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Clarinets and Spain
Apr. 17th, 2016 11:58 pmThis afternoon I went to a performance by the Platypus Clarinet Orchestra, a group of 28 clarinet players who are all either Ducks (University of Oregon affiliates) or Beavers (Oregon State University affiliates), hence Platypus. D’s clarinet teacher played a sopranino clarinet, and my friend Holly the director of the youth symphonies played a standard clarinet and also conducted a piece. The group sounded much like a complex pipe organ. I especially enjoyed the “Jewish Suite,” which had a klezmer theme. The main piece they performed was Schumann’s 4th Symphony.
Other than that, the day was dedicated to getting J. ready for Spain (and not, alas, to my taxes, although he did his, at least). I finished compiling all of the instructions I’d gleaned online for how to use the metro, where to go in Toledo, which mall within walking distance of the hotel was the best bet for SIM cards, etc. We threw together a version of the leading deck he needed to prepare for, and D. helped him practice his own deck (W/B Eldrazi) versus this version (Bant Company). We got cash and finished laundry and did packing and photocopied his passport and notified his credit card company of his travel plans (so he doesn’t get his card turned off, like the last time he went to a Magic tournament in Las Vegas).
Curiously, the clarinet concert also had a strong Spanish connection. The piece Holly conducted was called “Calle de Flores,” the other conductor composed one of the pieces while on a one-week retreat to a village in Spain, and he’d heard another piece they played while at a big clarinet conference last year in Madrid. Does Spain love the clarinet? Not as much as the guitar, I am sure.
Other than that, the day was dedicated to getting J. ready for Spain (and not, alas, to my taxes, although he did his, at least). I finished compiling all of the instructions I’d gleaned online for how to use the metro, where to go in Toledo, which mall within walking distance of the hotel was the best bet for SIM cards, etc. We threw together a version of the leading deck he needed to prepare for, and D. helped him practice his own deck (W/B Eldrazi) versus this version (Bant Company). We got cash and finished laundry and did packing and photocopied his passport and notified his credit card company of his travel plans (so he doesn’t get his card turned off, like the last time he went to a Magic tournament in Las Vegas).
Curiously, the clarinet concert also had a strong Spanish connection. The piece Holly conducted was called “Calle de Flores,” the other conductor composed one of the pieces while on a one-week retreat to a village in Spain, and he’d heard another piece they played while at a big clarinet conference last year in Madrid. Does Spain love the clarinet? Not as much as the guitar, I am sure.