4th

[Ed]

Shouldn't you all be preparing for fireworks displays? Get AFK, ASAP! It's a holiday, people. Rest your fingers, rest your heads.

Anyway, it's rainy here. I've never been one for fireworks, but I'm going to spend the evening listening to classical music and maybe trying to do something creative and relaxing.

For those who aren't doing the family thing, take a look at this limerick site:
http://www.oedilf.com/db/Lim.php

Some very clever limericks on all topics (including biochem!). Enjoy the approved limericks or create your own.

Ed

[Celeste Stewart]

I'm working and playing! Really, more play than work. It's 100+ degrees here and my earlier bike ride has me enjoying the air conditioning. Plus, baby has to nap and when he does, the computer has a way of sucking me over to it. But he's awake now and an ice cold beer has my name on it... Happy 4th!

[Ed]

Awesome. Enjoy!

[CRDonovan]

Worked in my vegetable garden all day, went for a bike ride, had one gin and tonic, a cookout, then baked a rhubarb crisp, and now I'm seriously whipped. Kicking back with a movie and a late night walk with hound dog and son. Happy fourth everyone.

[Angie H]

No fourth of July celebrations in Canada, so it's work for me as usual...Classical music Ed? I'm impressed. Who is your favorite composer?

[Ed]

Certainly no need to be impressed; my knowledge is paltry. I can't play favorites, but I like Shostakovich a lot. Give me any of the Russians any day - Tchaikovsky, Rachmoninoff.

The 1812 Overture on a fall evening with live cannons, brass band, and chorus is awfully thrilling.

As the night wore on, I moved on to jazz, when I concluded, with the help of a cocktail, that the 1920s is the era for me. But only if I have plenty of money to spend.


Hope everyone's evening was a succes - even those not in the U.S.

[Angie H]

That does sound like a fantastic evening! I never would have guess. Finding others with an interest with classical music is a rare find for me indeed. In my house, if I don't have a set of earphones, music is a no go here unless I'm practicing.

I have to admit that I have a terrible weakness for Rimsky-Korsakov. He had an unmatched talent for utilizing melodic runs that are as beautiful to play as they are to listen to. Being an oboist, however, my favorites hail mostly from the Baroque period. Handel and Marcello being some of them. We do have an accomplished local composer by the name of Elizabeth Raum who is writing some very fresh and interesting pieces (her daughter is the famous violinist Erika Raum). Definitely worth a listen if you are looking for something new.

[Ed]

Oboist? Terrific! How did you come to play the oboe? How long have you been playing?

I am not musical at all, alas, but I do abhore the noise that passes for music in most cases, and can't deal with others' insistance that it is okay if the whole neighborhood is privy to what's in their CD player or car radio at any given hour of any given day.

Baroque . . . Baroque . . . chamber music? (Frantically Googling to prevent myself from exhibiting a severe level of ignorance.) Spectacular. Tell me more.

Ed

[Angie H]

Yes, I have been playing for almost seventeen years. Both sides of my family are rather quite musical. Both of my grandfathers were talented fiddlers and I have an uncle who is famous for making handmade fiddles although he is too old to make them now.

I started playing in school because I wanted to play something different from everyone else and the oboe seemed like the perfect choice. I fell in love with it from the moment I started. My parents used to bug me because I could easily practice for 8 - 12 hours without stopping.

I performed and taught in Canada, the US, and Europe until I attended Brandon University for a Bachelor in music performance majoring in Oboe and minoring in voice and conducting. Unfortunately, a nasty divorce and a child ended my career there. I am still performing and teaching at several locations in and around Alberta and Saskatchewan, so between writing and this I'm content. I am hoping to enroll at the School of music in either Banff or Eastmans for their next summer season if all goes well with my family. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Ed]

Well, I really envy you. Our school was lucky to have someone come in and show us what an oboe was, but what chaos it would have caused if anyone actually wanted to play it.

I had a great-grandfather who played fiddle and banjo by ear. I never knew him, and I didn't inherit any of his talent. My grandfather on the other side used to play the accordian, but he hasn't for years.

Good luck with school, then. When you have no more time to submit content, we'll know you've succeeded.

[Angie H]

I know what you mean there. I feel sorry for the harassment beginner oboists get. It's not easy to get going.

All of my family members play by ear as well and haven't the first clue about reading sheet music. Interestingly enough, I'm the only one in the family who can't play by ear. Maybe you have a talent for music and just don't know it yet? I bet if we gave you a few years you could play or sing...maybe both. Your quick eye for detail would definitely get you off to a running start.

If I stop submitting content to this site, it would only mean one of three things:

1 I'm dead.
2 David won the lottery and paid us all to go away (hint, hint ;)
3 Someone broke my computer or killed my internet.

TC! (and thank you for asking!)