Don't Stop Believing...

Last night, we played our first of four concerts with Andre Boreyko. He's is awesome, and I love playing under him, even if I didn't always enjoy the rehearsals. I also really love conductors that appreciate the bass section. When Muti was here, he was looking at the bass section 80% of the time. Boreyko, too, understands our importance to the ensemble, but also, doesn't neglect the rest of the orchestra. He referred to the cello and bass sections as providing a velvet carpet on which the rest of the orchestra stood. He said this to Hal Robinson, and that's a great compliment. I can't wait for our next performances. This afternoon, we're going to play an outdoor concert, and have our last reception (free beer) here in Sapporo. Tomorrow, we leave Sapporo, and take our show on the road to Nagoya, and Osaka. This could potentially be my last blog post, I'm not sure what the internet availability will be like, so I will take my time now to reflect on the past month.

It's been a wild ride, full of ups and downs, and I wouldn't trade any minute of it for anything. I've worked really hard, played some great music, and learned a lot about this career that I want to be a part of. But I can't deny that it was difficult at times. Staying up late is one thing, but living so close to people for this long can sometimes put a bad taste in your mouth. All I can say is that people grow older, but they don't necessarily grow up. I'm not a negative guy, so, enough of that. We all have a job to do. No one can be happy with themselves unless they feel a purpose in themselves. I'm fortunate because I feel that what I do is one of the most important things. Muti said it well a few weeks ago when he talked about how people from all around the world, like our PMF orchestra, can get together and play music, without saying a word, and strive for one common goal. There is really nothing else in the world like that. But there are many other important things out there being done, things I could never do. All I'm saying is that people can do anything if they put their minds to it, but to find meaning and purpose from it is difficult but beautiful. (The only thing I can think of as more important than bringing people together, especially these days, are mothers all around the world that keep our future generations strong and healthy...you want some wine with that cheese?) This experience was an enriching one. Its difficult to really learn when everything's easy, and a good time. That's what vacations are for. To really bite into life, for better or worse, is to learn and grow. I am a much stronger and more experienced person and musician, and for that, I will always be thankful.

I really do love people. They may not always be good people, but we all must follow our own path, I guess. If we all lived by the same moral conduct and set of rules, wouldn't it be really boring? We are never done growing. We are all just children, trying, failing and succeeding, but I'm extra lucky, because, its a fact, I'm a Goodchild.

Thanks to everyone who's cared (or at least been interested) about my travels to Japan. I will be home soon!

Sapporo Beer Fest

We started rehearsing for our last concert cycle this week, and the International Principals have arrived as well. Hal Robinson, my old teacher, has been giving us great master classes and sectionals, he's been playing in the section during our rehearsals, and he bought all the beer for us at beer fest last night. The Sapporo beer fest also started this week. I can't even describe how much fun it is. They have great beer and food. There's a Sapporo side, and a Kirin side. I've been to both, and I definitely like Kirin better, now that I've done a side by side taste test. You order your beer by the keg or by the tower, its pretty awesome. I wanted to write about it sooner, but since I've been there the past three nights, it's been difficult to sit down at a computer and concentrate when I get back home. (Its difficult to do anything...) After the second night, I didn't think I could go back for a third night, until Hal said he wanted to go. Bass players really do know how to party, that's all I gotta say. I've been there the past three nights, and there comes a point, usually around 9:30, where the language barrier at the beer fest breaks down. Japanese people are very friendly and nice. I met a Yankees fan the other night, and would yell "Matsui!" every time I yelled "Matsuzaka!" I tried to imagine what a beer festival like this in America would be like. Safety and security would be the first issue, because that's just what you need to do in America. Japanese people have earned the right to party like this, because no one causes trouble, no one's getting out of line, it's like Disney World for adults...with beer. In America, I think everyone would be so caught up on making sure everyone's 21, that no fights break out, and making money that it just couldn't happen. (I love Japan) I'm sad to think that this will still be going on after I leave.

