Siegfried was incredible. Here's the cast:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmybMbaZdlBFPzcci6acjjHhZUBxfOlhdTbAVXfApOIr-i5IK4CfFo6wvCTTaBQ1oR1mEMq6t5J4J4aSEJgr-S9KVGSIp5EOgt20CMHgxWRz3gMpGkhaGiCnN1_rACyS_cKWkcGNa0A/s1600/DSC01058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmybMbaZdlBFPzcci6acjjHhZUBxfOlhdTbAVXfApOIr-i5IK4CfFo6wvCTTaBQ1oR1mEMq6t5J4J4aSEJgr-S9KVGSIp5EOgt20CMHgxWRz3gMpGkhaGiCnN1_rACyS_cKWkcGNa0A/s320/DSC01058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And then... I went to Italy :)<br />
<br />
Italy was unbelievable amazing. First of all, you can't go wrong with 7 Italian boys, 2 Spanish boys, Luca Benucci, and me, the lone female. :) Not that bad of a situation at all. This is the bunch of us that was still there in the evening for their little "first day being all together" party. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIOnXsOWZ5mIajc_DyXGRluZYwoKp23Red1WYVvf15uU5Aiivhr3RUenAzu4qiAQQtkYQZvquO2-cN8Eu53Eid9ziATg7_pO3b1SkMpm6Lr5SbRQpDPNcuBPDcjptMKN0jqGDLtmgdQ/s1600/376587_2633080386858_1250874500_3073907_780401271_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIOnXsOWZ5mIajc_DyXGRluZYwoKp23Red1WYVvf15uU5Aiivhr3RUenAzu4qiAQQtkYQZvquO2-cN8Eu53Eid9ziATg7_pO3b1SkMpm6Lr5SbRQpDPNcuBPDcjptMKN0jqGDLtmgdQ/s320/376587_2633080386858_1250874500_3073907_780401271_n.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My time in Italy was some of the best I could have imagined. It started out a little bumpy with 7 connections to get there. Ubahn to Schnell bahn to plane to train to italy's ubahn to train to different train, finally I arrived in Cesena, but I had no idea where to go, so I ended up walking around in Italy in the dark. I decided that wasn't the safest choice, so I asked two people walking dogs, "parli inglese?" and one said no very strongly and the other said, "oh a little." The one who didn't speak any ended up walking me all the way to my hotel in silence, as we couldn't really converse at all. He was a very nice old man though! So I got to my hotel and had a cute little tiny room with a bed and a sink and it was lovely, but cold. I ended up having internet access though, which worked out really nicely as I checked my Facebook to see that I had a new message from Giuseppe, a student of Luca's who had recommended the hotel and said he'd help me with anything. Then I took a power nap. :) The two of us and another horn student, Vicente (from Spain), met later that evening at a pub in town and we chatted and they showed me around a little bit. They also promised to meet me in the morning to get me to the conservatory!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next morning, I woke up really early to shower, get ready, warm up, and find a place to have breakfast, all before meeting at the conservatory at 9. I had a lovely Italian breakfast in a cafe:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQgHaTz4DoeXgj4xjNnpLYr2RUpQ_K4ZBQhIe0V_LyYulD3VpxlA2kURrWu4sXhHvael9yb3gQgZeqaZldMWjBT84Fg2ziuPOnvQGQQe3afedmxVGxk0Q-FGHVm8I3dX4I4wWwrWVSQ/s1600/DSC01075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQgHaTz4DoeXgj4xjNnpLYr2RUpQ_K4ZBQhIe0V_LyYulD3VpxlA2kURrWu4sXhHvael9yb3gQgZeqaZldMWjBT84Fg2ziuPOnvQGQQe3afedmxVGxk0Q-FGHVm8I3dX4I4wWwrWVSQ/s320/DSC01075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then Giuseppe and Vicente picked me up and we went to the conservatory. I had 7 more guys thrown at me all at once and I couldn't remember any of these Italian names. Right away I knew I needed to work really hard on the names. I got it in a day: Giuseppe. Vicente. Stefano. Frederico. Mattia. Giullem. Davide. Emmanuele. Manuel. LUCA! and Tamino was the pianist (japanese). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We started the day at 9 with 2 hours of breathing exercises, buzzing, and singing. Luca uses a spirometer, which allows you to see your airflow by watching a little ball that is held up by your wind. VERY USEFUL. We did some breathing and buzzing together, then we would go around and he would listen individually and give us each critiques. Then we each played an opening phrase from a mozart horn concerto (first notes on the horn), and using the proper air... wasn't that difficult or scary at all! After all of this, we had individual "20-min" lessons. Mine was an hour. lol. None were 20 minutes. I watched all of them work, and these guys were almost all new students of Luca's so they were only a little bit ahead of me in "Luca training," so watching and listening to them was quite informative as well. Then around 1:30, we all went to lunch at a cafeteria nearby. It was very yummy, I had pasta! Then.. we go for coffee :) They bought me special coffee.. that was absolutely delicious. Then we go back to the conservatory and continue with lessons. Mine was last and it was full of singing. haha. This was actually really informative. He had my try a bunch of different things and then play again to see which ones really helped me sound better. Turns out both the spirometer and the breathing bag helped tremendously and when I sung before playing, my tone was better than it's ever been. The little buzzy thing (a circle on a stick, arnold jacobs used it a lot) did not help.. it made my sound rather harsh. But these were fantastic realizations! I need to BREATHE!!!!!! </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFBRPN2QcCFZMkRaLJIQT-Rh5t8u_AWBRlzSqzd4RNuE0_ULxl5virOVN-x-p1n7n9fdfKpfdB7b_dNeuQXiQOd8UfL3NdXXBWP49xzZxBSy_S19LQbFudcZ-5U_k0mR7dbQEQXyYbw/s1600/DSC01080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFBRPN2QcCFZMkRaLJIQT-Rh5t8u_AWBRlzSqzd4RNuE0_ULxl5virOVN-x-p1n7n9fdfKpfdB7b_dNeuQXiQOd8UfL3NdXXBWP49xzZxBSy_S19LQbFudcZ-5U_k0mR7dbQEQXyYbw/s320/DSC01080.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The streets of Cesena.. it was beautiful there :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The last thing of the day was a mock audition because they had one coming up shortly. They all played mozart 3 exposition and Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony horn solo. Then we ranked people to see who did best. Emmanuele won. We got kicked out of the building at 7:30. Yep, that's right. 9 AM to 7:30 PM with a lunch/coffee break. SOLID WORK ON HORN. It was incredible. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
That night was their party, Luca cooked homemade Ragu, which was wonderful and Guillem made something called a tortilla, scrambled egg with potatoes in it, also really yummy! I stayed up really late talking with Luca about amazingly interesting, inspiring things and then totally passed out at the hotel.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second day was basically the same thing. We did more technique stuff in the morning and less breathing work. He has his students work on flute vocalises for technique and a bunch of other things, horn and not horn. Then more lessons and then we all switched off playing movements of Strauss 1, I got the 2nd movement. We traded off playing, singing, and buzzing with the spirometer. It was kind of awesome. Luca's teaching is just really motivational and energized. There's always something that happens with my playing, like a big realization that I CAN sound better or it CAN be that easy, etc. I just need to hone in on all of those things and habit them. It was a wonderful trip.. we ended with appetizers at a pub and really good conversation. Luca is one of the most inspiring people I've ever met. I mean just for life in general, not only horn. He just understands and learns about each of his students individually so he knows what each of their personalities needs, on horn and in life. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nvTnECoqzepCbLSaUvNUhyphenhyphen9qsaXXVnrNDazw7H5eR-rs0n1Kx4ANVrjuliS_se3H2PPailIDYzQNjrFt0ptCkr5olpbgIVtjqBtF24CjYnCtVFaTKL-oAWlPPiWLnBnRF6rgfx9hAQ/s1600/DSC01083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nvTnECoqzepCbLSaUvNUhyphenhyphen9qsaXXVnrNDazw7H5eR-rs0n1Kx4ANVrjuliS_se3H2PPailIDYzQNjrFt0ptCkr5olpbgIVtjqBtF24CjYnCtVFaTKL-oAWlPPiWLnBnRF6rgfx9hAQ/s320/DSC01083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing, Singing, Buzzing on spirometer :) what a trio!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Random things I learned in Italy:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Everyone's named Giuseppe. The first, 2nd, and last guy I met there were all Giuseppe. lol. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Italians don't speak english. And they don't like when you do.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-Italians are not afriad to go for it. I met a guy on one of the trains back and he started talking to me in Italian and I was like woa. Inglese. and then he actually spoke english which was a miracle. So he started talking with me and asking where I was from and what I was doing here. Then I got up to get off in Bologna and he followed me to the door. I asked if he was getting off and he said no, he left his bag in another car. The train stopped and I went to get off and he said, "Jamie, wait!" and I'm just like... "umm.. I need to get off.." and he pulls me in and says I hope that we can meet again sometime soon, and we go to do the kiss kiss on either cheek and he totally goes in for the kill and kisses me. It was very surprising.. and then I left. lol. Another italian on the plane from Rome to Vienna kept turning around and staring at me, so naturally I looked at him like, "what? why are you looking at me?" and then at baggage claim he come up to me, doesn't speak english, only german (he figured I was austrian) and asks me out to dinner. I politely declined the offer. Those Italians... fearless! ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I want to study in Italy with Luca Benucci. Not sure when this will happen, but I assure you, it will.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I'll have to continue this November synopsis later, as I'm really tired. Guten Abend! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QGcKt2mReUT1qdpe7T50pCkfThq79if5alU7EOLcpyXogceu1ToNMpRetVYWSS4u4VxBZG1wYVvauhXkY0eSGBkymz5cuCsmFLgNF7MvPP9OrCJqUjFp4XBNTEsaj6D-gsiNuA6yVQ/s1600/DSC01087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QGcKt2mReUT1qdpe7T50pCkfThq79if5alU7EOLcpyXogceu1ToNMpRetVYWSS4u4VxBZG1wYVvauhXkY0eSGBkymz5cuCsmFLgNF7MvPP9OrCJqUjFp4XBNTEsaj6D-gsiNuA6yVQ/s320/DSC01087.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucaaaaaa :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-37268461888118077342011-11-07T15:37:00.000-08:002011-11-07T15:37:17.809-08:00And it's only Monday!? WIN!This monday was so epic that it deserves its own blog post all for itself. I'll update on the other stuff later..<br />
<br />
7 AM yoga/practice<br />
8:30AM write more of 401 History paper<br />
10 AM Vienna Staatsoper rehearsal of the 2nd half of Götterdämmerung<br />
1 PM shove pb&j down my throat, warm up<br />
2 PM (oops lesson time moved!) practice!<br />
3 PM Music History<br />
4:30 PM Almost complete essay for 401!!! <br />
6PM Lesson with Luca Benucci!!!!!!!!!<br />
7:30 PM All Bartok program with Esa-Pekka Salonon and the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Konzerthaus<br />
<br />
So, I woke up 45 minutes late, no big deal, I was up until 12 writing my paper. Felt good, but I was getting nervous for my lesson, as usual (with a new, famous horn player!). Also a little nervous about actually getting the lesson (I'll explain later)! So, I had time to write more of my paper that I need to get done BEFORE my birthday when it's due! I do not want to be writing that paper on my birthday!!! (or the night before!!!) At this point I've got almost 8 full pages. I need 10.<br />
<br />
Then I ran to the Staatsoper (literally), and get there just in time to meet Wolfgang and 2 of his students to watch his rehearsal. I LOVE these rehearsals. Even when they are the most angry, depressing, confusing music (Wagner), it still really calms all my nerves listening to them play. That's how it's supposed to be. Watching/listening to them play just gives me a few hours to forget about everything else. I don't have to think about classes (or that paper I need to finish), I don't think about my problems, or anything that I don't want to think about. It's just a really relaxing wonderful break from life. I'm going everyday this week. :) And then I get to talk shop (or anything) with Wolfgang during the pause (and he bought me coffee! nom.) Today we talked about Wiener horn sound compared to american horns, especially Conns. He also invited me to his studio recital to see all his students that I've been meeting play solos! <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, Luca. Luca is the hardest person to get a lesson with. I had been trying to get a lesson with him in Italy, but my times were not really working out with any of his times, and I couldn't chance going to Italy for no lesson. So, it just didn't look like it was going to happen. Then, on friday night I saw Luca's fb status (thank you fb!!!). It read: "Ready to go: Wien... Heldenleben, Musikverein, Mehta!!! Very good combination!!!" With eyed widened and jaw dropped, I immediately looked up the Musikverein schedule, and low and behold, his orchestra was on the list for Sunday and Monday. Right then I sent him a facebook message </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">along the lines of "Are you in Vienna? I'm in Vienna. Can I have a lesson while you're in Vienna?!" He sent me a messaged back saying "yes, we land at 2 tomorrow" and left me his phone number. So, Saturday at 2 PM rolled around and so I obviously called Luca. He answered and said, "Jamie! I'm still in Pisa!" He had gotten the times mixed up. So we rescheduled for 10 AM on monday. I made one of the hardest decisions ever on sunday: Die Walküre or Heldenleben with Luca's orchestra. Luca won. I went to this concert, and it was incredible. The horns sounded particularly spectacular, which I was very happy to hear! Luca has a gorgeous sound and SO MUCH power. It's incredible how much he can play and his endurance is unimaginable in my eyes. I thought to myself... I must be able to do this. It's a good thing I have a lesson with him! I met him outside after the concert to congratulate him and meet him finally. He is incredibly friendly and a lot of fun. He also told me that he had forgotten about his rehearsal at 10 in the morning for the monday concert! We rescheduled for 2 PM. Once again, monday at 2 rolled around and I walked to the musikverein and called Luca. He was having lunch with the horns and had a meeting at 3. We rescheduled for 6 PM, the absolute last possible time either of us could manage. So, at 6 PM, as the Vienna Phil's rehearsal was just ending, I was waiting at the Kunstlereingang, artist's entrance of the Musikverein. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">This was actually pretty cool. After all of the rehearsals I've sat in on, all of the horn players not recognize me. I said hi to one of them that I don't know the name of yet, and I actually spoke with Wolfgang Tomböck, the longtime principal horn. He was playing first on Bruckner 4 at the first rehearsal I saw here. He's incredible, and also very friendly. Then Wolfgang (my teacher) walks out the door, "The rehearsal is over, what are you doing?" "Luca changed my lesson time again, I'm waiting for him." haha. So I chatted with Wolfgang for a little bit and then he pulls out his keys and says "I took my motorcycle today." WHAT!!!??! Possibly one the most 'square' guys I've ever met, and he's got a motorcycle. He actually pulled it around to the entrance to show me. Most mind boggling sight ever. He is so legit. The coolest person I know. Viennese (cool accent), Vienna Philharmonic Horn, looks like Tom Hanks, awesome teacher, rides a motorcycle. He's always got something new to surprise me with. lol. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">Anyway, Luca showed up and we scouted out a free room in the Musikverein basement, which we could not actually find, so we ended up using the Men's dressing room, conveniently in use by men changing for the concert. lol. ((sarcasm)) So I whipped out my horn and played the first 2 pages of Mozart 4 for him. He told me I had a really nice sound and it was really good. He also asked why I breathe out of my nose. It's a Jeff thing to use the nose and mouth, but I really was just taking super wimpy breaths. He showed my a breathing tool that he uses everyday and showed me how to use it and we did that basically the entire lesson with also using the mouthpiece in the breathing thing. Then at the very end, I played the Mozart again. Mozart has never felt like that. Nothing has ever felt like that. I'm not sure how he did it, but he's the first person to REALLY get to me feel the difference with real breathing. He is an incredible teacher. He told me that he would like to work with me more and that I came to Vienna to really change my horn playing and he will help me. And I will follow him. I'm going to Italy next week. Life changing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">Immediately after all of this crazy inspiration and running around a men's dressing room with guys in underwear staring at me having a lesson telling me about Zwiebel-Brot, I met up with Ross and went to see a totally epic concert. Esa-Pekka Salonen with the Philharmonia Orchestra playing an all Bartok program. Dance suite in 6 movements, Violin Concerto No. 2, and Concerto for Orchestra. The first piece was really awesome, I had never heard it and enjoyed it thouroughly. The violinist was incredible. Christian Tetzlaff. He has amazing control, smoothness, ease, beautiful sound, crazy technique of course, and he was just fantastic. Esa-Pekka was a lot of fun to watch. He looks like a young conductor, he has a ton of energy, almost always using both arms fully. He's a very rhythmic conductor, very clear. The orchestra had a distinctly British feel to it, I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, but maybe it was the british brass sound. The horns were definitely bigger horns, although I don't know what they play on. It was a more open, less centered tone, very pretty sound. The bass bone gliss solo was unbelievably loud. I've never heard it that loud. It was a really fun concert. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">This was my incredibly day and I totally wore myself out with happiness.. just beaming with happiness is very tiring. lol. good night.</span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"><br /></span></div>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-91667471590090225252011-11-04T06:42:00.000-07:002011-11-05T01:57:20.651-07:00In der Schweiz!Midterm break was spent in Switzerland!!! The weekend was quite a learning experience in many ways.<br />
