Practice Journal 21

Here in the USA, it was Thanksgiving day.  
A day I prefer to be alone.  

Last Saturday I arranged the music for the service of my godfather- it was impressive for a memorial service, if I say so myself.  I could not have done it without the help of my amazing colleagues, but particularly Katherine.  She was my Albertville liaison, and a friend for a long time, she is a master of music, and all the arts, I simply cannot say enough nice things about her.

Jeremy Benson played flute, Shane Kennedy performed- tenor, soloist and ensemble.  There were about a dozen people that collectively participated in the music.  I believe if my godfather could have heard the product from beyond the grave, that he would have approved.

Amidst all this- I had other funerals, myriad rehearsals, and a lot of practicing to accomplish.  Life is busy, but this new sense of depression or solitary introspection has been perplexing.  When I am angsty- the best way for me handle things, is by practicing, and working.  Since my house is a disaster of remodeling, I re-touched up my office (at work), and it is providing an organized, and welcome place until I clear my psyche enough to tackly my home interiors.  

I will be playing "Rhapsody in Blue" in April, it appears with the Jacksonville Orchestra, with Jeremy Benson conducting, and looking into doing (for a second time) the "Vox Belanae" by George Crumb with flute and cello- during the same week.  It seems do-able, and promising.

Adding to the upcoming calendar, it appears that I will be the pianist for "A Little Night Music" with the local opera company.   Time has spanned years since I have committed to playing an opera/show, as I don't do that anymore.  However, I am playing for this, because Shane is the master, and is in charge of what I need to do.  

Adding to those performances, I am preparing for:
Carols of Christmas- I'm playing "Bugler's Holiday", and Jo Lynn Burks is the special guest soloist
Trinity Keyboard Series:  My Annual Holiday show- featuring Camilla Pruitt, Jo Lynn Burks, Torin Kyemba

All the school performances etc....

So on and So on-

Today I practiced:
Organ:
Jerry Westenkeuhler's "Crown Him With Many Crowns" 
Andrew Carter's "Trumpet Tune" (Resplendent with "love song")


Piano:
Rachmaninoff:  

• Flight of the Bumblebee
• Liebeslied

Chopin

• Winter Wind Etude Am
• Thirds Etude G#min
• Revolutionary Etude Cmin

Ravel:

• Miroirs:  Valley of the Bells (or whatever it translates to)
• Miroirs:  Boat on the sea (or whatever it translates to)
• Valses nobles et sentimentales
• La Valse

Adding to all this- maybe tis a state of mania, though I ordered some new oil paint liquids and have been working at my Samurai of praise painting, and a new "re-dub" of a painting.  

Blessed#  Bah Humbug to all holidays.