I think I'm going to enjoy this last concert cycle. Our conductor is Andrey Boreyko, very Russian. We're also playing an all Russian program, Rachmaninoff 3rd piano concerto, a Scriabin tone poem, two short Liadov pieces, and a few other things I can't really remember. I've actually never played any of these pieces, they're not very well known. (If anyone's interested, Scriabin wrote some great things, but I think he never really got popular because he died of a small infection that ended up poisoning his blood, a few years before penicillin was discovered, ironically enough. However, he believed music, and only music, would one day save the world, and he wrote some amazing pieces...worth checking out) The rehearsals have been kind of rough, however. We spend a lot of time on only a few bars. Its very tedious, and the orchestra is clearly getting antsy, myself included, but I'm starting to see the purpose of this. (In the end, a conductor should never have to rehearse this way, but I can't think of anyone who's played the Scriabin piece before, and we're learning it inside and out) The Scriabin tone poem is very impressionistic, as far as Russian music goes. I really like what he's doing with it, even if I'm not a fan of his rehearsal style. (My stand partner and I made bets as to when we were going to play our first note yesterday morning, it was a half hour into the rehearsal) Also, Hal has been sitting in with us during the rehearsals, and its just fantastic. I'm fortunate enough to be sitting principal, so he gives me a few principal tips here and there. Its hard to believe that I actually only have one week left here. Time passes slowly, but I know it's just going to be a flash when I look back on it later.

Ikkinomics

Yesterday, we played our second and final concert for the Rite of Spring, and others. We performed on the outdoor stage in the afternoon. To me, it was amazing for a number of reasons. The bass section of 10 players nailed a notoriously difficult last page of the piece, which requires an intense amount of subdivision, and the rest of the orchestra wasn't too shabby either. Also, before the concert started, it looked like it was going to rain, but the sun ultimately came out and stayed for the afternoon. While we were performing, children were running around in the field, dancing, and rolling down hills. At one point during the Rite, the sun caught the air in such a way that you could see the sun beams coming through the clouds. Bugs were swarming at the edge of the ceiling on the outdoor stage. Something about that moment was really beautiful. It was like something out of Fantasia, or like a ballet of nature (I tried to say that without sounding too, uh...you know what I mean). And after our concert, there was another reception full of free beer (free beer, free beer, feels so good just to type it) delicious food, and we expressed our new found theory of ikkinomics (see quote of the day #1). A few of us ripped apart a couple lobsters and devoured them, delicious. Then, back at the hotel, we had a dance party in my room, which was awesome.

Today, I went on the PMF organized day trip to Otaru. We made our first stop at the Olympic ski jump. We rode a lift to the top of a mountain from which you could see all of Sapporo. (This blog only allows a few pictures per post) It was also a beautiful day to boot. At the top, there was a hiking trail that I followed for as long as time would permit, and it was amazing, that's all I can say. Then, the bus took us to Otaru, which is a very touristy town on the coast of Hokkaido. They are known for their glass factories and their beer, their delicious beer. I think Disney also has stock in this town, because every store had a lot of Disney merchandise. But I was with good people, and good times. It was a very good day today. I got a few gifts. Dad, I found a great mug for you, because I know that's all you really want. This evening, there's a beer festival going on in downtown Sapporo, and I feel compelled to make an appearance. Tomorrow, the international principals are going to be here. I'm playing for Hal in the morning, and at this point, I really wish I had more time to practice at this festival, but what can you do.

Quote of the Day #1: "It's simple ikkinomics, if you're given free beer for 2 hours, you have to make the most of that and ikki all you can!"

Quote of the Day #2: "We're all black on the inside...it's dark in there."

Bass Dojo

Before Metallica, before Led Zepplin, there was Igor Stravinsky. We played our first of two concerts with the Rite of Spring this evening. It was at a concert hall 2 hours away by bus, and everyone was feeling tired, exhausted, and negative in general. But the piece is so amazing, that everyone found the last bit of energy that they had, and we put on a good show, in my opinion. (If you ask someone else, they may argue otherwise.) This concert cycle has been questionable. Morale has been low for number of reasons. The conductor didn't really know how to deal with the issues, I think, because most of his experience comes from high level professional orchestras. Also, some of the pieces, by composers who shall remain nameless, were garbage. And today, we took a bus ride after lunch that took longer than expected, and we ended up rehearsing the concert program until 20 minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. Wherever you are, and whoever you are, that's just now how it's done. But when we walked out there to play the Rite, we knew this piece had everything we needed. As far as the bass part, it's straight up heavy metal, head banging music. Aside from us, enough of the orchestra wanted to play this piece well. The attitude is 99% of the performance, and tonight was a prime example. And one the bus ride back, we got crazy. There was no radio, so we made our own music, banging on the walls of the bus, spittin' rhymes, and singing. In Japan, it's always Suntori time... Unfortunately, not everyone on the bus was pleased with our roughtiness. (sp?) Tomorrow morning, I'm sleeping in, and we have an afternoon concert, and then a day off.