<br />
Ross, Abby, Teresa, and I took a night train on thursday to Zurich, then hopped another to Luzern to meet Sanna (Ross's and my friend from IU who is studying in der Schweiz for a year!). In retrospect, I don't think I will ever take a night train again, if I can help it. It's a great idea to save time, but I barely slept and I was completely wiped all of Friday. We didn't get sleeping cabins, so we just opened up all of the seats so they were all connected and tried to sleep like that, but I really failed at getting a good amount of sleep. <br />
<br />
Sanna had a test the morning we arrived, so we went to her flat and dropped off our things and then went into the city to explore before we met her again. We walked across the Chapel Bridge, which is the oldest bridge in all of Europe. It was first erected in the 14th century! Parts of it actually did burn down and had to be rebuilt, but parts of it are still authentic. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ2n50cCFZ_thYIMzOT9QJCHVdzrnuWzycRoT3DJLUdRP95DjHXVNylAVvgOA-09RADZdUWB24u-zLZ09j3Y76fVOCEPUnpUggB1V3XNKJ0uq27KRByH3PXkXOrngUe8BS20lu9BNqQ/s1600/DSC00857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ2n50cCFZ_thYIMzOT9QJCHVdzrnuWzycRoT3DJLUdRP95DjHXVNylAVvgOA-09RADZdUWB24u-zLZ09j3Y76fVOCEPUnpUggB1V3XNKJ0uq27KRByH3PXkXOrngUe8BS20lu9BNqQ/s320/DSC00857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Switzerland is absolutely beautiful. Although our first look at the small city of Luzern was quite foggy, its beauty couldn't be concealed. There are also an enormous amount of swans in Luzern. I had never seen so many in one place ever in my life! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU8zl3NxcSIGR3sHjL8TQDPpk9qUoOYgNIPzQ6yGD0o85d7mLfz_YzWgJ5dnF1ONqvnArm3bLUin5xBdSWmI3SBPoLo0zqFzkdqnJAExdRUrG1xbtEv1QdscudjiOwFwJRTMsgJ1fcQ/s1600/DSC00942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU8zl3NxcSIGR3sHjL8TQDPpk9qUoOYgNIPzQ6yGD0o85d7mLfz_YzWgJ5dnF1ONqvnArm3bLUin5xBdSWmI3SBPoLo0zqFzkdqnJAExdRUrG1xbtEv1QdscudjiOwFwJRTMsgJ1fcQ/s320/DSC00942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I had always thought that swans were beautiful, graceful creatures.. but now I just see them as giant white geese. They were not afraid to walk right up to us as if we were going to give them food. They also defecate all over the place, constantly. Although some can still be quite beautiful, I'll never see them the same way. =P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also walked along the Museggmauer, or the Musegg Wall. It was built in 1386 and is still almost totally intact. We were able to actually enter three (i think) of the towers, and we got a really nice view of the old city from above. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug2bXdHR_xRvdgxV2xi8N958ttzH_mxWmuRh9FusMnWNkL4-9z4GkgA7ZWb0UG5LMIt81fy4fxAM6MHFSMWAPtjPxwSw_6_jM_g3ON9clblN2iE7EMfk0nFiJjop9Uy3AuIymIjH_Jg/s1600/DSC00892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug2bXdHR_xRvdgxV2xi8N958ttzH_mxWmuRh9FusMnWNkL4-9z4GkgA7ZWb0UG5LMIt81fy4fxAM6MHFSMWAPtjPxwSw_6_jM_g3ON9clblN2iE7EMfk0nFiJjop9Uy3AuIymIjH_Jg/s320/DSC00892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's still pretty foggy at this point, but it's still a great view!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrfv6B8NglrmAr9Qd1b_jaTpRNS0eDznj8DZejw1rZ1GCZaZz3-lvIWX3ke2-Jp19eEgy8jU_TNGvzr0zecOvR9Q-UThUDh-bUwvB39_hQznE0NAJ3usgsVibrm614WV-4T7XwCJXPw/s1600/DSC00876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrfv6B8NglrmAr9Qd1b_jaTpRNS0eDznj8DZejw1rZ1GCZaZz3-lvIWX3ke2-Jp19eEgy8jU_TNGvzr0zecOvR9Q-UThUDh-bUwvB39_hQznE0NAJ3usgsVibrm614WV-4T7XwCJXPw/s320/DSC00876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a shot of one of the towers that we climbed up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After meeting up with Sanna and grabbing lunch, we went to see the Löwendenkmal, the Lion of Lucerne. It's a monument that memorializes the Swiss Guard for their battle against the revolutionaries that stormed the palace of King Louis XVI in 1792. Over 600 soldiers died because they were overwhelmed in numbers. The lion is 10 meters by 6 meters and is dedicated "to the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss." The lion is impaled by a spear and has 2 shields, one with the Fleur de Lis of the French monarchy and one with the Swiss coat of arms. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwxQksHKeoOmRhOdZBsNwymIu47xrVXQuB209F3Lh_wvRU06GBPRnTNzO7GobZfGjFeRCeQgGpSRusz_SFUzAU9up3194Jt_TgYiL0grJ8u7ZeRKKmDgq_aKx9LoJ5aHrpb6-hJ1BkQ/s1600/DSC00911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwxQksHKeoOmRhOdZBsNwymIu47xrVXQuB209F3Lh_wvRU06GBPRnTNzO7GobZfGjFeRCeQgGpSRusz_SFUzAU9up3194Jt_TgYiL0grJ8u7ZeRKKmDgq_aKx9LoJ5aHrpb6-hJ1BkQ/s320/DSC00911.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As you can see, he rests in the pretty solemn, gorgeous little area over a little pond. It's a really nice place for some solitude. I really enjoyed this monument.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We then moved on to the Gletschergarten, or Glacier Garden. It was interesting, but a bit of a strange concept. In a ticket to the garden, you were granted access to the covered area, the museum, an old house, and a house of mirrors. It was quite strange. but it was interesting! At this point, I had just about topped out on energy from not really sleeping the night before, so I couldn't really soak up the information that was being thrown at me about glaciers. However, the house of mirrors was plenty entertaining for an exhausted group of poeple! This is my favorite pic from it:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5JM_O4TUywWmoPzf2TIRBUH5OtMjVQfhDCeIdv3VyCEG9I-ybzZoJl_j2oEfCsR089sioCKGKt4DA6Nq9O6LbZlzo6IXF_UFPWS0YhTgH9c91HhVtQ6J6hHRabINjS871qqXPHdkyQ/s1600/DSC00934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5JM_O4TUywWmoPzf2TIRBUH5OtMjVQfhDCeIdv3VyCEG9I-ybzZoJl_j2oEfCsR089sioCKGKt4DA6Nq9O6LbZlzo6IXF_UFPWS0YhTgH9c91HhVtQ6J6hHRabINjS871qqXPHdkyQ/s320/DSC00934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm pretty sure everyone agrees, ONE Ross is plenty. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also visited a couple churches, all completely gorgeous. Mostly baroque in style. This is my favorite:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoEj1i86nWQokaq6ZFhmYSqdl0JVcLaFXBssTa8e3clLUDBFMRMoAUhkUAn7Q_b_uC-DbIPSqVhBeJ10WJxCTN7UHA2avqLaNXDDBn1Fmc2EpYl9m94Y16czCJozOT5ZsRaDPwk5ceA/s1600/DSC00955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXoEj1i86nWQokaq6ZFhmYSqdl0JVcLaFXBssTa8e3clLUDBFMRMoAUhkUAn7Q_b_uC-DbIPSqVhBeJ10WJxCTN7UHA2avqLaNXDDBn1Fmc2EpYl9m94Y16czCJozOT5ZsRaDPwk5ceA/s320/DSC00955.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It said IHS up high on the alter, and I don't know why still, so I've dubbed this church the international horn society church. I also really liked the marble juxtaposed with the white walls and the gold. I think it's my favorite church I've seen here. Honestly, coming from our little synagogue back in Chicagoland, I can't even imagine worshipping in a place so large and decorated. These churches have become something else completely in my mind, they represent more art than anything else. Even though I went to a service in Vienna, it was still more about the art and I actually went for the music because they performed a full Haydn mass. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second day was really all about the hike. However, before the hike, we found an Alphorn shop and we all played some alphorn in the Swiss Alps! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMahFsMl-Zk52MPeJFsotszeuJrE1rNcWAxYvGLwd1IiVWOhQaCxjN9o6ea4DY5oGxVaeBJ0VrydRJ5LJ5L6_C5Tq-Iwy2iooOri8UB0l-dlovYSrbZ-rAedh2rRALX9c-Y0RGrD1kBw/s1600/DSC00977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMahFsMl-Zk52MPeJFsotszeuJrE1rNcWAxYvGLwd1IiVWOhQaCxjN9o6ea4DY5oGxVaeBJ0VrydRJ5LJ5L6_C5Tq-Iwy2iooOri8UB0l-dlovYSrbZ-rAedh2rRALX9c-Y0RGrD1kBw/s320/DSC00977.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is me busting out my trills or maybe my attempt at Strauss 1, but there were not enough notes for it. =P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
His alphorns are really nice and he makes a little design on the end. The cool thing about the design is that he doesn't color any of the wood, he just uses different types of wood to get the colors!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mw-0Q_nKRDJ3V3SLMeTkWofZp130gJvjryLrlh9jF3oDghfezh2roYtysvfo5-rw_SDo3-V5RxQxaPp85TnA0WYgMX0SUglaae3Tr_fiXxRBEaN_8ZnnfdyuBKobzjnjLHp1-lS5Aw/s1600/DSC00971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Mw-0Q_nKRDJ3V3SLMeTkWofZp130gJvjryLrlh9jF3oDghfezh2roYtysvfo5-rw_SDo3-V5RxQxaPp85TnA0WYgMX0SUglaae3Tr_fiXxRBEaN_8ZnnfdyuBKobzjnjLHp1-lS5Aw/s320/DSC00971.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The shop owner also didn't really speak english, so we were all attempting to talk shop with him in German. We made it! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then we began the hike. We hiked up Mount Pilatus, which has an elevation of 2128 meters. I believe we got around the 1200 meter mark. This was by far the most tiring thing I've done since high school basketball. I am not a hiker, and it turned out to be quite difficult! To be fair, I didn't expect it to be a jaunt in the woods. But boy, was it tough. We hiked for about 4 hours, with a break about 2 1/2 hours, when we reached the top of our hike. We ate lunch, which by the way never felt so good. It felt pretty hot for most of the time. We all overdressed and had our coats pulled off and sleeves rolled up. then we reached a point where the climate had definitively changed. There were no more deciduous trees and it felt a lot colder. It was very chilly where we stopped for lunch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0wt01zrAMgnPdwqk1O5HHLRslF85j2TtxvLmIH2m2KHMXVLIh-id4FJTvcTRJ3kVJBdIKy03Wa32AFfDEH7jZUuuqurJbGNwoXgScO3eZlDyVIsaeGDBIrQxq5uFiMW-6QRDmBJ7OQ/s1600/DSC01003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0wt01zrAMgnPdwqk1O5HHLRslF85j2TtxvLmIH2m2KHMXVLIh-id4FJTvcTRJ3kVJBdIKy03Wa32AFfDEH7jZUuuqurJbGNwoXgScO3eZlDyVIsaeGDBIrQxq5uFiMW-6QRDmBJ7OQ/s320/DSC01003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the top of mount pilatus, from our highest point.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AaJttvZL6r-mRRd_HVCj1xzJs4VA_tSO7Sr1a16LmI1wGyYWSzJ9pAOC-qrivVp3hfesJyQcZBiYKNzLGwhByXoJ8aY2s2X2dUJHR840uYN5Ye4SbxZwTPkII_ZMG1IQ9Cpd9OcQ9w/s1600/DSC00988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AaJttvZL6r-mRRd_HVCj1xzJs4VA_tSO7Sr1a16LmI1wGyYWSzJ9pAOC-qrivVp3hfesJyQcZBiYKNzLGwhByXoJ8aY2s2X2dUJHR840uYN5Ye4SbxZwTPkII_ZMG1IQ9Cpd9OcQ9w/s320/DSC00988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the view from the mountain, on our way up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAra7IxK0fuoFwI_PGR0EEA-z1psMJXGN_b3e-U27k9JaHoJ3pmG1pdReYPXcCly4lHa5HyDKhZFfCu6j6y9rJRw8wCT7MqsrmwDd00X_VDNTxu5xKB-TMvx3hW1upn2SOgsVx9kji_Q/s1600/DSC01001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAra7IxK0fuoFwI_PGR0EEA-z1psMJXGN_b3e-U27k9JaHoJ3pmG1pdReYPXcCly4lHa5HyDKhZFfCu6j6y9rJRw8wCT7MqsrmwDd00X_VDNTxu5xKB-TMvx3hW1upn2SOgsVx9kji_Q/s320/DSC01001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is me, at our highest point!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Although I wasn't sure my hips, legs, or ankles would ever function again (they do, don't worry!), it was definitely worth it. It was a great experience and then we went straight home and made very traditional cheese fondue at Sanna's house. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx7OY7hW2datVyOOyIXxTZH8zNtXcLZy2XHyeewTiOUmXsJ9AFxagKCXA_LOCGCWly-poqymhrszCSnufE8Daeha-NLWoFBAhwc4_NCFy-eJvVtpjYags624RuV6J2yBEp_MSOn3h9A/s1600/DSC01022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx7OY7hW2datVyOOyIXxTZH8zNtXcLZy2XHyeewTiOUmXsJ9AFxagKCXA_LOCGCWly-poqymhrszCSnufE8Daeha-NLWoFBAhwc4_NCFy-eJvVtpjYags624RuV6J2yBEp_MSOn3h9A/s320/DSC01022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the group (except Abby!) about to eat fondue! The fondue was really good, but it is so filling and we probably each ate around 200 grams of cheese. I had to stop early, because I couldn't eat that much cheese!!! You almost need something cold to balance out all the hot cheesiness. Nonetheless, it was a great meal after a long hike. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I forgot to mention, we saw a ton of animals throughout Lucerne, but I met this sheep:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs8e3skOoVQXJ4INpoSfE_cFRr6-E91oMU8guh5GtOpUIxtPxI1MR6kyUe_qllPkbVla62-VdMCeRN2LFk5JSwKrnT2Nwrf2_HFLAA094Hw8K_O5SUiLXOEsMUCvQ_3oP7F9k5pGBFQ/s1600/DSC01012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs8e3skOoVQXJ4INpoSfE_cFRr6-E91oMU8guh5GtOpUIxtPxI1MR6kyUe_qllPkbVla62-VdMCeRN2LFk5JSwKrnT2Nwrf2_HFLAA094Hw8K_O5SUiLXOEsMUCvQ_3oP7F9k5pGBFQ/s320/DSC01012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He was letting us pet him and clearly wanted food. He made a little sheep noise every time I pet his head and he felt like a memory foam mattress, which was quite entertaining. Expect he had very dirty memory foam, b/c my hand was clearly dirty from him. I call him Temperpedic.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our last morning in der Schweiz, we made a trip to the Wagner museum. It looked like a very new museum because it seemed to be still having some work done and there wasn't a huge amount there. However, it was very interesting! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ISUSOdE7eC74yywLx8W-DNHkByeTAmJQbmDUcTxhnh_kV8ctMwJBNlV0aS-JY15S03RyJThQ6_yL9730FqyihmBDzBxdYVLBZ6fUuXq9HTmkkA6RzBysu1RTzuzNNjfRSXQmpq6pPw/s1600/DSC01030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ISUSOdE7eC74yywLx8W-DNHkByeTAmJQbmDUcTxhnh_kV8ctMwJBNlV0aS-JY15S03RyJThQ6_yL9730FqyihmBDzBxdYVLBZ6fUuXq9HTmkkA6RzBysu1RTzuzNNjfRSXQmpq6pPw/s320/DSC01030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
He lived here for only about 6 years (if i remember correctly) but in those years, he had a lot of interesting people visit him there. I also hadn't realized that Wagner married Liszt's daughter, Cosima! Although Liszt was a friend of Wagner, he wasn't happy about his daughter marrying him. I watched a portion of a BBC video about Wagner which was very interesting. I may have to look up the rest. There were a lot of original scores, and Siegfried Idyll seemed to be playing endlessly. lol. There were also a bunch of his personal belongings, piano, chair, old photos, etc. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After that weekend... I really needed a weekend to rest ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-2472204693906516202011-10-24T11:02:00.001-07:002011-10-31T03:52:20.808-07:00Feelin' it..Once again, I had a ridiculously busy week and was unable to or just too tired to make a post. UNTIL NOW!<br />
<br />
I
have just completed my midterm for Music History (401). At 7:30 in the
morning when I began my "day-of-test study rush", I was definitely
freaking out. Then I went to a rehearsal of the Vienna Philharmonic
playing Bruckner 7. That calmed my nerves quite a bit because it just
made me so incredibly happy. :) I then had 2 1/2 hours to study (which
I used all of) and sat down and finished the test in under 45 minutes.
