Pianist Andrew von Oeyen = Transcendental Music

I've never discussed this with another living soul but what goes through your mind when you are listening to an orchestra performance? I let my mind interpret the music. I can hear the wind blowing through the trees, see dragonflies dancing from plants to plant, or the ripples in the water. Most often depending on the piece I can see horses running fiercely in the wild or the gentle nuzzles of a mare to her foal. I assume that everybody has their own visions of sugarplums that dance in their head?

Last night after several wonderful classics were performed by the OKC Philharmonic orchestra, Conductor Joel Levine introduced Andrew von Oeyen. This handsome charismatic young man humbly took the stage and took me on a transcendental journey. The talent and passion of this artist transported through his fingers, the piano keys and into my mind. Normally the orchestra just becomes a blur while I daydream to the music. However, between the starburst shine from his patent leather shoes and his passion for the music moving from his head, shoulders, hands and heart to produce the most hypnotic transformation, I was awestruck. I didn’t know that Beethoven’s Concerto No. 5 or better known as ‘Emperor Concerto’ could have such an emotional impact on me. Believe me I’m no symphonic aficionado, I don’t know the difference between a Chopin and Beethoven unless it’s printed in the program but I was moved.

I enjoy singing but I can’t read sheet music, my artistic talents are expressed in other mediums than music. However, luckily the musical talent family gene skipped only a couple of generations, my grandmother Williams, played the piano and my darling daughter plays the clarinet. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying her to Jr. High and High school practices & performances and especially seeing the talent in so many a young individuals. I admit, after her graduation I was missing that exposure to orchestra music. Therefore, my experience with the OKC Philharmonic and special performance by Andrew von Oeyen was certainly an unexpected pleasure. The audience was told that Oeyen left Paris, flew through Chicago and arrived in OKC at 7:15 for the 8 pm performance. It was flawless which communicates the professionalism of not only Oeyen but the OKC Philharmonic. Thanks to my special friend who thoughtfully invited me to such a transcendental musical experience.

http://www.vonoeyen.com/

Non-New Years Resolution

I have a love/hate relationship with New Years resolutions.  We've all done the 'going to eat healthier', 'going to exercise more' and such.  The push is always on for the first couple of months of the new year, then life gets in the way, our good intentions go to the sidelines and ultimately you feel like a failure.  So I broke my own rule with a resolution for my photography interest.  So far I'm sticking with it for my 'Photo a Day Challenge'.  Its progressing well and I hope at the end of the year I can say 'I did it'.  However, with the photographs I get feedback or positive reinforcement.  People respond to my postings, saying they like it or asking where it was taken, so I have a built in support system. 
Writing in this blog is another story.  However, I do them for very different reasons.  Photography is a passion while my writings are often passionate. To me that makes them apples and oranges but they're both great to eat. With my photographs, I want the world to see them.  With my writings, they are more for me.  I think the good bloggers are consistent and build a readers audience.  One of my many excuses for why I don't promote my blog is that I'm not an english major.  I know there are many grammatical errors but I write more from the heart and often in a fury trying to get the words onto print. I don't know if anybody will care what I write but once again I predominately write for my own release, rant, whatever you want to call it. 
I recently suggested to someone near and dear to my heart to use a blog to express their feelings they were keeping pent up inside them.  I'm great at giving advice........  Maybe someday I'll publish them for the world to read, then again maybe not!