Mozart and Organ Music

Mozart once played on a baroque organ (27 December, 1769), found in Chiesa di San Tomaso Becket, Verona, Italy. Last Friday night, I went to a concert there to hear Mozart music. Amazing.

The small group of musicians and the organist all sat up high in the balcony that you see here. The music echoed beautifully through the large structure of the church.

As a keyboard player (piano), I appreciate this all,and enjoy the history as well.







Here is a link to more info on the church (but in Italian)

Creative use of IPad

A few weeks ago, I went to the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. As I was meandering through the art galleries, I heard organ music in the distance. As a lover of music, I was drawn to locate the source and enjoy the sounds not only audibly, but visually as well.

Imagine my surprise (and delight) to see the organist, David Hegarty, playing the organ and using his Ipad as his "music book". Every few minutes, he would tap the screen to turn the page. As an avid Mac girl, yet again, I am amazed at all the creative applications I see with Mac people.

I emailed David and asked him to tell me more. This is what he said:

The iPad is a great repository for printed music. I scan the music and then load it into the ForScore app on the iPad. The scores can be arranged into set-lists for specific performances. And there's no awkward page turning—just a quick tap of the screen turns the page. There's even provision for making performance notes in various colors on the page. I can store hundreds of compositions in the iPad without lugging around bulky notebooks. Revolutionary!

Check out David's site

Here are a few shots of David and the organ:

David...

turning the page...

Playing...

Jazz in Verona: For the Love of Playing Music

Saturday evening, I went to dinner with a new friend, and afterwards, we walked over to a Street Festival with Jazz.

Now, I want to say, that one thing I have noticed with all kinds of music here in Europe, whether it be classical, jazz, world...,when you watch the musicians play, their love of playing music radiates.

So, that being said, I am posting some photos here. They were taken with my I-Phone, which is not able to capture motion well in low light. Let me tell you that there was motion!!

The Italian men in this Jazz ensemble, paraded for a bit on the street, and then found a spot where they performed for a long time. They were infectious! I hope you get a sense of it from these images, even if they are not clear in all cases.

The group was called Magicaboola Jazz Brass Band.

Think..... JAZZ.....

Music - Italian Style

Music is a big part of my life, and when I travel I love to sample as much of it as possible.

Here is a sampling of some of the music I was able to listen to while in
Verona..

Chamber Music
I got to sit in the front row, and it was so amazing to see more of the subtlties of the musicians.. the foot tapping, the breathing, the passion..


This musicians of this group from Venice stood while they played. There was no conductor, per se. Rather, the lead and solist violinist took charge. The harpsichord was wonderful. I felt transplanted in time.

This young woman below was an amazing pianist. I could not believe the strength in her hands.

Experiencing jazz in a piano bar was great fun.

Here is a new and upcoming musician... Guido. He is taking piano lessons from one of the jazz players (above), and sat down to entertain the clients of the piano bar during a break. He is twelve and very cleaver, and enjoyed practicing his English with me.

My New Challenge

I am pushing a little with this one. This is not a textile or yarn. Rather, it is a musical instrument that I have been eyeing for awhile.

So...
Meet my new bright red concertina. According to Wikipedia, "the word concertina refers to a family of hand-held bellows-driven free reed instruments".
Mine is in the key of C, and I have to move the bellows in and out (at the appropriate time) and press the keys that I want (at the appropriate time). It is not as straight forward as one thinks, and so, I will be spending a little time each evening for the next while, learning to get a few tunes out of my little friend.

This IS a stretch of creativity for me, just in a different direction. Who would like to help me name this new baby?