It was the easiest test I've taken since.. probably middle school.
Nailed it. Now all I have to finish are my three page long papers for
my philosophy midterm. almost done!!!!!<br />
<br />
So, back to the life in Vienna. There is so much to be said for this past week and weekend.<br />
<br />
On
wednesday, we had a dress rehearsal for performance workshop, and then
immediately after playing, I made a run for the Staatsoper to see my
very first opera in Vienna! (finally!) It was Die Zauberflöte (Magic
Flute) and it was wonderful. Papageno was incredible, great singing and
great acting. Sarastro had the most amazing voice and Pamina was
phenomenal as well. The Queen of the Night was not the best I had
heard, but everything else was wonderful. It was a great experience. I
was in the standing room, so there are these railings that you can lean
on, but unfortunately for me, the man in front of me was leaning back
and the girls behind me were leaning forward, so I was kind of forced to
just stand. The translators are also on the railings, so you have to
look down to read and then up to watch.. it's a little confusing, but
I'm glad I had the English to read! I had never actually seen Magic
Flute, I've only played in the pit at IU! So, it was really nice to be
able to see a production live.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoDy0ZDlTj6HUGezQQ1pmRtfW2jw2OL_yKfzDi44T7kV5Ak3A3DqbItycc7VhD2OS8_EiAJrgoyJ2ivVQDFhWF4Qead5V4sSXYW9XE6dQwbAGoZr3fNgifBk4a76lBrKbklHw1-YunQ/s1600/DSC00830.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoDy0ZDlTj6HUGezQQ1pmRtfW2jw2OL_yKfzDi44T7kV5Ak3A3DqbItycc7VhD2OS8_EiAJrgoyJ2ivVQDFhWF4Qead5V4sSXYW9XE6dQwbAGoZr3fNgifBk4a76lBrKbklHw1-YunQ/s320/DSC00830.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cast :) Yes, that is a giraffe in the corner. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thursday, we had our first IES
concert of the semester, which was lovely. I only played one piece, but
it was very fun. I led the ensemble of 5 horns and 3 trombones in
Wagner's Pilgerchor from Tannhäuser. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN340aDb_3eqs3nYbrsBwhZh0WzdfpEj1i3RKBhEZ0TEw24ZtkZ01Nins6BP_bmJF5n9tTVxyrBEYtsE6Mi3cMBxo8WgtCapkA7gHLxJWOX__lN21ZgFCOD0_wgB7VI-Q8d2X6nbtxZg/s1600/DSC00837.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN340aDb_3eqs3nYbrsBwhZh0WzdfpEj1i3RKBhEZ0TEw24ZtkZ01Nins6BP_bmJF5n9tTVxyrBEYtsE6Mi3cMBxo8WgtCapkA7gHLxJWOX__lN21ZgFCOD0_wgB7VI-Q8d2X6nbtxZg/s320/DSC00837.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Then
immediately after playing, Blair (on my left) and I ran to the
Musikverein to see Daniel Barenboim give a recital of all Schubert. I
believe he played Schubert's 4 impromptus (not sure which one maybe
Op.142) and Schubert Sonata. It may have been the most amazing concert
I've seen in Vienna, or maybe ever? I can't even describe how it feels
to see someone who I've watched on youtube and videos and adored from
afar, live on stage, in the same hall as me. The entire time I couldn't
get over the fact that Daniel Barenboim was right in front of me. It
was just as I had imagined and then some. It was the smoothest playing I
had ever heard from a piano. He plays everything so evenly, nothing
pops out of the texture that isn't meant to. His balancing of all the
voices was perfect, it's no wonder his orchestras are always perfectly
balanced! He obviously pays very close attention to that. It was also
just the most music making I've heard from anyone in a long time. His
phrases never ended (in a good way), they just kept flowing and certain
notes were accented, but the line kept going and remained interesting
and never bumpy or flat. I was just amazed. I was also kind of bummed
that he didn't do an encore!! He walked back onstage 5 times and still
no encore. :( But it was a wonderful night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU2PRYHstSisKCDh0aGUo1igKZjG84qS1YLfsEDCRnVlkG05HF0EiVFPcS0MOHmjK7_Lcl-_62v7ESixbcP9Dbz_9K3My0BjrIqxngQNnwO-hD456hgseaGxoYK-QB_9Squo83HpT0w/s1600/DSC00841.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU2PRYHstSisKCDh0aGUo1igKZjG84qS1YLfsEDCRnVlkG05HF0EiVFPcS0MOHmjK7_Lcl-_62v7ESixbcP9Dbz_9K3My0BjrIqxngQNnwO-hD456hgseaGxoYK-QB_9Squo83HpT0w/s320/DSC00841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkU2PRYHstSisKCDh0aGUo1igKZjG84qS1YLfsEDCRnVlkG05HF0EiVFPcS0MOHmjK7_Lcl-_62v7ESixbcP9Dbz_9K3My0BjrIqxngQNnwO-hD456hgseaGxoYK-QB_9Squo83HpT0w/s1600/DSC00841.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friday=study.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday
was my german midterm, which kicked me in the butt. hard. So, we'll
see how that turned out. But then my day was revived by Wolfgang!
Wolfgang invited me to sit in the pit of the Staatsoper for Strauß's
Salome! It was amazing!!!!! This is one of those experiences that you
can't have anywhere else!!! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kjdi-06s87fJhWne-3_c_mzXrDZ3fdhcF9fXYOX-hZ8S3cQMTUlwub6CDqJVMwhOOiSk-tB1seVOf1inAFIZz_K081ZSxrduhQdbQVBsI3Gz3y-dyDP0rfDneyRZsrB7rnAUCm3QSw/s1600/DSC00845.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Kjdi-06s87fJhWne-3_c_mzXrDZ3fdhcF9fXYOX-hZ8S3cQMTUlwub6CDqJVMwhOOiSk-tB1seVOf1inAFIZz_K081ZSxrduhQdbQVBsI3Gz3y-dyDP0rfDneyRZsrB7rnAUCm3QSw/s320/DSC00845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This
was my view :) I sat behind the harps, who sat behind the horns. It
was gloriously loud. Ross and Ryan actually said the orchestra was a
little overpowering for the singers, but I thought it was marvelous.
hahaha. The horns sounded amazing. Wolfgang played 3rd, as usual, and
he was great. The low horn were super solid too. The first horn
cracked a few high notes, but not a whole lot. They play almost the
entire 2 hours!!! It was insane!!! They also have a really strange set up in the pit. the order of horns was (L-R) 4,3,2,1,5,6. It was odd, but I guess it works!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, it's been
quite an amazing week. I need to get a LOT of practice in this week
because I'm going to Switzerland this weekend!!!! :D </div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Maybe it seems
like a really obvious realization, but I really like living in Vienna. I
can't get enough of what I'm getting to do here! Sure, I don't mind
taking my IU classes again and I can't wait to play in IU ensembles and
see see my studio and all my friends again. But on the other hand, I
really don't want to leave behind these opportunities. I want to
continue sitting in the pit for operas! I want to stand in the standing
room for concerts of orchestras from a different country every night
and see amazingly famous conductors and soloists playing incredible
music!!!!! I don't want to leave this ever. I want to have lessons in
the Staatsoper and walk out into a city filled with incredible musical
opportunities! I never want to give up the feeling I have here.. it's
just a combination of gratitude towards my parents and my life for
getting this opportuniy, motivation to work way harder than ever before
so that I can make it, gratification that I'm getting as much out of
this as I can, and just pure utter joy. Truly indescribable though.. I
know now that it's going to be hard to leave Vienna.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-61263436762275183682011-10-17T04:00:00.000-07:002011-10-17T04:00:34.367-07:00Halfway mark.Wow! I hadn't realized how long it's been since I posted last, but I was incredibly busy this entire week and weekend!<br />
<br />
I think I forgot to write about one of the concerts.. but i don't remember. Here's the latest:<br />
<br />
Mahler Symphony No. 7 with the Wiener Symphoniker. This was a very impressive concert. I had only heard them on mendelssohn and mozart, so I wasn't sure what would happen, but it was solid! The horns were powerful and had a great blended sound. The strings were great, the woodwinds were solid. The trombones had a nice powerful sound, the tenor horn was good. He was a little sharp on some of the solo notes, but he really got the character down. Trumpets were the most powerful of the brass, they reeeeally cut through everything else and were riding the orchestra. They are still not the sound that I'm used to in the states b/c they're rotary, but man were they strong. They got tired for the high notes in the last movement, but they squeezed them out. The one big thing that I was dying for the entire time was SUSTAIN. It was just not there. Longer phraaaaaases. keep goingggggggg!!! pleeeeeeease!! But it was a very fun concert to attend!<br />
<br />
I was supposed to see Die Zauberflöte the next night, but I got a migrane and decided it was a horrible idea to try to stand for 3 1/2 hours for an opera. haha. So, I'll go on wednesday and tell you about it then!!<br />
<br />
I went to Salzburg this weekend! The highlights include:<br />
-climbing up to the Fortress for the absolutely gorgeous view of the city<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aQeZBzoHEqvBZib7cD6QS2jvdJJNcsbuPMVGErtsy7TTdbi5iUzeLmsfOPgJlKfiEg6GMhQDaaCvYgE5HZQHbdHBmLYvMKPLalrlXzjZjc0TNZBje43sDubVAOIAfa9LxHHCGW4V4A/s1600/DSC00717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aQeZBzoHEqvBZib7cD6QS2jvdJJNcsbuPMVGErtsy7TTdbi5iUzeLmsfOPgJlKfiEg6GMhQDaaCvYgE5HZQHbdHBmLYvMKPLalrlXzjZjc0TNZBje43sDubVAOIAfa9LxHHCGW4V4A/s320/DSC00717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
-eating orginal Mozart Kugeln<br />
<br />
-going to my first Brauerei (brewery)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaR-yx2DrUhv4K2zAE_beLUfcMNBudhR3-xaECxfp3C_dBD0Iq8QlRoaqbvplPHTe7YOaMIDNHPXbaod2VAnbZ7x_MoPMiab0SjuUcjppP1sG1iylb0t_o_rCMk4KljqtnpY4AYG1Xw/s1600/DSC00745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaR-yx2DrUhv4K2zAE_beLUfcMNBudhR3-xaECxfp3C_dBD0Iq8QlRoaqbvplPHTe7YOaMIDNHPXbaod2VAnbZ7x_MoPMiab0SjuUcjppP1sG1iylb0t_o_rCMk4KljqtnpY4AYG1Xw/s320/DSC00745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
-a quick stop at Mozart's wohnhaus (apartment), and a longer stop at his Geburtshaus (birthhouse). I actually stood in the room that Mozart was born in (below)! and I wasn't supposed to take any of the picture I took! I only got yelled at once though :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzQ0TBUfH3UIuqPHrs4bBYgvUQs6Fagq7pDILfMcybVaHJeleSXfZwB6gst0II5i2PKAZLt3AonPrAPn2eDTYwh0XgWHiIROIsAa0XCwjsAhQYCoMOn_t7hMh-9YoZF0aHE-x3KKBMQ/s1600/DSC00813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzQ0TBUfH3UIuqPHrs4bBYgvUQs6Fagq7pDILfMcybVaHJeleSXfZwB6gst0II5i2PKAZLt3AonPrAPn2eDTYwh0XgWHiIROIsAa0XCwjsAhQYCoMOn_t7hMh-9YoZF0aHE-x3KKBMQ/s320/DSC00813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This museum was really cool. There was so much information and interesting things there. They had a bunch of mini sets to his operas, scores from his music, letters to and from his family members (One of the letters was really adorable and you could tell how much he really cared for his wife, Constanze. It was very sweet.), the actual piano that he composed Magic flute, and the Requiem on, and lots of other interesting things from the time.<br />
<br />
-seeing many amazingly beautiful baroque cathedrals (This one is St. Peter's cathedral) (i hope.. there were a lot)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6auKsqc7C1zW76jy-DSPzqIzupUcBjpo2kLEU8HWxKonrPG8zgo82BpANxeQzW8vJgr-A5Alo2urVGOvm-8s-XSkaL3Sr9R69mcRwVudtnEglrfmBqegc3-6tCJpXjzYJiSCwLb7Ypw/s1600/DSC00690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6auKsqc7C1zW76jy-DSPzqIzupUcBjpo2kLEU8HWxKonrPG8zgo82BpANxeQzW8vJgr-A5Alo2urVGOvm-8s-XSkaL3Sr9R69mcRwVudtnEglrfmBqegc3-6tCJpXjzYJiSCwLb7Ypw/s320/DSC00690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
-hearing Mozart's C-minor Mass (in that cathedral ^^)<br />
-seeing several places from the Sound of Music movie including the gazebo where the song "16 going on 17" is sung, the fountain where they sing "Do, a Deer", and the cemetery where they hide at the end.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKCIINNKHiK8tRpnMox8z_MhxphCOejwVrOr15EPZv2OA93PIeF8tW_4_IjYpuEYLdcyPtTVeJt1zjWSA4M85wSbvxCgKk6BDkXzv567_DoC-VNLcYxvMBFjC0L70O5qNe0mFOFigIw/s1600/DSC00768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKCIINNKHiK8tRpnMox8z_MhxphCOejwVrOr15EPZv2OA93PIeF8tW_4_IjYpuEYLdcyPtTVeJt1zjWSA4M85wSbvxCgKk6BDkXzv567_DoC-VNLcYxvMBFjC0L70O5qNe0mFOFigIw/s320/DSC00768.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As we get back into Vienna, I prepare for a week of excitement! This is what's on my plate:<br />
<br />
STUDY. german midterm saturday, music history midterm and philosophy midterm paper due next monday.<br />
PRACTICE. lesson #4 on wednesday, dress rehearsal for our first IES concert, Die Zauberflöte at the Staatsoper, thursday is our IES concert (leading the Tannhäuser for 5 horns, 3 tbones), Daniel Barenboim at the Musikverein, and friday is a Palatschinken party!!!! <br />
<br />
As I continue to plan things like crazy, attempt getting all my homework done, and do everything I want to do, the weeks begin to go by quicker than ever. It was just yesterday that it was "already friday".. nope that was 2 weeks ago that I felt like that. Now it's already 2 weeks later!! If you understand that thought process, you understand how crazy it feels. I've planned out most of the last 2 months. Today is officially the halfway point. Aug. 17th we arrived. Today is Oct. 17th. We leave Dec. 17th. Not to give anything away, but this is the temporary plan for the weekends that are left:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div>
</div>
<div>
Vienna (for midterms), Salome backstage behind the horns!!!!</div>
<div>
midterm week, because I'm done after monday! Vienna phil rehearsals monday/tuesday!!! Poland or Rome?</div>
<div>
Vienna</div>
<div>
Italy- Lesson with Luca!</div>
<div>
Vienna- parents arrive on sunday!!!</div>
<div>
Ski trip</div>
<div>
Vienna- Solo Recital for anyone who wants to perform (aka me!)</div>
<div>
Berlin- Lesson with Sarah Willis!!</div>
<div>
Chicago!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Lots to do.. not much time to do it in... I'm ready!!! </div>
</span></span>Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-54905411135544389602011-10-09T14:09:00.000-07:002011-10-09T14:09:36.919-07:00Feels like home :)This evening I returned from my first excursion outside of Vienna (other than Carnuntum). I still haven't left Austria, but that will happen in time. <br />
<br />
The trip was full of good company, long bus rides, and open air museum, roasted chestnuts, lots of stairs, gorgeous views, a wine festival, a dog named Jamie, lots of vineyards, lederhosen and dirndls, and some really good food. I actually ate a Berliner. I had to get it just because of the quote "Ich bin ein Berliner." from a speech by JFK underlining the US's support for West Germany. Unfortunately, it turns out that the whole thing was a misconception and it is in fact gramatically correct. He did not say that he was a jelly donut.<br />
