Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Happy Braun Family News Part Two

How could I forget?? Now that the entire Braun clan has been informed of the news, I may tell all and sundry more happy Braun family news:

Heidi and Whit are pregnant! The due date is Sept. 27th. Adelaide will have a baby brother or sister.

I was informed of this news just a few days after Holly's engagement. In the next 12 months, I will have a new brother-in-law and a new niece or nephew.

We are all very happy and excited!

Glory Days of Post-Recital

Mozart Requiem
Schubert Cello Quintet
Grieg String Quartet
Pizzetti Tre Canti
BUSO last concert tonight
Cantata Singers
Back Bay Chorale
Emmanuel Music
wedding gigs
jury duty

(These are all the things I have to look forward to performing or doing for the next month now that my recital is over.)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

48 hours

Exactly 48 hours from now, I will be playing the beginning of Brahms in recital.

My permission this morning went well. I passed, and all can continue normally.

The weather here has been spectacular lately.

My parents and Grandma will be here tonight at 5:30. Holly arrives tomorrow at 9:30.

The end.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

My recital is now officially less than a week away. I would say that I am about 75% ready for Brahms, 85% ready for Copland, and Beethoven I haven't played yet for almost two months. That is scary. However, since Molly and I have already performed it several times earlier in the year, I am confident it will be fantastic, therefore, I will say that I am about 90% ready for Beethoven. That could be generous. Incredibly generous.

I went to Barber of Seville tonight by the BU opera. It was excellent - the singers here are really great.

I am going to put this next thing in acronym form since I really can't risk putting it all out, here on the internet, where anyone can find it - but here is something that is really annoying me lately -

H.A.T.H.I.T.S.H.P.M.L.T.M.I.T.T.S.H.A.N.T.O.W.A.W.D.E.T.H.I.S.G.H.P.W.A.S.S.A.N.C!

There. I feel better.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Birthday

Happy Birthday to Heidi! Also, reminder to all about their taxes......

Recital countdown: T minus 11 days.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Happy Braun Family News

As of around 5 pm EST today, my sister Holly is engaged to Tony Schmidt. The wedding as of now is planned for May or June, 2009.

This will be my third time as bridesmaid. You know what they say....... :-)

I am so excited and happy for both of them!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Landlords and BU Strike Again

I had a blast playing Baroque violin for Semele on Wednesday and Thursday night. Since I'm staying here next year, I'm going to try to get more into it, even convince the HP department to do some major work (new strings, adjustment, fingerboard planed) on the violin I'm using.

Here are some things happening lately that have made my life more stressful than it should be:

1. Got the most interesting call from Liza yesterday - Molly and I did not get the renewal contract for our apartment next year to our landlord by April 1st, more like April 8th, but he apparently still does not have it, so realtors were calling Liza saying that they would be showing my apartment to prospective tenants. WHAT??????? I called said landlord immediately and we have figured it out (as well as told him he should not be bothering Liza, obviously), so all should be fine. But that was an extreme moment of panic. Sheer. Panic.

2. I received my acceptance letter for my DMA here a week ago Thursday, along with a letter for a full tuition scholarship from an arts foundation. Two days ago, I got another letter of acceptance, with a full tuition scholarship from private CFA sponsors. I did not realize the discrepancy until last night when I was filling out the forms, but I now have two letters that say I have two full rides from two very different sources. So now I have to go figure that out in the admissions office. BU has apparently been screwing up EVERYTHING with admissions stuff for next fall - my friend Sharon was told her scholarship for next year was half of what it actually is, and my close friend Emily's application was actually lost. Gone. I realize I am selfishly complaining, in comparison to their mixups, but come on, BU. This messes with people's lives, plans, emotions, and time in extreme ways.

The weather is picking up. Spring is finally coming. With it means baseball season in Boston, meaning overcrowded trains with drunk Red Sox fans.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Week of Insanity

Last night's Verdi went smoothly, although it was not without its hiccups.

The first Emmanuel rehearsal for B minor Mass was yesterday, and it was quite enjoyable to sit next to my sister. We are standpartners - I love it, but it is quite funny at the same time, too.

Tomorrow night and Thursday night are the Semele performances for the Baroque orchestra. Its great music, and the singers sound wonderful, the orchestra, not so much. My baroque violin is in such bad shape - I desperately need a new D string, a rehair, and some peg dope.

My modern violin is also in a bit of a bad state. I need new strings, need a rehair, need new rosin (I finally dropped it - I knew it was coming - my rosin is now in 25 zillion pieces), and need an adjustment.

And I really really REALLY need a nap. No time though! Must press on!

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Organic Cake and Scooping Singers

I am currently listening to Mozart C minor Mass (playing it in a week and half for a Harvard group) and waiting for Emily Stewart's birthday cake to bake for tonight. Its all organic - even the icing, which I made from scratch. I love Whole Foods. I got up early this morning and went the the store for this week's groceries, since I have no time for lunch or dinner at home this week, and will be making food for the day every night before so I don't spend $500 in one week just eating out. (Thats an exaggerated amount, but hey - its expensive around here.)

I have officially, completely decided that I don't appreciate singers who scoop up to every other third note. We finally had the soloists yesterday for the Verdi Requiem (Symphony Hall concert on Monday) and the tenor soloist is starting to grate on my nerves with all this unnecessary scooping. I thought the other three soloists weren't so bad with the scooping, until the soprano has an octave leap marked "pppp" (literally - I have the cue in my part - it is pianississississimo) and gave the biggest one from her middle staff B-flat to her upper octave B-flat. I almost had a heart attack on the spot. Yes, she's a student, so I shouldn't be so harsh. Yes, she has a beautiful voice, and I think will be very successful someday. Yes, I KNOW its Verdi, and the scooping makes it "romantic" and "expressive". In my opinion, however, the tenor and soprano soloists would say a lot more about their vocal control in their performance if they scooped less.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

I am currently at the library, printing out various important items before heading back to CFA. My day has already started with a flourish - little dearie (aka Adelaide) came by this morning and I hung out with her while Heidi had an appointment. Whit has been on brass quintet tour for almost a week now, with almost two weeks to go, so I am happy to help when I can. She even let me French braid her hair - it looked very pretty!

I'm afraid to check email now. Everytime I do, there is some new crises or rehearsal or conflict or one more thing to do before April 26th (my recital date).

If it would just get a
little bit warmer, I would be more optimistic about the next month.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

things

The sun is shining today!

Amy left yesterday - we had such a great time!

Every time I look at my schedule, I absolutely freak out and have small panic attacks. My recital is in three and a half weeks.

I enjoy playing Baroque violin a lot. Hope to make it more of a regular thing continuing into next year. Speaking of which, BU still hasn't sent out any acceptance forms or anything of the kind. I really need to know NOW if they can afford to keep me here next year.

I've been reading through those blogs Mary posted a lot over the past couple days. The first one is comforting on a huge scale that prayer works. The second one is indeed completely different - completely tragic, in so many ways. One, I haven't been able to figure out HOW their baby died, and two, she should have listened to the Bev Braun-ism: "Your most important decision is who you marry, because it effects everything in your life after its done."

I am currently in the process of changing my blog - its a very SLOW work in progress.

Lately, every time I open a new blog post, I stare at the screen for five minutes not knowing what to say. What can I even say - my life right now is a constant barreling of school and friends. Nothing in either of those categories has changed much within even the past month.

Thats it. I really have nothing left to say. Except saying that I have nothing left to say.