Steps to Greatness, Vancouver Early Music Programme

This is a beautiful campus. Very green, views of the ocean, lovely landscaping, interesting architecture, especially Cecil Green college, where I'm staying.

I woke up about 3 a.m. this morning to the sound of rain pouring down. It rained here most of the day, finally stopped around 6 or so. Of course, I've been chained to a harpsichord for much of that time, so anything could have been going on outside.

We were treated to a wonderful concert by our faculty last night, and assured that by the end of the workshop we will all play as well. I know I believe it. Notice that they are wearing SUITS!! At the reception following the concert I kept looking at this gentleman who really looked like Colin Tilney (a well-known harpsichordist from Toronto, and who taught the first harpsichord workshop I ever went to.) Even with my limited knowledge of Canada, i know that Toronto is nowhere near Vancouver. So obviously it wasn't him. But it was. Turns out he has moved to Vancouver (or perhaps Victoria).

As a small digression, at the first workshop I went to, I was entirely clueless about playing the harpsichord. It's just another keyboard, right? Well, no. I was swiftly disabused of the notion that I knew anything. The group at this particular class was almost as clueless as I -- though there were two people who were really good in the class, and then all the rest of us. The way I remember it, he groused through most of the week saying he had thought the level of students would be higher, and we had groused most of the week saying we expected someone who could teach at our level.

So fast forward to last night. A woman who was in that class with me is here, and we finally got up the nerve to go talk to him. He mercifully didn't remember me and I think remembered her only because she has a very unusual name. But as we reminisced about the class, he said "I have only happy memories of that time." Apparently being in a place where you could buy good wine for next to nothing and the weather is warm does something really nice for Canadians.

As I said, it's a beautiful campus. It's on several levels, of course. This is my course to get to class: Walk about half a block, go up a flight of stairs:
Walk a half block or so, cross the "busy" street, and go up some more stairs. Take a brief respite by walking about 20 or 30 feet through the rose garden and guess what? More stairs!

Once we get to the music building, our classes are on the 3rd floor, or in the basement. So we get more stairs, and we get to use these stairs multiple times each day, so we won't be too lazy. There is an elevator in this building, but it's clear that using the elevator is for wimps and older folks. And guess who doesn't want to be categorized that way? Have you ever noticed how hard it is when you're out of breath to try to talk normally so the people you're with won't notice that you're h-u-f-f-i-n-g to make...it...through...every...word? Did I mention that my room is up several small 5-step flights of stairs, or that the dining hall is on the second floor?

Today was our first day of classes. There are only 6 participants in the harpsichord master class, which runs for 2 hours, so four of us play every day, which means it's a good thing I brought a lot of music with me. I played today and had a good time. And of course, I lowered the bar for everyone else which is an easy way to make people like you. I got a number of good pointers today, and didn't feel put down about anything yet. Jacques Ogg has a very engaging manner when teaching.

Everyone is in two ensemble groups. One of mine is two flutes and two harpsichords. We're playing a Locatelli piece which is essentially two trio sonatas being played at the same time a beat apart. The other harpsichordist and I did not do too well on this, I think we had to start over about 20 times. It's a facsimile, somewhat hard to read, looks like it's lined up, but isn't, and has no realization, and only the other harpsichord part is showing. In fact, nobody asked any of us whether we could realize a bass or not- they just don't give out any realized parts. So it's play or die! Simple. No excuses. Don't admit you don't know what you're doing.

My other group is playing a Marin Marais suite with flute & violin. I know a few people here from SFEMS workshop, Anne Simons, her brother Don, Dawn Kuymejian, and Rob (don't know his last name, but he's a flutist.)