<br />
So, there actually isn't that many interesting things to say about this weekend and my camera died halfway through the second day. However, as we drove through the streets of Vienna on the return trip, recognizing the streets and the stores, and the neighborhoods, it became very real to me that this feels like home. We stepped out of the bus, I was bundled up in my winter jacket, scarf, and new glittens, and it was cold. It made me feel more at home now that the weather is recognizable. Cold weather really is something that I enjoy. Being all bundled up and cozy, until it gets so cold that your face is slightly burning, is a really nice comfort and reminder of home. As much as I miss Chicago and Indiana, Vienna is really becoming my home now. I think this excursion has really helped me realize how much I appreciate the opportunities that I'm a part of here. <br />
<br />
I can't wait for some more weekend trips.. if only for the feeling I get upon return to Vienna :)Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-60836613795150232192011-10-03T01:58:00.000-07:002011-10-03T01:58:13.450-07:00InspirationVienna is wonderful :)<br />
<br />
<div>
Thursday, my german class took a fieldtrip to the National Library here in Vienna. As my roommate and I were walking there, we passed this man with dark curly hair. We exchanged glances and I kept walking. Then we heard, "Excuse me, are you from France?" I turned around and it was this man, very obviously a frenchman from his accent. "No, I said, we're from America. Massachusetts and Chicago." He told us we looked very French, trés chic! We said merci :) A frenchman thought we were french. cool! The library was very cool too. haha. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_92jMyTo4jqXD3jL6dBCu08v7U4PB9yoW3mGgYMmKoK6jbhXn4V41HhdlcifAeScUmTr2itlijP1eXWOPNnvqzloUlo5LiP-uP3jXdXAf1F0CS4LxSGQdNQnhyphenhyphen3M7OMmkSCESiOKEg/s1600/DSC00526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_92jMyTo4jqXD3jL6dBCu08v7U4PB9yoW3mGgYMmKoK6jbhXn4V41HhdlcifAeScUmTr2itlijP1eXWOPNnvqzloUlo5LiP-uP3jXdXAf1F0CS4LxSGQdNQnhyphenhyphen3M7OMmkSCESiOKEg/s320/DSC00526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the library. It's amazing. They gave us a tour. auf Deutsch. I realized (once again) that need a bigger german vocabulary...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I was also fortunate enough on Thursday to hear the Mozart Orchestra with Claudio Abbado conducting! They played the overture to "Italian in Algiers", Mozart Haffner Symphony, and Mendelssohn's 4th, "the Italian Symphony". This was all followed by an encore of the overture to The Barber of Seville. This was a magnificent concert. Claudio Abbado is unbelievable and quite gratifying to watch. He just does it right. The orchestra was quite good and I think this may have been the most interesting performance of a Mozart symphony that I've ever heard. It was far more exciting that any other orchestra I've seen perform Mozart (and I've seen the CSO do it!). They really kept the energy up in all the pieces. The horns sounded really nice, however this concert was not as telling as, say, Shostakovich's 5th Symphony perhaps. :) They did a nice job of balancing together and not overpowering the strings. None of these pieces really have big horn parts. The encore had the biggest horn solo of the night, which was quite good, but there was really no loud playing in the concert. There's a lot to be said about the versatility of a horn section, but since all of this music was in the same general, light, blended style, or soft pretty solos, I can't critique all types of their playing. The woodwinds also sounded really nice, but I think again, I liked the strings the most. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Friday was dedicated to a Deutsche Prüfung (german test), a lecture on the history of the Vienna Phil, a Mozart Trio rehearsal, and my first lesson with Wolfgang Vladar. The lecture, given by Bill McElheney, retired 2nd trombonist of the Vienna Phil, was incredibly interesting and informative. I really enjoyed it and I think I learned a lot. The trio rehearsal was just a run through, but I hit 2 out of 3 of the high C's, so I felt accomplished. :D And more on my lesson will soon be in my <a href="http://jamieonhorn.blogspot.com/">horn blog!</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On saturday night, I went to another concert, this time it was Brahms "Nänie", a piece by Szymanovsky (sp?), Ives "The Unanswered Question, and Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. The Brahms was really beautiful, of course, and the choir was quite good. It was difficult to decide whether I liked the orchestra or maybe more the conductor, from the first couple pieces because they were so modern (other than the Brahms). They played them well, but it was just difficult to tell what it was supposed to sound like at times, so instead of trying to think about the quality of orchestra, you move past that and assume they are doing it the way it's meant, and instead think of the music only. Think about what the composer is trying to say with the piece. It was a pretty solemn concert, as it was all centered around death. The Schubert was really nice. I always forget how much I love that piece. I think it was a very good piece to end with, as it was much more uplifting. I really liked the strings, again, and the orchestra as a whole had a nice blend. The horns (yes! I'm going to talk about them again!) were very good. I really liked their sound and the phrasing and the solos were beautiful. It may have been because of the overhang in the standing room, but I thought there was some balance problems when the orchestra played the louder sections of the Schubert. It didn't sound quite as regal and grand as I was listening for. It also might be a european concept also to have less sustain in sections like that. It sounded as if the horns were backing away from the long notes in the louder sections, which I wouldn't chose to do. Also, specifically, the clarinet solos were gorgeous. I really enjoyed this concert. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I forgot to mention a little occurrence from last week, on tuesday. I was walking through the Ubahn station with a new friend living in Vienna, and out of the U1 and U2 area, appears two Polizei officers rigorously restraining a drunk (?) man with absolutely NO pants. Karlsplatz seems to be a bit of a sketchy station. It was a bit of a damaging experience. lol. Oh, the crazy things that happen in Vienna! (Although I'm sure this would happen in NY or Chicago too..)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Something I noticed since I've been going to practice at 6 and coming back at 7:30 or 8, is when I walk back there is repeatedly a man sitting alone in the park with a beer. Let me remind you again, I walk back at 7:30 usually! He shows up every morning with a beer around 7 in the morning! lol! Vienna! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Oh Vienna. You seem to have a way of making me appreciate life more than ever. So many things in my life have changed while being here or because I came here and I've realized so much about myself and life. I feel so much more aware and prepared for everything that may come my way. I've had times when I get an email from Jeff and suddenly tears well up in my eyes and I miss everyone at home so much. Then I have a lesson with a horn player in the Vienna Philharmonic and he spends two hours teaching and talking to me. Being inspired is a really special emotion that is truly like nothing else. I walked out into the city after my last lesson and I couldn't stop smiling, I had this overwhelming desire to lay in the grass and look at the stars and just enjoy the state of utter inspiration. I felt empowered to succeed at anything. Oh Vienna...</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-1191531289517042452011-09-28T11:04:00.000-07:002011-10-03T00:52:00.334-07:00Blurb- 2/3 of the journey still left :)40 days have past since arriving in europe and 80 days are left for the taking. And there is lots of taking to be done. :)<br />
<br />
Operas that I will be seeing in the next 80 days:<br />
La Traviata<br />
Madame Butterfly<br />
The Magic Flute<br />
Salome<br />
Fidelio<br />
Barber of Seville<br />
The Ring Cycle (Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Sigfried, Götterdämerung)<br />
Tannhäuser<br />
La Boheme<br />
Der Rosenkavalier!!!!!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is what Vienna looks like when I get up to practice at 6 :) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rbKUfK6RyWJ-g_ys3ZEtQ4rNw67YrDnIBmA_l3b8Ib183l7IwFvA_FiM1xrMvf0GyFuNKd4A5QY3zGOm4CbzBjmhdjZC2-NxsF9GekC3tsCHvQRFF9q-GQcF1S7uCmGStQM_QpnEFA/s1600/DSC00503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rbKUfK6RyWJ-g_ys3ZEtQ4rNw67YrDnIBmA_l3b8Ib183l7IwFvA_FiM1xrMvf0GyFuNKd4A5QY3zGOm4CbzBjmhdjZC2-NxsF9GekC3tsCHvQRFF9q-GQcF1S7uCmGStQM_QpnEFA/s320/DSC00503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
silence except for the pigeons..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is what it looks like when I go back after practicing!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsIh7BaMOVekv2vfKedE2mLZX0bKn2D5XpSBEDWVs57T8gse90CMXiPPxICm0CVRSsxRvqSvRPJ5Kr5uloQmTgjtPGHX9UDfPH63O4CmKkNZriS_cB2OSv0A0TQvdGPrlAvh9uuIIRA/s1600/DSC00504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsIh7BaMOVekv2vfKedE2mLZX0bKn2D5XpSBEDWVs57T8gse90CMXiPPxICm0CVRSsxRvqSvRPJ5Kr5uloQmTgjtPGHX9UDfPH63O4CmKkNZriS_cB2OSv0A0TQvdGPrlAvh9uuIIRA/s320/DSC00504.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Random Observations/Facts:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Did I mention that the transportation system here is based almost completely on the trust system? I forgot to buy a ticket this week for the subway for instance, and nothing happened. oops, yea I'll get one tomorrow! But you only show your ticket if you are stopped by the Polizei, which happens sometimes when you get off the subway. They stop a group of people and check them all, but it rarely happens. I've never been checked! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Turns out Sunday is an "all day quiet hours" day. How are their musicians so good if they can't practice SO often?? I despise these noise restrictions :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Daniel Barenboim is going to be giving a recital in Vienna. I'm so there. No matter what else is on that day (aka our first IES concert). ha! I might be sick that night...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Soundproof practice rooms are tiny and sound horrible when you play in them, but they actually are going me a lot of good. I sounded 10x better when I played in a live room afterwards. :D yea! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwOYpHCUfKc7dKTRKNTC9Dc_7CwvbHX3mboPyT-lGbH2VXVGYE-Db1zy59LZnh7jn6e-WdB0IrjblHtkLkyPHebrjfmVXBBGfjg_XmkrDn3m7aZ7v6CT-76fX2CE5ZWFo_1tl2-0WYA/s1600/DSC00501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwOYpHCUfKc7dKTRKNTC9Dc_7CwvbHX3mboPyT-lGbH2VXVGYE-Db1zy59LZnh7jn6e-WdB0IrjblHtkLkyPHebrjfmVXBBGfjg_XmkrDn3m7aZ7v6CT-76fX2CE5ZWFo_1tl2-0WYA/s320/DSC00501.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
More things that are hard/impossible to find in Vienna:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-hard shell tacos (we all miss mexican food)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-boxes of mac n cheese (a staple of my american life)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
-brown sugar (baking necessity!!!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And now I leave you to go celebrate Ryan's 21st Birthday :) yeaaaaaa! it's a wednesday.... :D</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-27107443385185056472011-09-25T14:42:00.000-07:002011-09-28T10:42:21.337-07:00Baby's First Russian OrchestraTheresa, Ross, Marion (language buddy), and I went to the Musikverein this evening to see a concert of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow. The Program included the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. I've been working on my critical listening skills, as you can tell from my analysis of the Wiener Philharmoniker. :) It's good for me!<br />
<br />
This orchestra, also called Tchaikovsky Symphony of Moscow Radio Orchestra, was established in 1930 and the conductor, Vladimir Fedoseyev has been with them since 1974.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8UDfjVemgiSSXF1NNGCCzEN0h6A_1gJFW3MeL_Z0wdphIh8zO98g1WfLX4OegesWT0Xc3WYqhgf2TZ1NqBJecZ4JFJt6G9QPN5HRzUmrbnRBJm29_C3HETxpLHXGuArCXyAtE7nNWQ/s1600/DSC00498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8UDfjVemgiSSXF1NNGCCzEN0h6A_1gJFW3MeL_Z0wdphIh8zO98g1WfLX4OegesWT0Xc3WYqhgf2TZ1NqBJecZ4JFJt6G9QPN5HRzUmrbnRBJm29_C3HETxpLHXGuArCXyAtE7nNWQ/s320/DSC00498.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The soloist, Arabella Steinbacher, was quite good to my ears. She's been a rising start since 2004, when she stepped in for someone who was ill and unable to play the Beethoven Violin Concerto. She didn't push the concertmaster of Cleveland out of my mind though.. but what do I know about strings? I really enjoyed her performance though. She played really smoothly and had a beautiful sound on every note, even the really high ones came out perfect! I couldn't quite figure out what I was hearing that sounded different in the string sections from what I'm used to. I think I was hearing a fast vibrato going on, but I could be confused. I also was hearing a "higher" sound, if you know what I'm talking about. If I was talking about horn, I'd say it wasn't very dark. The strings had a really nice section blend, they were very together too. The one thing that really surprised me in the Tchaikovsky was the 2nd trumpet. He was playing enormously loud in comparison to the first trumpet. It sounded a little immature in terms of balance. I could barely hear the first trumpet!<br />
<br />
Transitioning to the Shostakovich..<br />
<br />
