J'ai perdu le do, de ma clarinette ...Au pas camarades, Au pas au pas au pas Au pas camarades Au pas au pas au pas.!
This is a French song that means something like "I lost my daddy's clarinet, oh my, then a friend comes and chants let's go forward, buddies". Why did I bring this song up? Well, I went to a clarinet concert and this song was pretty much all I knew about that instrument. Okay, your next question is --- Why clarinet, right?
My blogger buddy Raku-chan asked me if I'd be interested to go see her blogger buddy "Ayana-san" play clarinet. Hey, why not! I like different kinda music but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate classical music. Besides, one of my blogger friend (Pika-chan) is an opera singer, I went to her concert last year and I LOVED it!
'Ayana' is her handle, her name in real life is Ayako Oshima, and she is married to a clarinetist, Mr. Charles Neidich, and her sister, Ms. Naoko Oshima is a pianist---What kinda ritzy family is that!?
ClickHEREto find out who they are --- What a pedigree!
Okay, that's it! I'm not gonna fit in! Should I just tell Raku-chan I'm not going? Oh well, they won't bite, if it gets too uncomfy, then I'll bolt! I met Raku-chan and Mickey (her hubby) before the concert for lunch, and went to the concert hall named "Parthenon Tama". I half-expected all the staff members wearing togas and laurel crowns (thankfully, that didn't happen)
There, I met two of our other friends (Pome-san and Orako-chan), found our seats, and it was the SECOND ROW!!!
Dude, they'll totally see me if I fall asleep!
Then Ayana-san, her hubby and sister walked into the stage and what I saw was a complete surprise! I expected they'll have some intelligent frown and yeah-baby-I'm-it kinda attitude. Instead, they were all smiles and warmly welcomed all of us.
Did I fall asleep? Well, almost...but not because I was bored, it actually felt SO GOOD! Felt like my brain's being gently massaged or something! It was also amazing to hear what one instrument can do. The sound sobs, smiles, jumps, and takes leisurely walk (sorry, I couldn't even begin to describe what I felt in Japanese...) The sound delivers so much emotion, it was simply incredible!
I don't know if that was out of generosity of the concert hall or the musicians themselves, all the audiences were invited to a reception after the concert! Who'da thought we'll be wined and dined by the artists!?!? (Clickhereto see all the good food!) Ayana-san said 'I love good food' in the concert, and the reception proved it! Even a shred of cheese and a crumb of cracker was so yummy!!! I thought the money I paid for the ticked was so much worth it, I felt like I was ripping them off!!!
Besides, all of us bloggers bring a bit of something (mostly food) for everyone, and LOOK WHAT I GOT!
Truffle oil, tabouli mix (Lebanese parsley salad), plum flavored salt, pretzels, extra virgin olive oil, Ma-po tofu mix (Chinese tofu cooked in hot sauce), pepper flavored beans, black rice, and on and on and on...
I am really thankful that I'm a blogger --- I get to meet lots of good people (and get lots of goodies too!) and that opens a door to lots of new experiences! I wouldn't have bothered to go to a clarinet concert without my blog!. I want to thank the artists and my blogger buddies for a great time! So here goes the electric hug!
Thank you for coming to the concert and I'm glad you wrote in English - I could it read it myself. I hope to see you at another one.
(Apr 6, 2007 03:18:45 AM)
And thank YOU so much for the concert and the reception! All of us had truly wonderful experience and wondered if we paid enough for the ticket!!!
I forgot to mention that I always have a hard time falling asleep every night but I blasted off to the dreamland as soon as I hit the bed that night. There goes your magic!
I am SO ready for another magic and I'm sure Pome-san, Raku-chan, and Orako-chan (all the other friends) will feel just the same!
We are all EAGERLY waiting for you and your wonderful wife to come back to Tokyo! You and Ayana-san got us hooked! (Apr 6, 2007 02:30:31 PM)