And the recital was…
Tuesday May 20 2008
Not bad! I’m actually surprised it went better than I expected! And it’s not often any serious musician can say that.
The Hindemith went about as well as I could have hoped. One note didn’t speak in one of the slow sections of the 2nd movement.
The Telemann went okay. There were some weird stuff that happened, but I played worse on the previous two performances, so I’m glad I played the best on this performance.
The Tomasi was tough. I let the the last movement get away from me, (too fast,) but it could have been a lot worse. I kept waiting for absolute silence for the first notes of that piece, but people kept shuffling their program notes and stuff, and it really rattled my concentration as I grew increasingly impatient. I put a lot of energy into it and on the recording it came through.
The Saint Saens I thought I played the worse, but I heard multiple sources (including my flutist, or is it flautist?) say that it was the best of the recital. In both the middle section of the 2nd movement and the 3rd movement, my accompanist took off like a bat out of you know where, and I couldn’t control the tempo from there on out. That piece is so transparent that any little mistake blares in contrast to the rest of the piece.
Finally the Hanson, which I dedicated to my first oboe teacher did NOT… go so well. It’s a very syncopated, tricky piece, and I got off twice, but we got back on quickly enough that it didn’t sound terribly out of place. Several other people, including my mother (who does not like 20th century music) said it was their favorite piece.
Overall, I’m pleased with how the recital came across. Maybe tomorrow when a bit more sober (10 shots of tequila certainly does you over!) I’ll feel differently, but that was my initial reaction.
Finally, I want to thank Peter Hurd for coming all the way from Bellingham (6 hours), Wesley Turner who is my best friend since 3rd grade and was my best man in my wedding for coming down from Seattle (4 hours) and for being my responsible designated driver, and finally, a woman named Christina who has been reading my blog for some time and drove down from Portland (2 hours) just to hear my recital and hear me! I felt incredibly honored that she would make such a pilgrimage, despite never having heard me play or having ever met me previously. I hope I made the trip worth while and that you enjoyed the performance. She was curious about trying this “C series oboe” that I’ve been blogging about, so I let her play it alongside the DM bore (both bought from Peter Hurd) and she agreed with me that the C series is a much freer, more flexible instrument. It was good to hear her input, and I gave her my reed that I played the Saint Saens on. She said she was surprised at how responsive it was; whether this was a good thing or a bad thing I’m not sure of, but she got a good sense of my reed style (and Mr. Weber’s). However, I did not get her contact info, so if you’re out there reading Christina, please send me your info! I’d love to keep in touch with you!
I think I’m going to use my school email to upload the sound files. If anyone wants to hear recordings of the pieces I played on my recital, let me know and I’ll figure out a way to get them to you. Just listening to the Hindemith, I’m surprised at the tone quality (not quite as full as I expected), but at least I finished the recital with some tank in the gas.
I’ll write more tomorrow when I’m more sober. Thanks for reading.
Suvayd
May 20, 2008
Really glad it went so well; only wish I too could have been there to hear you! Yes, if there’s any way to get a couple of sound files from the recital, I’d love to hear them! Good thing though you had a designated driver, what with all that tank in your gas… 
cjwrightoboe
May 20, 2008
Oh geez. Tank in the gas. Hmm… Well, yes, I suppose that WAS my state of mind at the time.
nat*
May 21, 2008
Congratulations! (:
patty
May 21, 2008
Gee, never thought to get drunk after my concerts, Cooper. I’ll have to try that ...
Not.
Glad to hear you survived! So what’s up next?
I only have six more shows and then Rite of Spring. Piece ‘o cake. 
(Truth be told, I’ve chosen the doubling book on Rite so it really WILL be easy. I could have done the solo EH part for less money. Why bother, when I’ve had enough stress this year?)
racheloboes
May 28, 2008
Congrats! And I would love to hear recordings if you can get them. 
steve bliss
Jul 4, 2008
Cooper,
Came across your blog - while searching for oboe professors at Univ of Oregon, Reed, and Univ of Washington. My son is a high school senior in the fall, plays oboe, looking to major in theory and composition. If you get this, can you let me know who the professors are at each of these schools? WOuld like to arrange to meet them in person if possible during the summer.
Thanks
steve bliss
May 20, 2008
Congratulations, Cooper!
That’s a lot of music!! I’d need 10 shots to get the circulation back into my chops!
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