I ran across a music blog that I hadn’t seen before today. It’s called CSO Bass Blog, and it’s written by Chicago Symphony bassist Michael Hovanian. He has an interesting entry concerning the messy state of his practice studio (and he’s not alone in that, let me tell you!), and I’m quoting the part that really caught my eye:
My practice studio is messy and disorganized. I have file cabinets and shelves for my music, but stuff ends up stacked on my music stand, the floor and a small table nearby. Usually I can dig through the pile and find the things I’ve been practicing most recently. I like the messy system because the urge to practice is often fleeting, so much so that the act of searching though a file cabinet for some music might be enough to kill it. In fact, I’ve come to look at the music lying out as akin to the colors on an artist’s palette. Seeing what I’ve chosen to file away versus leave out might shed some light on what in the musical spectrum I have been working on.
I can totally relate to that. Michael goes on to inventory what’s all in his piles, so I thought I’d do the same.
On the stand:
- Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra
- Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
- Stravinsky Concerto in D for String Orchestra
- Schumann Cello Concerto
- Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
In my music bag:
- Bloch Suite for Viola and Piano (1919)
Daniel Ott Camera Obscura for Oboe and String Trio (2007)
Schumann Märchenbilder for Viola and Piano, Op. 113
Fuchs 16 Fantasy Etudes
On the top of the music shelf:
- Daniel Ott Parting for solo viola (2004)
Kodaly Adagio for viola and piano
Hindemith Sonata for viola and piano, Op. 11/4
2 replies on “studio stacks”
Chas! I’m honored. But you don’t have to practice MY stuff, do you?
Sadly, I have to practice everything, and nothing’s coming any easier, either!