my bass recorder; big cats on the playground; animals in drag

[ewein2412]

1) I have cobbled together a recorder ensemble. There are four of us; we meet Tuesday nights and play anything in 4 parts that Eddie has in his music case. Andy is on soprano, Eddie on alto, Sarah on tenor, and I rove, taking up whatever the fourth part happens to be. If I'm lucky I get to play bass.

My bass recorder was given to me by a friend in a recorder ensemble I belonged to in college--he passed it on when he got a new one. I had already moved to the UK when this happened, so I've owned this recorder for about ten years, and this spring is the first time I've played it in ensemble. I am naturally squeaky, shrill and loud. This instrument is low and dark and deep, and in every sense you can think of (yes), so very masculine. It's a kick to be the bass player. But my old, neglected recorder is usually incredibly cranky at hitting the lowest notes, and last night for some reason (it's been very dry, maybe?) it was playing so beautifully that we were all remarking on it.

What do you do when this happens? There you are, in the evening, in your own house, playing to no audience, and Euterpe touches your instrument. It felt like I ought to DO something, take it somewhere, mark this performance somehow.

I also felt that anything this temperamental must be ALIVE.

2) Despaira came home from school yesterday reporting a new chasing game called "Big Cats." They sort themselves into Big Cats and Poachers. I don't think you're allowed to double up on cats, so they had a lion, a tiger, a leopard, a cheetah, and a jaguar ("We had a lot of cats with spots," Sara commented). There are also several Poachers at any given time. You can rescue a cat that's been poached, but it's not like tag; it's a free-for-all. You can also attack a poacher.

I love my daughter.

3) Further to the big cat obsession, this morning Sara's favorite stuffed animal, the tiger known as Mr. Roar, was subjected to the ultimate humiliation and dressed up as a baby. Picture Hobbes. Picture Hobbes kidnapped by Suzy Derkins and forced into a diaper, nightgown, bib, frilly hat and a collar with a bell.

Mark decided he wanted to join in the fun, so an appropriate outfit was found for his favorite stuffed animal, Hippo Pippo. Hippo Pippo looks like a cross between a hippopotamus and a moomin. In a dress, he looks like a hemulen.

Comments

[ewein2412]

We are not very exciting, or very good, but it's really fun to be playing in a group. I just realized that my soprano and tenor recorders are probably 50 years old. They are Adlers, an EAST GERMAN company of which I knew nothing until I googled them a few days ago, and discovered that their "post war instruments" are "mediocre." I find this intriguing, as my soprano recorder has the purest and sweetest tone I've ever encountered in a soprano. It is just a cheap wooden recorder.

I have got a glass flute, too, which I never play and am no good at!

[ewein2412]

the glass flute was an unexpected present from a very present-giving aunt that I see once a decade or so. It is clear crystal with pink rose vines painted on it. It makes an incredible sound, but I don't do it justice, and I'm always too afraid of dropping it--or fogging it up and filling it with mildew--to play it.

[katranides.livejournal.com]

Yo, Wein! If it's made of wood, it IS alive, at least in the spiritual sense. That's my terribly unscientific two cents.