Yesterday, everyone's chamber music group performed at different places in and around Sapporo. We played at a concert hall in Higashi. I don't really know where it was, but it was pretty fun. My chamber music group decided to switch the piece we were playing on Wednesday, only to perform it yesterday (Friday). But it all worked out well. We got to the venue early, did a sound check, and had 3 hours of down time. I went to the Sapporo beer factory, which is no longer operational, to my great sadness. But, across the street was a mall (Japanese malls put our's to shame) with a Sega store inside, with an arcade too. I spent 200 yennies to play what I though was a racing game. It had a mock up of a car, with dashboard, mirrors, seat belt, turn signals, you know what I mean. Well, because it was all in Japanese, I didn't realize that it was just a driving simulator. You're supposed to drive around like a normal driver, and obey traffic laws, wear your seatbelt, and use your turn signal, etc... Once the game started, I floored it, hit a pedestrian, and got arrested. My 200 yennies were gone. Ce la vie...

Workin' Like a Dog

I'm pretty exhausted, and my train of thought may reflect this feeling, but I thought I would take a little time to write anyway. The Berlin Philharmonic teachers arrived earlier this week. Klaus Stoll, the first solo bass player of the Berlin Phil. (I like to refer to him as Santer Kalus) He is a character, to say the least, and he is an amazing teacher. Yesterday, we started with a bass sectional on the Rite of Spring, and he totally changed my perception of the bass part in that piece. He's another one of those musicians that makes something amazing seem so easy and obvious. Later that afternoon, we had our first full rehearsal for the concert program this weekend. Our conductor this time is Phillipe Jordan. He's very young, only 33, but has already lead an impressive career. The ladies think he's pretty cute too, so I'm a little jealous. The Rite of Spring is an incredible piece to play. Everyone in the festival is playing in this piece, it's a huge work. After rehearsal, we had master class with Klaus. I'm kind of out of shape, because we don't have much time to practice around here, and if we do, I need to rest. However, I played the Beethoven 9 recitatives for him, and watched the knowledge and experience pour out of him. I hadn't worked them up, I just played them to get him to talk about them, and by the end, I was playing them well, not my main point. He has facsimiles of Beethoven's original manuscript, and the first three published editions of the piece. This guy really knows his sh...Beethoven Symphonies. And today, I really didn't get much of a break. We had double orchestra rehearsals before and after lunch, and then I had chamber music rehearsal before dinner. My group, a nonet of winds and strings, decided we didn't like our piece and asked for a new one yesterday, even though we have to perform it Friday evening. Tensions ran high, and we extended our scheduled rehearsal time. I had a good 7+ hours of rehearsals today, but it was fun...?

Aside from music, here's what's been going down. I went and saw Harry Potter the other night. It was pretty awesome. The theater was above an arcade. Japanese arcades are the coolest things ever. I played Mario Kart in one those things where you sit with a steering wheel and race with four people. It was a dream come true. Oh, and last night on TV, they had Full House on. Even though it was overdubbed, I knew exactly what was going on, because I know every episode, and probably could've taken that opportunity to learn some Japanese. (A little embarrassing that of all TV shows, I know that one and Saved By the Bell the best, something I'm finding a lot of people my age have in common) Well, I should rest, because I am very tired, and I have another full day tomorrow. Enjoy the awesome picture...

