Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little. - Gore Vidal
And every time a stranger succeeds... I blog.
Technically, can it be called succeeding if everyone sucks? I think not.
What, you may ask, could I be talking about? What could possibly instigate such contempt?
Well.
Today was the Young Artist Competition. More importantly, it was the Young Artist Recital. Not only do I feel such ire for my absolutely shitty placing, but even shittier were some of the performances by students who beat me. HA.
Here is a chronicle of a few thoughts running through my head at the time of these performances... Just a few.
*NOTE* I am unafraid to admit that I am biased against others who are not me. However, this does not mean that I deem myself flawless in all respects; I was merely enraged at the quality of playing today.
Division I (Grades 7-8)
1. Honorable Mention
Chopin Mazurka
Slow piece does not = boring if you convey it well. You didn't.
2. Ginastera Sonata
Honorable Mention
Messing up = bad. Groaning when messing up = worse. Oh, and, nice Converse, dude.
3. Schubert Impromptu
Bronze
Wtf. Boring.
4. Beethoven Sonata
Silver
If I were to speak this piece, here's a bit how it would sound/read... "Oh hello. Nice to meet you heretoday.Theweather'sLOVELYISN'Tteinohija;lieejo"
5. Beethoven Pathetique
Gold
Your strange mannerisms irk me immensely. How do you play with your wrists so high? Your hands remind me of a spider held up by its butt hanging from a thread of its web. Wrists = butt.
Division II (Grades 9-10)
1. Rachmaninoff Prelude
Honorable Mention
Smile, dude. I'm not happy either but I at least want some good stage presence. Actually, once you started playing I understood why you don't smile... This week, FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER PLAYS THE PIANO!!! Stiff and jolted. Poor Bosendorfer.
2. Chopin Fantasie Impromptu
Honorable Mention
A bit rushed.
3. Chopin Ballade
Honorable Mention
Rushed coda and small parts of the middle section. But this was incredible. You'reeee hotttt. Why thank you.
4. Grieg Sonata
Bronze
what
5. Chopin Scherzo
Silver
Okay. It is possible for some to SUCCESSFULLY play this piece as fast as you ATTEMPTED to. Unfortunately, you are not included. If you're going to try to achieve such speed then you better not lose ANY ounce of quality throughout the entire performance. Additionally, the slow, three-part middle section was poorly executed due to the fact that I could not distinguish any musical differences between all three parts. The ending is supposed to be a grand finale. Grand. Finale. This performer barely manages to skim the surface of the emotional sea that is the Scherzo No. 1.
6. Griffes Fountain of the Acqua Paola
Gold
I would have chosen a more ostentatious piece to showcase your talent. This was, simply put, just a nice piece.
Division III (11-12)
1. Bach Italian Concerto
Honorable Mention
Not bad, could have been more musical.
2. Bach Prelude and Fugue
Bronze
Are you wearing a crimson toga? If I were you, I wouldn't have spent an hour on my hair and (dress, it may be) just to perform a prelude and fugue.
3. Prokofiev Sonata
Silver
A fine performance, actually.
4. Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody
Gold
Pretty nice job.
After the performers were invited back onstage and I did much glaring, I could finally leave. Alla comes up to me and buries me in a hug, loudly declaring to me that I was the best. Mom jabbered about it nonstop all day.
Oh well.
Technically, can it be called succeeding if everyone sucks? I think not.
What, you may ask, could I be talking about? What could possibly instigate such contempt?
Well.
Today was the Young Artist Competition. More importantly, it was the Young Artist Recital. Not only do I feel such ire for my absolutely shitty placing, but even shittier were some of the performances by students who beat me. HA.
Here is a chronicle of a few thoughts running through my head at the time of these performances... Just a few.
*NOTE* I am unafraid to admit that I am biased against others who are not me. However, this does not mean that I deem myself flawless in all respects; I was merely enraged at the quality of playing today.
Division I (Grades 7-8)
1. Honorable Mention
Chopin Mazurka
Slow piece does not = boring if you convey it well. You didn't.
2. Ginastera Sonata
Honorable Mention
Messing up = bad. Groaning when messing up = worse. Oh, and, nice Converse, dude.
3. Schubert Impromptu
Bronze
Wtf. Boring.
4. Beethoven Sonata
Silver
If I were to speak this piece, here's a bit how it would sound/read... "Oh hello. Nice to meet you heretoday.Theweather'sLOVELYISN'Tteinohija;lieejo"
5. Beethoven Pathetique
Gold
Your strange mannerisms irk me immensely. How do you play with your wrists so high? Your hands remind me of a spider held up by its butt hanging from a thread of its web. Wrists = butt.
Division II (Grades 9-10)
1. Rachmaninoff Prelude
Honorable Mention
Smile, dude. I'm not happy either but I at least want some good stage presence. Actually, once you started playing I understood why you don't smile... This week, FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER PLAYS THE PIANO!!! Stiff and jolted. Poor Bosendorfer.
2. Chopin Fantasie Impromptu
Honorable Mention
A bit rushed.
3. Chopin Ballade
Honorable Mention
Rushed coda and small parts of the middle section. But this was incredible. You'reeee hotttt. Why thank you.
4. Grieg Sonata
Bronze
what
5. Chopin Scherzo
Silver
Okay. It is possible for some to SUCCESSFULLY play this piece as fast as you ATTEMPTED to. Unfortunately, you are not included. If you're going to try to achieve such speed then you better not lose ANY ounce of quality throughout the entire performance. Additionally, the slow, three-part middle section was poorly executed due to the fact that I could not distinguish any musical differences between all three parts. The ending is supposed to be a grand finale. Grand. Finale. This performer barely manages to skim the surface of the emotional sea that is the Scherzo No. 1.
6. Griffes Fountain of the Acqua Paola
Gold
I would have chosen a more ostentatious piece to showcase your talent. This was, simply put, just a nice piece.
Division III (11-12)
1. Bach Italian Concerto
Honorable Mention
Not bad, could have been more musical.
2. Bach Prelude and Fugue
Bronze
Are you wearing a crimson toga? If I were you, I wouldn't have spent an hour on my hair and (dress, it may be) just to perform a prelude and fugue.
3. Prokofiev Sonata
Silver
A fine performance, actually.
4. Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody
Gold
Pretty nice job.
After the performers were invited back onstage and I did much glaring, I could finally leave. Alla comes up to me and buries me in a hug, loudly declaring to me that I was the best. Mom jabbered about it nonstop all day.
Oh well.