The trumpets also had a very nasal type of sound with very harsh articulations in the Shosty. They were obviously very good players. It was a little overly full of character for my taste, but it was definitely the right style for Shostakovich. The trombones sounded good, I liked their sound and they played with a lot of power in general. The tuba was the same. They both had less sustain than Chicago, and I thought the trombones got a little excited and out of control in the 4th movement. Perhaps it was the distance from the stage and the fact that I was under the lip, but the woodwinds were very quiet in comparison and I couldn't always here their solos as well I would have liked. The flute also played incredibly smoothly, but I couldn't hear a lot of phrasing, it was just a completely smooth line with almost no dynamic change for all of her solos. But that could be due to my placement in the hall as well. The orchestra as a whole had a lot of balance issues to my ear. There were a lot of parts when I couldn't hear the solo or soli and I was hearing more of the accompaniment. The beginning of the 4th movement had the clarinet or flute overpowering the brass. I think the conductor could have done a better job of fixing these things. He also took the piece generally quicker than I prefer it to go. <br />
<br />
And of course, the horns need their own paragraph..<br />
<br />
For some reason, it had completely caught me by surprise at the first solo entrance when I heard the obvious Russian vibrato! I had completely forgot about it and wasn't expecting it! It's not my style, but it was cool hearing in real life! After taking that out of the equation... They had a very open, mellow sound. I don't like to use the word dark if I can get away with it, but if it helps, it was a dark sound, but unlike any that I've heard before. They never got loud enough for my taste, and they never had any brassiness in their sound. Being truly critical, because I'm used to CSO, the solos were not up to par with Chicago, Vienna, or New York (the big 3 that I've heard live). The trouble that I've always had with the solo in the last movement was where to breathe without breaking the line. This wasn't a problem for this solo horn because he cut a few of the notes short. He didn't play it with the connected line that I've always gone for, it was a nice tone though.<br />
<br />
Overall, it was a very interesting experience! I'm really glad I'm getting to hear so many different approaches to orchestral playing! It's really exciting to start being able to hear what I really want to sound like and pick out things from each player that I like or dislike and add it to my idea of what I'm going after. Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-92233203314985223282011-09-23T12:22:00.000-07:002011-09-23T12:22:34.466-07:00oh, how time flies...!It's the end of week one! Finally! It's been a wipe out week of first classes, organizing, scheduling, weather changes, and of course... PRACTICING!<br />
<br />
Here's a long one :) <br />
<br />
School:<br />
<br />
Classes seem like they're going to be great. I'm a little exhausted with my Deutsch class because my teacher, Frau Johnson, still expects us to just know things already and have the "Deutsche feeling" for some things that don't have grammatical rules; you can just feel that it's right or wrong. Philosophy is great, and it's only Monday and Tuesday, so not a whole lot to worry about there and it's incredibly engaging. Music history has a lot of reading and listening and writing, etc. but I'm learning.. and hopefully we will move beyond Gregorian chant soon.. ? <br />
<br />
Ensemble:<br />
<br />
Performance workshop. This is the most unorganized class I've ever been a part of. I understand that it's difficult to organize a bunch of musical groups with random instrumentation with 4 different coaches, however, the whole this is such a mess. The brass is working with Bill McElheney, former 2nd trombonist of the Wiener Philharmoniker. He's a really nice guy, from Tennessee I believe. For the first 3 or 4 weeks, we are having a masterclass setting on Wednesday evenings where we have a couple people play a solo and he and we give comments. It's just an opportunity for us to get more performance experience. We are also starting rehearsals for the groups that we've been put in. I'm playing a piece by Franz Lachner, for soprano, horn, and piano, a Mozart trio for 2 horns and Flute, and the Finale from the Brahms trio. I'm going to lobby for the 3rd movement as well. What's the 4th without the 3rd?! (or the rest...) I'm not sure when I'm rehearsing these or performing them. All I know is that it will happen sometime, so I should start to learn the music. I'm so used to having the entire schedule at the beginning of the semester (thanks IU! <3), so this is a little perturbing, but I'll make it out alive. I think. <br />
<br />
Horn:<br />
<br />
I'm really glad I'm not going to Oktoberfest so that I can practice diligently without a break. It's also very expensive and I have so many other places that I really know I want to go! Anyway, I had my 2nd lesson with Manuel a few hours ago and it went really well again. He's a really funny guy. I asked him if he does a warm-up or exercises (übungen) because he's so good and he told me, "No, not really, I play lots of staccato scales. I think this is good." I said, "You must do something more, how are you so good?" He replied, "I don't know, I'm not good!" Nein. Das ist falsch. He's bringing übungen for me next week. lol. Today I played for him the 3nd and 4th movements of the Brahms trio. I will write about this in my <a href="http://jamieonhorn.blogspot.com/">horn blog</a> so as not to bore the non-music readers ;) He's also going to let me go to more rehearsals, and even said my parents could come when they're visiting! I'm so excited because that rehearsal was by far the best part of my week. Overall, he says I sound very good. Next week, he will be in Altösterreich, another region, so I asked if I could get a lesson with Wolfgang Vladar, the horn play that Jenny Smoak and Darcie Kozlowski (i think?) studied with when they were here!! Very exciting!! Manuel said Wolfgang's english is better than his. haha. By the end of this semester, I'll find out how he's so good though, I'm determined. :)<br />
<br />
Etc:<br />
<br />
A guy smiled at me while he walked by me the other day. He was the first one the entire semester! It threw me off so much, I gave him a confused "oh wait, smile" look in return. haha. As I said in earlier posts, it's not really normal to smile at people and I've had a lot of trouble not smiling as I pass people. I've gotten used to people just kind of staring. It was a nice change of pace. :)<br />
<br />
<br />
My new favorite food is officially.... eggplant! nöm! :D I put some in my stir fry tonight!<br />
<br />
I met my language buddy! Her name is Marion and she is really cool. I definitely picked a good one. She's studying english, education, and music. She plays blockflöte (recorder!) and wants to be an english teacher. Her english is very good. We met at Stephansdom (the biggest/most famous church in Vienna that my school is 5 minutes from) and we had pizza (she is vegetarian) and gelato. She taught me how to order correctly. yay! Then she took me to see the Naturhistorisches Museum, which we will go to sometime and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. We walked around a little bit, I showed her my school, and she told me some places that I could get some cheaper clothes. She's coming with to the Musikverein this sunday to see Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and Shostakovich 5th! So excited!<br />
<br />
It's getting colder here!!!!! It's crazy how suddenly the temperature changed, but here comes fall! :D<br />
<br />
So, ahead of me waits this concert on Sunday, another concert on Thursday (Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony and Mozart's Haffner Symphony) with Claudio Abbado!!!!! In real life!!!!! OMG!!!!!! I love the music scene in the city... Vienna is amazing. <br />
<br />
As I finished my first week of classes here in Vienna, I suddenly realized that I've been here for over a month. This realization generated another realization that I never thought I'd actually have: this semester abroad is going by incredibly fast. My time here is over 25% complete and I feel like it's just begun still. Normally this is the time where the abroad student says, "Now I'm really going to take advantage of what I've got here, it's truly an experience of a lifetime that not everyone gets! It's time to squeeze the juice! (IES joke <3 kent)" However, I'm not that student. I'm really proud and happy to say that I really have been living the life here. I'm doing exactly what I came here to do: play horn, experience the European music scene, explore Vienna, and become more culturally adept. <br />
<br />
Alles gut Heute in Wien :) Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-2996895648747405702011-09-20T14:39:00.000-07:002011-09-20T14:39:29.591-07:00Meine ersten zwei Tage :)My first two days were amazing!!!!!! <br />
<br />
Monday may have been the best day ever possible.. we'll see :)<br />
<br />
Mein Montag:<br />
6:30- Horn Yoga/Routine practice stuff<br />
8:00- Shower, become a real person by 9:00<br />
9:30- Search desperately for the Wiener Phil ticket box that Manuel showed me. However, being the directionally challenged person that I am (in this case depth perceptionally challenged), it took my 20 minutes of wandering around to find it. Turned out I just didn't walk quite far enough on the street...<br />
10:00- VIENNA PHILHARMONIC REHEARSAL OF BRUCKNER's 4TH SYMPHONY. aka. highlight of my day :D<br />
1:00- After being thoroughly inspired, practice some more. then eat a bit<br />
3:00- 401, music history<br />
3:45- After being let out 2 hours early, I used my time wisely and read half of the required reading for wednesday.<br />
6:20- Cross Cultures Philosophy. WOW. My teacher's a genius.<br />
8:00- Go home. Dinner. Practice. Bed.<br />
<br />
BEST DAY EVER!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4y23633JmhxpsQT1P_w4QeDUvTq0W07MxfnDRbaSCffIK5_yTDfuaLZcqHY7ecj1-j_C2tboZq_d39_96qd6fPRXiV-OkzJo9d47VCD9vcTevetu7Mn4rvU7u57v5L7bGNQeY7crQg/s1600/DSC00491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4y23633JmhxpsQT1P_w4QeDUvTq0W07MxfnDRbaSCffIK5_yTDfuaLZcqHY7ecj1-j_C2tboZq_d39_96qd6fPRXiV-OkzJo9d47VCD9vcTevetu7Mn4rvU7u57v5L7bGNQeY7crQg/s320/DSC00491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That's the horn section, with some strings in the way =P (jk!! i promise!)</div>
<br />
The Rehearsal was so incredible. They can really play, that much is obvious though. Maybe I should tell you what's not obvious. They really know their hall. They sounded amazing in there. They are an amazing powerful brass section. When Chicago play here, the trombones were too loud, and not really in a good way unfortunately. It's not their hall, they're not used to it, no big deal. Vienna knows their hall and you can tell. I sat in the middle of the hall instead of under the overhang in the Stehplatz, so it was much more resonant. Oh, and I'm pretty sure it was Christoph Eschenbach conducting, almost positive actually. He was great, I couldn't really understand what he was saying to them, but he made some good changed. He would sometimes sing what they were doing, and then sing what he wanted them to do. Then it was really obvious. He actually asked them for more sustain once. The tuba sounded huge, I'm not really used to that, although one would imagine I would be. I think I was hearing a lot more of individuals than an orchestra blend, but there was still a blend. It was just something new to my ears. The trombones were really loud, and sounded fantastic. The trumpets were on rotaries, so they had less of a center to their tone (like Herseth) and more of a spread, flat sound that cut like crazy. The strings, to my ears (for what they're worth), sounded more rough than what I'm used to. I'm comparing everything to Chicago, as it's really the only other top notch orchestra that I've heard a lot of. To my eyes and ears, the strings were also not as together as Chicago. I loved the clarinet. The oboe was.. European. lol. Actually much less than I expected. I'm not so experienced in judging flute, but he sounded nice, less full and huge that Dufour or Robertello (sp?), but still very pretty. I couldn't really hear the bassoons much. haha. The horns. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but they had a really rich, dark color when they play solo or quietly. Much darker than my horn color. Then when they get loud they are crazy brassy sounding. I definitely knew that was coming. Much brassier than my horn! It's really cool to hear it live. They sound really resonant and smooth and beautiful. The opening was incredible. I got goosebumps and my eyes began to water immediately as Wolfgang Tomböck (I'm almost positive) came in so cleanly and beautifully on the first note. What an amazing experience. The orchestra as a whole does not use as much sustain as Chicago generally does, however they are still quite convincing in their approach. <br />
<br />
Although the best part of the day was right in the morning, what was left was still wonderful and productive. History seems like it's going to be interesting at times, and painful at other times. I've already started reading about gregorian chant. Thus beginning the painful part. ;)<br />
<br />
Philosophy seems really interesting, after 2 days of it now, I can tell that it's going to be a really interesting class. Even after 3 hours of History or after Deutsch class, because it's a completely abstract way of thinking, it's going to be engaging. I was dreading the first reading because it was semi long and we only had one night. Aber! It was sooooo interesting, I read it right before I went to bed, and I don't think I could have put it down if i tried. It was called "The Wall" and it was by Sartre. It was really intense and then our discussion was even better. I feel like I'm going to have a whole new way of looking at things after taking this course. I'm so excited!!<br />
<br />
These days have been great, but exhausting. I'm getting up at 5:30. I need some sleep. night night!<br />
<br />Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-70002743954113842292011-09-18T13:35:00.000-07:002011-09-18T13:35:51.530-07:00Final days of break!Currently listening: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D. In preparation for the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow's concert next Sunday :) (also playing Shostakovich 5!)<br />
<br />
Quick Update:<br />
<br />
