My Swiss Idol, and a Reminder of My Musical Weakness

I have a new flute idol.  I've known about him for a long time, but now that I have Spotify, I can listen to a lot more of his music.  My new idol is Emmanuel Pahud, and I suggest you listen to everything he's ever recorded.  His recording of the JSB Partita in A Minor is splendid.  The phrasing is perfect, every note he plays is beautiful, and it all sounds easy.  It's everything music making should be.

My practice session today was not the ethereal experience of listening to a Pahud recording, but it was productive.  My musical breakfast consisted of long tones by Moyse, harmonics by Wye, and scales by T and G.  The long tones were in tune, more or less, and I did much better on the harmonics today than I did yesterday.  I can get the notes to sound without splitting about 80% of the time now, but I admit the high G gives me fits.  I can make it sound without splitting only if I concentrate really hard on relaxing my embochure.  Concentrating on relaxing seems oxymoronic on the surface, but I think one can only relax with focused concentration.  As always, I practiced T and G EJ 1,2 and 4.  After reading an excellent article on practicing after a hiatus by Canadian flutist Jennifer Cluff, I decided to concentrate on keeping my fingers very relaxed and close to the keys.  This was phenomenally helpful in playing evenly and it felt great.  I played the second page of EJ 1 and 2, articulation #2, 2 octaves, 63 beats per minute.  For EJ 4, I played Gb major through C# minor, articulation #2, 63 beats per minute.  It's progress.  Slow.  Steady.  Progress.  I love it.

For my étude, I played the sixth piece in Cavally's Melodious and Progressive Studies.  It reminds me of my biggest musical weakness -- rhythm.  I'm not saying that I can't count; I can.  But Carol Wincenc told me in a masterclass that I "meander around the rhythm", and my teacher at the time, Frank Fuge, agreed with her.  And after listening to some old recordings of myself, including my playing the Mozart D Major Concerto with my university's orchestra, I get it.  This little etude is rhythmically trickier than the previous five because of the syncopation.  I got through it, but I plan to work on it for a day or two more.

I added orchestral excerpts to my practice today.  I bought a(nother) copy of Baxtresser's Orchestral Excerpts for Flute the other day from Flute World, so I thought I'd put it to some use.  I practiced Stravinsky's Petrouchka, focusing on the flute cadenza at the Poco piu mosso, trying to play the little notes with a clear, vibrant sound.  I also spent some time on the third excerpt from this piece in Baxtresser's book.  I'm not ready for any auditions, but it was fun to play through these excerpts and imagine playing in an orchestra again.

I ended my session with the JSB Partita in A minor.  I have the first movement from the beginning to the repeat under my fingers fairly well.  The Pahud recording of this piece helps me a lot in phrasing and deciding where to breathe.  I've already scheduled a performance of this piece.  The Adult Music Student Forum has a recital at a member's home on June 3rd.  I can play up to 10 minutes of whatever I want.  I'll decide later which movements I want to play.

I'm still in love with the Miyazawa with the Hammig headjoint.  Ms. Trimber has quoted me a price for the combination, with a C# trill and split E, for $5900.  The flute needs to be made, so it would take about 4 weeks to get it.  I would pay half down and the rest when I receive the flute.  Keith is not so on board with spending this kind of money, but I must have this instrument.  I'll keep working on it.  It's a bit above my price range, but I can make it happen.  I'm a rich doctor, right?  (Not.)

I am on call tomorrow.  Yes, I've been on call a lot lately.  I'm also on the following Wednesday evening.  This is because I have a blessed two week vacation beginning March 19th.  I plan to get a lot of good practicing in tomorrow if things are not crazy.

It's cooking while drinking wine time, so I must bid my dear reader adieu.  I'll have a glass in your honor.