Asher A. Ben-Abraham's Blog

For the past few days, I have been troubled by Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.  Constant humming and figuring has rendered me to not use my speech.  I have been trying to figure out my own ways of interpresting it to those of Leonard Bernstein and Maestro Jaarvi.  I can see easily how Leonard Bernstein saw the piece. We played it in high school and my band director saw it the same way.  But Maestro Jaarvi I can see it but seeing it in the score is interesting.  I am almost there.  I figured out Maestro Tilson and his way of interpeting.  But I still am trying to see it.  Now I shall see how Maestro Mravinsky views the music.  Ah, I am having fun.

I am feeling better over practice.  I try to think of a piece I have heard and today I thought of a Brahms Symphony. I started to play the solo horn part and did it for the most part. I lost it at the end. I did not prepare enough.  But ok. First attempt.  Then I got into practice.  During my practice I was working on some parts of Mozarts Horn Concerti that I have neglected for a bit.  But I accomplished, use that word lightly, those parts.  So now it is just development.  I have very little concentration on this right now, but I have not reviewed these parts so it is understandable.  But as I was playing torward the end of my practice I notice a young bystander trying to look into my window.  I waved when I got to a rest and then she waved back.  I continued like there was no diversion and then she started to walk away talking to someone and said, "He is really good."  I nearly choked. Don't know why. But I feel good that she said this.  It made me feel good about my playing, my knowledge, my ability, my self, my practice ethic, and my high standards.   I had to write it down because that little girl made my day even greater.  This is why I love music because I can express music better than words.  I think she is my next door neighbors granddaughter.