Wednesday: Went to Carnuntum, an old Roman City an hour outside of Vienna, with Ross and his language buddy, Esther. Language buddies are students from universities in Vienna who want to work on their english who are matched up with one of us IES'ers, who want to work on their german. They are great. I can't wait to meet mine! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlI5atepEn5reDxRQcswWoE8AOgaQRpnOdA22iNq9XO0lpipSyTkGbE7o4UoyMBolA8NROTOFJBD9u5JIvf24tynWBrjnwszsSr-oPYCY4qz-8IER3nmX-c119zi0lLXII2KhyyMjUA/s1600/DSC00427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlI5atepEn5reDxRQcswWoE8AOgaQRpnOdA22iNq9XO0lpipSyTkGbE7o4UoyMBolA8NROTOFJBD9u5JIvf24tynWBrjnwszsSr-oPYCY4qz-8IER3nmX-c119zi0lLXII2KhyyMjUA/s320/DSC00427.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So, Carnuntum! We got to see these old gravestones from the first century that were uncovered in this city! SUPER OLD! They also rebuilt a small percentage of the city, including a small house and a Mansion, and a few other buildings. They are still digging too! One of the more interesting things that they recreated was the heating system, which was similar to a wood stove. It was actually up and running in the mansion, and as we went deeper into the building, it got warmer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2o8QK1GfOfMLiiszn_OINoZPXlgcKBAdZ3K7DnSwcj2TbQGiw6YYtg-g4wa0FNaE8EWeNBNLH94MvLyx8LdrU-XkS2c6LKm7ZFPiAuISuuAfzyTMnzx0GL-1ijZujwSmjCea6RYjZg/s1600/DSC00463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2o8QK1GfOfMLiiszn_OINoZPXlgcKBAdZ3K7DnSwcj2TbQGiw6YYtg-g4wa0FNaE8EWeNBNLH94MvLyx8LdrU-XkS2c6LKm7ZFPiAuISuuAfzyTMnzx0GL-1ijZujwSmjCea6RYjZg/s320/DSC00463.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the last room, and it was hot! Ross is standing in front of this fancy bathtub. It would have been a warm bath!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thursday: Mostly practicing. I cooked an awesome dinner of chicken pot pie soup. It was actually pretty amazing!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9KfYk8HRC0TKPmHvKc1JANHFlgexIPvI_WVZzKY7m04XnnL8cVrf5REdNBQUU8FbFk8GuI-_19lh0y5d85mZzVtvbuqNOprxgo1AdM_VH47FZekp2fe5671Ln3eMcUxhcIFO46xBtA/s1600/DSC00480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9KfYk8HRC0TKPmHvKc1JANHFlgexIPvI_WVZzKY7m04XnnL8cVrf5REdNBQUU8FbFk8GuI-_19lh0y5d85mZzVtvbuqNOprxgo1AdM_VH47FZekp2fe5671Ln3eMcUxhcIFO46xBtA/s320/DSC00480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Friday: Again, lots of practicing! Ross and I also attempted to venture to the Jewish district. It was a fail. We went to the old parts of it to go to 2 museums, but one was closed for renovation until October and the other closed at 2 and it was 3. boo. Then we went to the 2nd district, which is the current jewish area. We found a kosher butcher. But that was about all we found. Next time we need more specific directions for that trek. haha. But, we got some exercise, so not all was lost!<br />
<br />
Saturday: All practicing :) I had my first lesson with Manuel Huber, who plays principal and 3rd horn in Vienna Philharmonic. He's only 23 years old. almost. :) He's completely professional and I really like him. His english isn't the best, so I'm learning a lot of german musical terms! And he's learning a lot of english! haha. He had a lot of trouble with the word slur. He kept attempting it and saying slow? sloor? Bindabung! Yea, it's slur. lol. It's actually really fun! He's not afraid to jump around and make funny sounds to make sure I understand him. lol. He had a lot of good thoughts on my playing, so I think this will work out well. My <a href="http://jamieonhorn.blogspot.com/">Horn Blog</a> has more specifics on the lesson!<br />
<br />
I made sure to ask him if there were any rehearsals that I could go to. He said sure, how about monday. :D So, tomorrow at 10 am I'll be watching the Vienna Philharmonic rehearse Bruckner 4! Life is good.<br />
<br />
He also said that he'd look into loaning me a Wiener horn so that I could learn it! yayyy!!!!!! So excited!!!!! This is going to be good. <br />
<br />
I'm feeling a lot more at home now, just after having one lesson. Starting classes and playing in ensembles is going to be so refreshing. It's been too long! School tomorrow!!!!!<br />
<br />
Tonight I just got back from a concert at the Musikverein that Ross was really excited about, and now I know why! These 5 euro standing room tickets were his birthday present from me. lol. We saw Phillipe Jaroussky, a countertenor and the Concerto Köln! He was absolutely incredible. You would never expect the sound that he produces to EVER come out of him, but it does and it's fantastic. It's like a woman singing, but with this manly tenor sound that makes it almost obvious that it's not a woman, it's pretty much indescribable. Also, the Orchestra itself is a very small early music ensemble. Ross informed me that they were using period bows, however the actual string instruments seemed modern, except the lute and harpsichord of course! They also had no conductor, which was very cool and it worked very well for them. Phillipe did 3 encores, and he ended the last one with the entire group singing the very last line instead of himself! It was quite the way to end the concert. There was also a moment in the first encore that was incredibly striking to me. The very opening was just Phillipe holding a long note with no vibrato, he slowly crescendo-ed, and then added vibrato and continued on, I can barely describe what it sounded like, it was incredible. It was in this one note that I realized how amazing it is to be a part of a culture that is completely awed by one single note. We appreciate that one note so much that we talk about it as an amazing feat (it was). I'm just so grateful to be part of a group of people who appreciate the little things and pay attention to those kind of details. It's pretty amazing if you ask me. :)<br />
<br />
And that's what I leave you with tonight. <br />
<br />Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-13701341892775584832011-09-14T11:04:00.000-07:002011-09-14T11:04:11.587-07:00Independence Week.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Currently listening: Mendelssohn's 4th Symphony, "Italian". In preparation for the "Orchestra Mozart" Concert conducted by Claudio Abbado. NO BIG DEAL! ahhhh!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
I've got to post more often. I have a lot to talk about before I forget it all! My week of independence has gotten off to a pretty decent start! Everyone in my apartment was gone on Monday early afternoon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, even after 14 full days of antibiotics, I'm still not feeling 100% better unfortunately. Looks like I'll have to wait the rest of this one out, but the worst of it is very much behind me.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55SKX40cvNkZTFLywkEoCIeJK3ME8ObhYpTAwvgUeJ6LFWLwEY1LGLOYw0neucjhhRId5_fDA7mUI-I0RaWSE3GMu_gmphASsa8xSnY9583ZYaSSCEqWoBYjiZ0WlgYMFyl0_oXNkiQ/s1600/DSC00377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
On Sunday, since nothing is open except museums, and it was free museum weekend, Sara, Emily, Ross, and I decided to venture the the Hofburg Palace. This palace was the winter home of the Habsburgs, as opposed to Schönbrunn, their summer home, which we visited (the gardens) in earlier weeks. This palace is unbelievably gorgeous. I might have to say it's my favorite building as of now.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRngpZDBMuP8MCbVZE0eP3KyuH4Nv8XhZn5RIuNX-F9SdsjUYsbKFNExuG9oYKZQLw6AmFhk9ZjeBQ760lrFDJqE2sTCWNtSNtBQQnCZhIHH3UeqLsipy5HX6zfg4tHkW5l2Ho3EwGOQ/s1600/DSC00293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRngpZDBMuP8MCbVZE0eP3KyuH4Nv8XhZn5RIuNX-F9SdsjUYsbKFNExuG9oYKZQLw6AmFhk9ZjeBQ760lrFDJqE2sTCWNtSNtBQQnCZhIHH3UeqLsipy5HX6zfg4tHkW5l2Ho3EwGOQ/s320/DSC00293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View of the main hall from the top floor!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs91ZdcR6gJGv9ou8VC4TGuMkV-9itNkN6qCmgJXQq6yJe0CTbn1XxOJRqduaw_NETC2eOeNGFUseXUgwwC2JMq5V8SYJnw6vrgu9cm5AAASYOx3s6tx-bDvOAcigYNCOvHCQZ5ozdRQ/s1600/DSC00313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs91ZdcR6gJGv9ou8VC4TGuMkV-9itNkN6qCmgJXQq6yJe0CTbn1XxOJRqduaw_NETC2eOeNGFUseXUgwwC2JMq5V8SYJnw6vrgu9cm5AAASYOx3s6tx-bDvOAcigYNCOvHCQZ5ozdRQ/s320/DSC00313.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Down a staircase... everything is marble!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w6Vhk_rVgdF5FKnckixt7vdtaNTrEZqcbA0lfBLL3N257Wizj1rhy0_MqUl7h0Koj1mQkrIJVn0RR4KkB5D2ZVOCgcrzL2o6lH-fHqPTqctn1Z4kK4u358xISqk723w4IRgcrEOU8g/s1600/DSC00314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6w6Vhk_rVgdF5FKnckixt7vdtaNTrEZqcbA0lfBLL3N257Wizj1rhy0_MqUl7h0Koj1mQkrIJVn0RR4KkB5D2ZVOCgcrzL2o6lH-fHqPTqctn1Z4kK4u358xISqk723w4IRgcrEOU8g/s320/DSC00314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
An outside view. It has incredibly intricate designs and I just love that everything is ivory colored!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
Later on Sunday, Ross and I took a little trek to one of the 3 Flaktürme sites in Vienna. These Flaktürme were in a basic sense, attack towers and command towers from the 2nd world war. They are huge buildings, looking very similar in my eyes, to the MAC (if you're an IU student!). </div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55SKX40cvNkZTFLywkEoCIeJK3ME8ObhYpTAwvgUeJ6LFWLwEY1LGLOYw0neucjhhRId5_fDA7mUI-I0RaWSE3GMu_gmphASsa8xSnY9583ZYaSSCEqWoBYjiZ0WlgYMFyl0_oXNkiQ/s1600/DSC00377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55SKX40cvNkZTFLywkEoCIeJK3ME8ObhYpTAwvgUeJ6LFWLwEY1LGLOYw0neucjhhRId5_fDA7mUI-I0RaWSE3GMu_gmphASsa8xSnY9583ZYaSSCEqWoBYjiZ0WlgYMFyl0_oXNkiQ/s320/DSC00377.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the view.. my apologies for the trees and sun. stupid nature ;)</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This specific Flakturm was turned into a modern art museum. Now, I've been to quite a few mdern art museums, mainly in New York. However, this museum was really odd. It was also a little bit difficult to decipher whether some objects were part of the art, part of the history of the building (which was why we were there), or just junk laying in the corner because it's a dirty old war tower.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3YpbEiXLlS931-FGljk9K08WYVpTgSzt_gMMx-H_X8mzIVLbcuLP93TQ-hA1Hj0-ldd8B6op-xO_ARYhjYkOhhgBDvgYZkBISbjjGq1IL3c-PDNhy6ftGogZvxG2X0D_vN-pcA3UYg/s1600/DSC00322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3YpbEiXLlS931-FGljk9K08WYVpTgSzt_gMMx-H_X8mzIVLbcuLP93TQ-hA1Hj0-ldd8B6op-xO_ARYhjYkOhhgBDvgYZkBISbjjGq1IL3c-PDNhy6ftGogZvxG2X0D_vN-pcA3UYg/s320/DSC00322.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was one of my favorites. It really looks like a drawing in air! It's made of wire. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xi1zSCiUx4Q7Y1jLpLi2c3BxV-5Go5LmK_7f8XenAH6eeSHwW06ao953oxkow1Af_VUKlJDBS6FkoF7VU4_FsEre5021DNDJw2cM63uhDIw0vxSByvJa3ZsgNlrphuJdRPLktm1mtw/s1600/DSC00354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Xi1zSCiUx4Q7Y1jLpLi2c3BxV-5Go5LmK_7f8XenAH6eeSHwW06ao953oxkow1Af_VUKlJDBS6FkoF7VU4_FsEre5021DNDJw2cM63uhDIw0vxSByvJa3ZsgNlrphuJdRPLktm1mtw/s320/DSC00354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was also a really strange piece that was basically a machine that was made to shoot large canisters of red goo into the corner every 30 minutes. I'm not really sure of the significance. The video said something about a room can't really be a room without a corner.... modern art is really something.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8QYxpteaRo7xfwnBugyE1-P2EXPxGGYbig1Tg4l2_AI0xawt4LxZv3a79gyYC4wyC4xlUSWszHTeflC4jzKabhgre-Eg4MyFYZUiji9xsFg_IsdNHA1ePymBz0uyBMiDn_NPakbo2w/s1600/DSC00336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8QYxpteaRo7xfwnBugyE1-P2EXPxGGYbig1Tg4l2_AI0xawt4LxZv3a79gyYC4wyC4xlUSWszHTeflC4jzKabhgre-Eg4MyFYZUiji9xsFg_IsdNHA1ePymBz0uyBMiDn_NPakbo2w/s320/DSC00336.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There was some history still left intact! This is definitely a toilet from WWII. Super cool! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuggJTneCGXuxtoQ116ApV3kwTZawsvhTbkHGKFxJ2hkx0F8pEPBAzSLjoy5Qa_sYqTyD6pMIAFedt8adtBV-gXdjlZvgGTSlQ0vTvwcSVx9tI8zHP7kdS9nsO2YShqWVs___4Jw50A/s1600/DSC00343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuggJTneCGXuxtoQ116ApV3kwTZawsvhTbkHGKFxJ2hkx0F8pEPBAzSLjoy5Qa_sYqTyD6pMIAFedt8adtBV-gXdjlZvgGTSlQ0vTvwcSVx9tI8zHP7kdS9nsO2YShqWVs___4Jw50A/s320/DSC00343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The best part of this was definitely the view from the top of the Flakturm. It's pretty neat, we can actually look around the city now and see things that we recognize!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsa7D1v3hZIVO-PC16hAroBp1V0fTsE1avnTphE3JANungQ97EP5UZAKH6cVR77klqgAeSkU3LQqI1YP17Z5MKZp1_4-zBBRSLGiIPfMX6t_7K6pIZn54mZA6YKIC9eOGRHbFK0Hueg/s1600/DSC00339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsa7D1v3hZIVO-PC16hAroBp1V0fTsE1avnTphE3JANungQ97EP5UZAKH6cVR77klqgAeSkU3LQqI1YP17Z5MKZp1_4-zBBRSLGiIPfMX6t_7K6pIZn54mZA6YKIC9eOGRHbFK0Hueg/s320/DSC00339.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I was able to use my panorama shot again :) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There were also some really strange things like furniture with cut out faces and a blob of twisted up colorful plastic noodles that was titled, "I thought I saw a pussycat." At that point I was about ready to leave and Ross was more than ready. I really did enjoy this outing though quite a bit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Monday:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I navigated around Vienna all by myself 2 days in a row now! I got myself the the Kunst Haus Wien to see the Hundertwasser exhibit (for only 5 euro!!! yay half off mondays!). This was a really neat exhibit. I really love his paintings and architecture. I think I mentioned him before, but he was all about the environment and how the earth was our equal. He created apartments that had trees growing out of them and on top of them. He thought by building apartments on top of plant life, we're killing the environment. So, he built apartments and put the environment on top! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0e_rUoKgHW1_Y-pecfS9z-9Ky1jvdr3Jlx1A1fI8N2j2RSP96ZqWL9zzrUyQe_0_GBN36AyA53ffA8fQ_YsGSn5jjqbGi_-p6DkjE0wakxg_htiu6p8ZD8-XMUdFZDu-QRJZDHuWyIg/s1600/DSC00404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0e_rUoKgHW1_Y-pecfS9z-9Ky1jvdr3Jlx1A1fI8N2j2RSP96ZqWL9zzrUyQe_0_GBN36AyA53ffA8fQ_YsGSn5jjqbGi_-p6DkjE0wakxg_htiu6p8ZD8-XMUdFZDu-QRJZDHuWyIg/s320/DSC00404.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is the Kunst Haus Wien. Cool, eh? I thought so too. Hundertwasser had a really amazing idea for design. I would love to live in a building like this. I would actually be really happy to see a town made exactly how he wanted. One of his really important paintings was one of a town made how he would create it, within nature. He painted it before even looking into architecture! So it was like his first attempt at what he would do! And then he did! I think his ideas were really something. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After my trip alone to the Kunst Haus, I was dying to use my vocal chords, so I met up with Ross and another friend, Alex, and we went to a Turkish restaurant for some authentic food in the 16th district. It was amazing. I never thought I'd say this, but I ordered lamb. It may have been the greatest meat I've ever tasted. The end.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Tuesday:<br />