Shabbats

I won't waste time complaining about how today was my first day off since I got here in Japan, so I'll get right to it. Today was awesome. I didn't practice (I don't roll on Shabbats), and I fully enjoyed my first significant amount of free time. I guess my story actually starts yesterday. We played a Sunday afternoon concert with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. They split the orchestra into two, and I was fortunate enough to get to play the Firebird and Mozart. At 6:00, the reception began. Free beer and good food, we were pounding on the door at 5:45 to get a piece of that. In case you all weren't aware, free beer is a beautiful and dangerous thing. "Ikki, ikki, ikki!" For those of you that don't speak Japanese, it's their word for "chug," one of the first words I learned in this country. Either way, things got real crazy last night. (Seriously, I'm not an alcoholic) But, I woke up in enough time for breakfast, and went back to bed while watching the Mariners play the Tigers. (Japan's favorite teams are the Mariners, Yankees, and Red Sox, because these teams have imported Japanese players.) I also watched Lost in Translation on my iPod. If anyone is interested in getting a better idea of my experience here, watch that movie. There is nothing in that movie I haven't seen or done, it was actually kind of scary. Suntori makes everything around here, including good whiskey. They also produce great mineral water, a very smart marketing decision if you think about it. I had lunch at Freshness Burger (pronounced fleshness baga) down the street from the hotel. By the way, if anyone read about the Earthquake in Japan, I didn't feel it. I may have been asleep, or too far away. Call me crazy, but I have a desire to experience one at some point in my life. This afternoon, I went to an awesome driving range. It's right across the street from my hotel, and I had been waiting since the first day to go there. And then, I went to the supermarket, and bought sushi, chicken, and supplies for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Oh, and awesome fireworks too. You can get fireworks anywhere here. I guess the government here puts a little more faith into people than others that I can think of. (To boot, beer in vending machines, and the right to carry a beer on the street) After a spectacular display, here I am, feeling fully refreshed and rested after my day off. Tomorrow starts our rehearsals for the Rite of Spring, and I'm also playing in a masterclass for a member Berlin Philharmonic. I'm not sure what I'm going to play, but it's going to be sweet. Maybe some Brahms, maybe some Bach maybe some...baseball? Things are well on this side of the world, I have yet to see the effects of Man-Yi, one of the strongest Typhoons to date to hit mainland Japan, and I was unaffected but the 6.0+ earthquake. Things seem to be turning out just right...

Quote of the Day: "Let's get normal!"

Genki

Something about being in Japan really makes me want to go to Karaoke bars all the time. The craziest times I've had have been when a bunch of people decide to go get crazy at a Karaoke bar. It costs about 10 dollars American per hour, per person, and its all you can drink. There's a little phone in the room, and all you have to do is pick it up and say, "Beer-u por favor," and like that, there's fresh beers for everyone. And these are private party rooms, so you don't have to embarrass yourself in front of complete strangers. (Actually, last night got so crazy, me and this guy Ryan Murphy wandered into someone else's room, and they were all Japanese, but we all can recognize the common bond of beer and Journey.) I regularly perform "Don't Stop Believing" and the entire Chili Peppers catalog. I've gone to Karaoke quite a bit by now. But the most amazing part about last night is, unlike the night in Tokyo, I stayed up until 4 after a lot of drinking, and woke up this morning feeling like a million bucks. The weather was beautiful and I was pumped to play Firebird and Mozart with the Sapporo Symphony. Genki is a Japanese response to "how are you doing?", usually. The best English translation is good, but I think it has to do with feeling the positive energy flowing through you. Maybe I'm making out to be more profound than it really is, but I felt so good because I had a good time last night, and I've been having a good time. When you can feel this energy, you don't need sleep, coffee, or even an overworked liver to prevent a hangover. Hangovers are a state of mind.

In between rehearsals today, I started playing with this Japanese toy. It's a ball on a string and a handle that has four spots with which to catch the ball. There are three spots to land it, each with differing sizes, and then a spike that you have to get in the hole of the ball. I'm apparently a natural at it. I put the spike in the ball within my first few tries, and landed it in sequence. I might spend a lot of time trying to get really good at it. There's this group called PMF Harmony that gives us these toys, snacks, and tea all throughout the day. Its a pretty sweet deal.

Quote of the Day: "We're bringing Genki back..."