My second day of navigating all by myself. I ventured to Mariahilferstraße, the main shopping street in Vienna! Shopping is expensive here. I didn't buy a lot, but I got a new purse so that I'd have a larger one for day trips. It's super cute. :) I also bought some boots.. with heels.. because I'm really short. And they were awesome. Mariahilferstraße is really long. I barely made a mark in it and I was there wandering for hours. Besides the prices, I like shopping in Wien.<br />
<br />
After another long day of independence, I once again was very lonely and invited Ross over for dessert. Aaaaaaand....<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
As far as the cooking competition is going, I do believe I'm winning as of now. Ross joined me sunday night for stir fry that I concocted, which consisted of eggplant, zucchini, onions, garlic, red bell pepper, and salmon, all from the Naschmarkt, mixed with noodles. Tuesday, I made a very similar dish, just adding yellow zucchini, and replacing the more expensive salmon with chicken. I then proceeded to make a zucchini cake with nutella swirl. It was incredible. Definitely a keeper. Ross agrees. He ate half of it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZbDEQ6oOZx1Bdd8k7oxZ-VEekSRyc7ff2zOHRyJxxqHNrsZOWibWHxwoQECFf4890r9vHfxK1xECmJypGkgkhhOW_Bfz7MvWkngYOKsMzOxll1MZTHg8WqSVv8ci5iOkgRlTckh0lA/s1600/DSC00423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZbDEQ6oOZx1Bdd8k7oxZ-VEekSRyc7ff2zOHRyJxxqHNrsZOWibWHxwoQECFf4890r9vHfxK1xECmJypGkgkhhOW_Bfz7MvWkngYOKsMzOxll1MZTHg8WqSVv8ci5iOkgRlTckh0lA/s320/DSC00423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
If you eat the whole thing, it's a full serving of vegetables! .. and many full servings of other things... ;)</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
On another food note, I've developed a taste for bell peppers! I never thought that day would come. :) hooray!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So, I basically already knew this, however, after the past few days on my own, I've come to the definite conclusion that I really like people. I miss people. So, besides being incredible quiet and lonely, all is well in Vienna. But really, I need someone to talk to! Skype me? :)<br />
<br />
More to come very soon!!!!!!</div>
Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-15323788687167161122011-09-09T07:28:00.000-07:002011-09-10T11:57:59.514-07:00The end of German Intensive!Finally! A moment of peace as most of the other IESer's head off on the 3 city tour for the next 10 days, I can finally sit down for a much needed blog post! This week has been full of excitement, emotions, stress, tea, and not enough sleep. As I sit here with my cup of perfectly made green tea, I'll tell you all about it. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXpFKp8_MyFyVG2qYjb1RJZLBO51mLk0OdaOd4JRJfC72K1CIGlwf6yJvlqHMfibXpzsf1nd-mte3p0i8CgPalPUzz82fvOmIGc-aptvdkLSxQ-JDx_pTJcT7ahoH3-IN4N7IoMB69Q/s1600/DSC00266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXpFKp8_MyFyVG2qYjb1RJZLBO51mLk0OdaOd4JRJfC72K1CIGlwf6yJvlqHMfibXpzsf1nd-mte3p0i8CgPalPUzz82fvOmIGc-aptvdkLSxQ-JDx_pTJcT7ahoH3-IN4N7IoMB69Q/s320/DSC00266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
After touring through Salzburg, Lucerne, Luxembourg, Paris, and Dresden, the CSO finally hit Vienna! That's what I've really been waiting for all this time. ;) I couldn't help myself from going to both nights of their concerts here. The program for the first night was a piece by Rands (if you go to IU, the guy who wrote Vincent), Death and Transfiguration, and Shostakovich's 5th Symphony. The second night was Hindemith's Symphony in Eb and Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Both were wonderful concerts, as usual. The Musikverein is an incrediby beautiful building. I asked Dale Clevenger how he liked the hall and he said, "It may be the greatest hall in the world." Need I say more? It's pretty small, but it's gorgeous. Chris Martin also told me it was one of his favorites. As you can see, this is the view of the stage from the Stehplatz (the standing room).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_h8BUqOV4fQAVN96q-k1gVA3obP1hvKzLxEt-w58um1qKl5GFTgXswIHU82zrf3uGpuP5qJMLOjVO0qrQOybNhLkbnsiauEMpnzXEbC1NLOAe_u2t_RXuAoINGCDL7daAGW2Hgz4bA/s1600/DSC00265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_h8BUqOV4fQAVN96q-k1gVA3obP1hvKzLxEt-w58um1qKl5GFTgXswIHU82zrf3uGpuP5qJMLOjVO0qrQOybNhLkbnsiauEMpnzXEbC1NLOAe_u2t_RXuAoINGCDL7daAGW2Hgz4bA/s320/DSC00265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the view from the middle of the hall on the side, looking at the standing room. If you can zoom into the heard of people back there, you can see Ross's hands flailing and Ryan's head in the left hand corner. The Stehplatz is incredibly crowded and it's first come, first served. So, we arrived an hour early and got in line outside the building, then they open the building so form a line on the inside before checking tickets (which we picked up ahead of time!). Then, they check your ticket and you're let up a set of stairs that enters directly to the standing room. You wait until 30 minutes before the concert, when a buzzer goes off, similar to the ones you might hear at say.. a horse race.. and then everyone sprints to the stehplatz to get the best spot. Men, women, children, short, tall, young, and even the old, literally run to get a spot on the railing. I didn't run, so I didn't get a spot on the railing. However, I'm tall and don't really need one! Very interesting experience, and for 6 Euros.. totally worth it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMRKQdVlbeB9FjVyVWc8kjLdNS-__ZSwhcoLzJptQASN5TmfPG7SQHlIHbxftNnAAP5IjWWXuexh3oi2ec5AMCPv3cAvdPPM0vl2upagHnV4-ypLbuQqL_9orU1oR8oEaMfO0GDUp0A/s1600/DSC00274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMRKQdVlbeB9FjVyVWc8kjLdNS-__ZSwhcoLzJptQASN5TmfPG7SQHlIHbxftNnAAP5IjWWXuexh3oi2ec5AMCPv3cAvdPPM0vl2upagHnV4-ypLbuQqL_9orU1oR8oEaMfO0GDUp0A/s320/DSC00274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The front of the Musikverein. Seriously... one of the most gorgeous buildings around. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While the CSO was in town, I was fortunate enough to get a lesson with Dale Clevenger, the principal horn. It was a fantastic lesson. I played a little mozart's 4th horn concerto for him, then he started shuffling through my music and marking (more) correct slurs into my Mozart quintet part. Very Dale-like :) So, I played a bit of that for him, and he played a bit of it for me. It was really good to get a lesson, and I haven't had one in a while, and I've also realized that I'm growing. Instead of becoming flustered at being asked to play something that I hadn't planned on playing, I felt completely confident in playing whatever he asked of me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1savtkGTzubszp4H0tta5uvnaW_-fDus1Eb_Uveb8fOOimm3VDGDyt-9DYKq_SsJJCk1NWrE0plGCOQ-71rDP1hp2RH0ckQZlcesVXkboQQhfc7YdTeiKjz2lCmFTeanj1b7DjcvRQ/s1600/DSC00261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1savtkGTzubszp4H0tta5uvnaW_-fDus1Eb_Uveb8fOOimm3VDGDyt-9DYKq_SsJJCk1NWrE0plGCOQ-71rDP1hp2RH0ckQZlcesVXkboQQhfc7YdTeiKjz2lCmFTeanj1b7DjcvRQ/s320/DSC00261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After the lesson, Dale, Blair Sordetto, and I all went out to dinner! It was so amazing to see Dale and my hometown orchestra in a different hall. After each concert, a few of us waited outside the "Künstlereingang" (the artist's entrance) and acted like the usual CSO groupies. We said hi to Michael Mulcahy, Chris Martin, Dave Griffin, Charlie Vernon, Tage Larson, Jim Smelser, Li-Kuo Chang, Charlie Pickler, and of course Dale. We also saw Pete Ellefson, along for the ride just in case he was needed. This picture, is of course, my favorite 4th horn player (tied with Sarah Willis hehe), Dave Griffin, who I chatted with for a while and hopefully I'll get a lesson with when I'm back in Chicago! (If you haven't heard his album, you must! It's called "For You") </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I also went out with Dale for a preconcert dinner the second night as well, which was just wonderful. He helped ease me out of my homesickness a little bit more. He had some very good advice for me and his thoughts are never taken for granted. I really enjoyed spending time with him and was sad to see him returning to Chicago. I had to say a heartfelt goodbye to him and the orchestra after the concert on Tuesday. It was definitely the high point of my week, and a memory I'll hold dearly forever. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And because it was the high point, nothing else really mattered to me, so I did the bare minimum in my german intensive class! This made the rest of the week someone difficult, as it was the last week and I had my final today. It was a very difficult exam, on which I didn't actually know how to do everything. We'll leave it at that. GERMAN INTENSIVE IS COMPLETE!!!!!!! Now is the beginning of break week. Yayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjK0hYWu6vYtRBep5e9UPjul8JOgHg0aUSQqDyQU_V6NM-aKdR2oWUzOJ6hqfpr3rP-Sras_lfk4w1aOVrmDR2pfDUmQ6-9raqsmXAV3aIHvQYYX1Y1DN0QsDpcN5yPyXU8XxPz3Llw/s1600/DSC00272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjK0hYWu6vYtRBep5e9UPjul8JOgHg0aUSQqDyQU_V6NM-aKdR2oWUzOJ6hqfpr3rP-Sras_lfk4w1aOVrmDR2pfDUmQ6-9raqsmXAV3aIHvQYYX1Y1DN0QsDpcN5yPyXU8XxPz3Llw/s320/DSC00272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My favorite pic of the week :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Random occurences of the week:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ich habe meine Finger geschnitten mit einem Brotmessern! aka.. I cut my finger with a bread knife. Which was a new experience for me. It hurt quite a bit and bled for about 20 or so minutes. For future reference, don't try to cut the wobbly end of a hard loaf of bread. Schlechte Idee!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I discovered Paprika chips. They taste similar to BBQ chips.. but better :) nöm! I thought I was going to get fat from Nutella... </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was assigned my horn prof for the semester! His name is Manuel Huber. Very excited to meet him! He is currently on tour with the Wiener Philharmoniker! He has been with them for 4 years, and as of this past year, he became the new principal horn. He is VERY young. Ein Wunderkind. I sent him an email (in german thank you!) and my first lesson is in a week! We'll see how it goes...!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I went to the Naschmarkt for the first time today. It's amazing. It's essentially an outdoor market. It's very cheap and amazingly wonderful. I got some dried apricots and apples, a giant piece of really yummy bread, hummus, falafel, grapes, a cucumber, and an eggplant! All for very cheap. They also have a lot of really neat authentic handmade goods, like clothing, purses, scarves, and jewelry. I have a feeling I'll be spending a lot of time there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also, exciting... When I met Dale for a lesson, he brought along CSO photographer, Todd Rosenberg. He's a really nice guy and I had remembered seeing his name from playing in the Chicago Youth Music Initiative under Dudamel. He was the photographer for that as well. So, he took some pics and I just happened to show up on the CSO's tour page :) check it out! <a href="http://cso.org/res/tours/europe2011/vienna/photo14.html#14">CSO EUROPE TOUR 2011</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I leave you with this picture... b/c it's weird. but I like it. =P</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ln7xlLAT_aDGoDTKArzhsP7Zzzs4qUk9oJT7fxhgjNBjkvJGMoIXlLUY4uoPFmuZaQrMAbCfdUP_LwY7D-M2r3wj3aZHYmPTRrjjIs8KAMojC9yUCuPkQeR7QJ8j1nFfBQeF94WdEQ/s1600/DSC00257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ln7xlLAT_aDGoDTKArzhsP7Zzzs4qUk9oJT7fxhgjNBjkvJGMoIXlLUY4uoPFmuZaQrMAbCfdUP_LwY7D-M2r3wj3aZHYmPTRrjjIs8KAMojC9yUCuPkQeR7QJ8j1nFfBQeF94WdEQ/s320/DSC00257.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-75023387239703203282011-09-04T14:37:00.000-07:002011-09-04T14:37:11.193-07:00Overwhelming joy :)This weekend has been a whirlwind of sleeping until noon (if you call waking up every hour not being able to breathe sleeping), blowing my nose, finding new medicines to try, and laying around and making food, waiting for the time to take another antibiotic to increase my chances of getting better sooner. (With an occasional practice session, which hurts, but makes me happier.)<br />
<br />
UNTIL! I decided that I needed to get out and walk to the CSO's hotel to leave Mr. Dale Clevenger a message with my cell number and an invitation for dinner. I took my time with this walk to the U-bahn and the hotel. This hour long trip gave me in return, the overwhelming joy of seeing familiar faces in an unfamiliar setting. It's a feeling one rarely experiences. The utter joy of seeing someone's face (in this case Dan Gingrich's face lol) and realizing how amazing it is to be in a different country with the same amazing people from home. I had this enormous smile on my face as I looked around the hotel, and I recognized a bass player as he walked by and said hi to me. I didn't even know him, but I wanted to cry with excitement and joy just because I saw him and knew him. I had to tear myself away from the hotel after leaving a message for Dale. Walking down the street I was listening extremely carefully for any english that might be coming from other CSO players. haha. Just a little taste of what I'll be feeling at tomorrow night's concert. :) can't wait! Lesson with Dale tomorrow!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
Some things I recently learned about food:<br />
Pesto is amazing! I just discovered how easy it is to have a yummy pasta. Put pesto on it. :D<br />
There is no maple syrup on this continent. *dies a little* Peanut butter, I can live without for a while, BUT maple syrup. I'm not so confident... Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-18907310506854481062011-09-01T14:15:00.000-07:002011-09-01T14:15:01.149-07:00there be sickies among us.Ich bin krank! nein!!!!!!!!!! But, yea. I'm sick. However, in being sick, I've discovered that getting antibiotics for sinus infections is MUCH easier in Vienna than in the states. I literally walked into the doctor's "office" (more like apartment), said, "I think I have a sinus infection" "Why, have you had them before?" "Yes. lots. I have *symptoms*" "Ok, yea, here's a prescription." And that was that. Now I have medicine, so even though I'm not feeling any better, I feel better in my mind because I swallowed a pill. <br />
<br />
So, this is my official challenge of Ross Wertjes (if he reads this, otherwise i'll make it official tmrw) to become a better cook than I by the end of our 4 months here. It's a challenge for both of us. I have more of the basics already down, however Ross is a very quick learner. I also have the benefit of being female. It's just a benefit all around. lol. And for those of you who don't know Ross, here is my competitor:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcoWPsqXQNaiLlJud3YQRzLlzDxImNhO5164TqcEkyN1rAvVAdMEuFA5pojaQKikoJYSFEoF5wEsKpxigFLZPS7Yam3jafkqoptu8BC1QuuSK_FAHz0Oaxs1tqz_dVzpvORoM9i-4jA/s1600/DSC00169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcoWPsqXQNaiLlJud3YQRzLlzDxImNhO5164TqcEkyN1rAvVAdMEuFA5pojaQKikoJYSFEoF5wEsKpxigFLZPS7Yam3jafkqoptu8BC1QuuSK_FAHz0Oaxs1tqz_dVzpvORoM9i-4jA/s320/DSC00169.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Epic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will be fair and say that I think he's winning right now. He made a lovely egg thing and I attempted mac n cheese and got this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqTTToU6ThwRPsQPDHvzgpnXklxCeB7T_Q6CM0CvawuXUJIzl77lsShY-Yehm2yNEJXsp-RIxodrttms00tyBhoH1LuJZm8PzTFDD-BCdRTyrjeeL4a_bt-6tRgRJrlxnNknmjHmTCg/s1600/DSC00244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqTTToU6ThwRPsQPDHvzgpnXklxCeB7T_Q6CM0CvawuXUJIzl77lsShY-Yehm2yNEJXsp-RIxodrttms00tyBhoH1LuJZm8PzTFDD-BCdRTyrjeeL4a_bt-6tRgRJrlxnNknmjHmTCg/s320/DSC00244.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the main problem was the gouda and swiss combo... or.. maybe not.. I have no idea actually. But the challenge continues... soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm posting this rather late in the evening because I was not aware of the caffeine content of green tea, which I recently drank 2 cups of to sooth my throat. That said, I should attempt sleeping as I have another early day tomorrow with our 3rd german test and end of week 2 of the intensive course! Woot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bis später!</div><br />
Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-45075983866280329882011-08-23T13:40:00.000-07:002011-08-23T13:40:35.484-07:00Ich Liebe Wien!Today was the official 2nd day in Vienna! It's wonderful! I love it!!! <br />
<br />
Ok, so Vienna. We are all soooo busy all the time. We get up early, we sit through long info sessions, we have 3 hours of german class, and then we do all the necessaries for the rest of the day. Today after class, Ross and I went to Mariahilferstraße, after getting on the wrong U-bahn (subway system). But we made it to Mariahilferstraße, which is the main shopping street in Vienna. So much walking.<br />
<br />
It's also unbelievable hot here and Austrians are very concerned with energy conservation, so there is almost no air conditioning! Ryan, Ross, and I were practicing in one of the practice building near our apartments, and I was almost as sweaty as if I took a run. Ohh, what we endure in order to practice! ;) But even while not practicing, there is a constant layer of sweat on my face. It's marvelous. We all can't wait for winter! <br />
<br />
My german intensive class.. is REALLY intense. lol. The teacher pretty much only speaks german unless we are all completely flabbergasted as to what she's saying. We are pretty much only conversing auf Deutsch now. It's hard, but it's a much better system I think than just learning grammar. I really like my teacher too. She's really nice and adorable and super sweet. She's very patient with us too :) This is her best trait I think. :D<br />
<br />
So, they've told us it's completely normal for people to stare in Vienna. Just a little cultural difference. So, I've had a couple stare off's with people just to see if they really did. Every time I end up kind of laughing and they think I'm crazy. No big deal. haha. It's also kind of fun to realize that I can stare at them too, so I've become a lot more observant instead of averting my eyes upon contact. <br />
<br />
The Vienna night life seems pretty amazing. As we were walking home from school, OH. By the way, I go to school in a Palace and it's 2 blocks away from Stephansdom! OH YES. Ok anyway, we were walking home from school through the streets of Vienna and there was a group of people dressed up and dancing with a little group of instrumentalists playing along. At one point they were playing the chicken dance and actually doing the dance! haha. I loved it. There was also a couple that were completely covered in gold paint or something else and they were posed as statues and keeping completely still. It was incredible. Lots of people were taking pics with them. Also, one guy was out there all day in a burger kind crown and a cape and shorts only doing some strange dancing on a bucket... yea. Another strange man was sitting in all black clothing and his face was painted black and he was just looking around. When you're used to the homeless people of chicago, drunk on the sidewalks or begging, and you get these people, it throws you off juuust a wee bit. :) But I'm loving it. <br />
<br />
I guess I'll see what the real "night life" is like tonight b/c Rosa, my RA, is taking us to a club. Apparently Tuesday is the night to go out in Vienna. I've got some german Hausaufgaben to finish! Then out we go! Gute Nacht! More picture on the way!Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-29801639683539558062011-08-19T07:11:00.000-07:002011-08-19T07:11:54.119-07:00As Promised...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were going to go to town today, but the bus was full, so Ryan, Josie and I decided to walk there. We got a bit off track, not lost, but we weren't sure where we were. lol. It was a good lost. :) However, it began raining, so we turned around and came back and now I have time to upload the photos I promised!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nhq4YQ01wNpSS34iWvOdble9-SPJfsF9Dpp6whkjZiIo-wEih9_2H6mCsLJf_K3Z1_3L5QyI044h-b8eTMWEHAaXvKaYMAbnwC5fCKtW2R9Ih5DXP6EnLZDUlfhkFVxgy7Y-m2-Sjg/s1600/DSC00045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nhq4YQ01wNpSS34iWvOdble9-SPJfsF9Dpp6whkjZiIo-wEih9_2H6mCsLJf_K3Z1_3L5QyI044h-b8eTMWEHAaXvKaYMAbnwC5fCKtW2R9Ih5DXP6EnLZDUlfhkFVxgy7Y-m2-Sjg/s320/DSC00045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>First pic of the trip!!! With the bestieeeee. IU pride!!!!!! :) This is in the London airport.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwt1mO9BW5SqgvVgK-Z6NFUL0PbnxdA0cWhdMoIdtl3hKov33Oglsh0-chLFYE9mjRiI_pKpyluTd9-UJgReQu3z3JefR_MYUUUnHaTZeSInf-PIV9EpEyhTsmxOJPB1D4yxka6gfusw/s1600/DSC00052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwt1mO9BW5SqgvVgK-Z6NFUL0PbnxdA0cWhdMoIdtl3hKov33Oglsh0-chLFYE9mjRiI_pKpyluTd9-UJgReQu3z3JefR_MYUUUnHaTZeSInf-PIV9EpEyhTsmxOJPB1D4yxka6gfusw/s320/DSC00052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Finally! We found Ross!! Other bestieeeee :) and... he really wanted to take a picture with me :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xkdUXPXSeNF7_OjRPfRrouSt_R2HSPD-X2RyOLfV-LStndKQqboadG-Rny5Rgojbwu1FSx4dLDhMr46HdDgA1i-t5TV6fB5b364SsachOMQcALK-5sCxRJBOsOgncBhCfQWqUPndFA/s1600/DSC00062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xkdUXPXSeNF7_OjRPfRrouSt_R2HSPD-X2RyOLfV-LStndKQqboadG-Rny5Rgojbwu1FSx4dLDhMr46HdDgA1i-t5TV6fB5b364SsachOMQcALK-5sCxRJBOsOgncBhCfQWqUPndFA/s320/DSC00062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the view from our hostel in Mariazell! I'm just amazed at everything around me.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zfYWv0uemCzTwERkafbYUAssdFMPz_s_nwRM5oqCK4YlMpzwp0lkeqszCI5NZOB1RQp3e7-D5bPd6PmPSOUdzSdDyBj3PgVx_-iR4Qbanm0WyuZG6e6-OkGS3ICfD0ZbNDEij3YiQA/s1600/DSC00079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zfYWv0uemCzTwERkafbYUAssdFMPz_s_nwRM5oqCK4YlMpzwp0lkeqszCI5NZOB1RQp3e7-D5bPd6PmPSOUdzSdDyBj3PgVx_-iR4Qbanm0WyuZG6e6-OkGS3ICfD0ZbNDEij3YiQA/s320/DSC00079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This dog jumped out from behind a truck when we were hiking to die Stadt and barked at us and then ran inside. It was superbly frightening. We screamed.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSU54-8y7ZEs9bhVAvaM0HrSYeJzsKml7FmPy51IRtX7cyrsQXboFI6_ypL3ndsirUa2t6IzSXGhdv-c7ekON8Qnc3uGw61WNnBhV3c90oZsaX0ZY5OSJRa7LZP2CPBapDRY_mpnIWw/s1600/DSC00073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSU54-8y7ZEs9bhVAvaM0HrSYeJzsKml7FmPy51IRtX7cyrsQXboFI6_ypL3ndsirUa2t6IzSXGhdv-c7ekON8Qnc3uGw61WNnBhV3c90oZsaX0ZY5OSJRa7LZP2CPBapDRY_mpnIWw/s320/DSC00073.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the first random horn sighting :) Had to get it! </div><br />
Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-28619964714817984312011-08-19T03:29:00.000-07:002011-08-19T03:29:52.706-07:00Arrived in Mariazell!Today is my second day in Austria. <br />
<br />
Short recap of the trip..<br />
The travels yesterday went almost as well as they could have gone. The plan was O'hare to London, meeting Ross at O'hare and we were on the same flight, then meet Ryan in London, then wait a few hours, and then London to Vienna. The first flight was cancelled and moved an hour earlier. Ross was moved to a flight to Brussels, so we weren't on the same flight :( But it worked out and we met him later! I met Ryan in London and everything went smoothly after that. We took a 3 hour bus ride to Mariazell for orientation weekend, which is turning out to be really fun! (Who would've guessed?!) ;) <br />
<br />
The flight felt really long. I sat next to a guy from Ireland, Connor, who was in Chicago for work, but going home for college graduation. He told me he was majoring in "accountancing" aka accounting. haha. My other airplane buddy was a girl from Minnesota, eh. Her name was Hannah and she was visiting a friend in Frankfurt and was really nervous about flying. Didn't get ANY sleep on this 8 hour flight, so I crashed on the second flight to Vienna which would have been at 4 AM Chicago time! By the way, London was really interesting! The Heathrow airport is huge! Upon arrival, we had to take a 10 minute bus to the terminal! And they drive on the wrong side of the road! ;) Connor corrected me, saying, "no, it's the right side." lol. It was definitely the beginning of the culture shock.<br />
<br />
So, now I'm in Mariazell, which is a gorgeous city. I promise I'll post pictures soon! It's incredibly mountainous, even though they say we're at the foothills of the Alps, these foothills are quite big!! We've only been at our hostel so far, having meetings and such, but we are venturing into the city later today. The food is pretty fantastic; meat and cheese and nutella for breakfast! They also have lactose free milk... i <3 this place. I had coffee this morning, which turned out to be VERY strong and I was fidgeting through our academic meetings trying not to jump out of my seat. Probably somewhat b/c of the coffee and somewhat b/c I'm just realizing.. I'm in Europe!! <br />
<br />
I played a bit last night with my silent brass mute, and this morning I warmed up after breakfast. I'm already feeling a bit lightheaded and dizzy while I'm playing in the mountains!! I hope I don't pass out in my audition just from taking big breaths!! <br />
<br />
And lastly, the people here are really awesome!!!! All the students are super friendly and easy to talk to. I found all of my roomies and it seems like it'll be a great semester with them. The teachers are really nice and are pushing us to jump into the culture.. I can't wait!! <br />
<br />
Only a few minutes until lunch, then we go on a tout of the city! We have some more info meetings and german placement interviews later tonight and then a "traditional austrian evening". Keeping you posted! :) Let me know if you want to skype sometime!! I'd love to "see" you!Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-74367842323349324582011-08-15T09:50:00.000-07:002011-08-15T09:50:45.367-07:00Packing Bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAJlWUealHM-D76AvIQPO0T2pd6GIchbLnlXTQE4V8L7UbDBJ9UpsTVZcGxVFyYBjssUqjxl3kYCNjWFkEX35oVBxTRs-a5ekCxuMMiSS8VVohobvovbJKEckDCHk-pPaVNKkkLAV7Q/s1600/DSC00034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAJlWUealHM-D76AvIQPO0T2pd6GIchbLnlXTQE4V8L7UbDBJ9UpsTVZcGxVFyYBjssUqjxl3kYCNjWFkEX35oVBxTRs-a5ekCxuMMiSS8VVohobvovbJKEckDCHk-pPaVNKkkLAV7Q/s320/DSC00034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Just thought I'd share the amazing beginnings of this endeavor.<br />
<br />
:) 2 days left. Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521891091348540775.post-9610483826099243052011-08-08T19:23:00.000-07:002011-08-08T19:23:22.346-07:00Pre-Wien ThoughtsThere are 9 days before I fly to Vienna to begin my studies overseas. <br />
<br />
I still have a lot of preparation left, packing my portion of the apartment so it's ready to be moved, making a packing list, and buying a few more necessities (ie. new camera!). <br />
<br />
But the most important preparation for me is mental. I've been working up the 1st and 2nd movement of Strauß's first horn concerto and the 1st movement of Mozart's 4th horn concerto for the audition in Vienna. Mr. S has been a huge help with everything and as always very encouraging. Feelin' good!<br />
<br />
Thinking about living in Vienna is such a crazy thing for me right now. I'm extremely excited, but I'm also just thinking about how much I'm going to miss everyone here! I've made some really close friends this summer and it's going to be tough! I also really wish I could have met all the new horn players coming to IU, but that'll have to be put on hold for 4 months! I'm really curious if living in europe is going to be at all like my preconceived notions about it. Practice, travel, practice, school, practice, going out, practice, lessons with Pros!!!! going to european orchestra/operas!!!!!!! I just hope I have time for everything! <br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm really excited, can't wait to get there, meet people, go places, continue progress on horn (even without orchestra *sad face*), and have tons of fun. This is a goodbye to everyone here for the next four months and hello to Vienna and crazy awesome experiences to come!Jamie Leffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835042685682765994noreply@blogger.com0