5/27-6/9

As usual, I am posting in haste and trying to keep pace with the day-to-day business  of the past few weeks. I had planned to write much more about my profound reflections; I spend a great deal of time in contemplation and argument, but a blog is unhelpful without computer access, or in the case of the past two weeks, being out of the state. Here are, however, some of the more important personal happenings of late:

We celebrated, amidst the preparations for Calvus and Bekah’s wedding, Blessed Mother’s and Kaitlyn’s birthday.

I played two weeks with the BPO, the first a patriotic pops show, and the second their classics finale, the Verdi Requiem. Verdi was more satisfying musically, of course, but I prefer sitting in the middle of the orchestra to waiting offstage. Not only did I play many more notes in the pops concert, but I got to sit in the thick of the sound. There was cornet (extra money!) and some assistant principal playing…all very much fun. Still, we were excused from two of the four Verdi rehearsals; I can’t complain about that either.

I finished Scott’s Antiquary and N.T. Wright’s Jesus and the Victory of God.  I knew N.T. Wright was important; I didn’t know, before this book that he might be historically important. I can’t think of a book published in the past 100 years more theologically significant than this one. Even you disagreed with him, any systematic theology to come will have to account for his work. While I was in PA I had a good discussion with J’s Father about the nature of biblical authority as it relates to this article, and we talked quite a bit about eschatology and dispensationalism.

I’ve also been reading Romans, Livy, Iliad 5, and the Summa Contra Gentiles.  I may read some Henry V today, but my teaching schedule (at least in Albion) will be much heavier than it was yesterday.

My trips were mainly related to auditions. I drove to New London, CT two Mondays ago to audition for the Coast Guard band. It was a long trip (400 miles) and I did it the same day as the prelims…perhaps unwise, but I did play well. I had dinner with an old trumpet friend from Chicago after being advanced (he is also a Christian, recently married, and looking for steadier work than freelancing) and then found a hotel for the evening. I played well in the semis, but wasn’t advanced. The committee was kind enough to send comments, and their principal concern was time, especially in the J. Williams Summon the Heroes solo.

Last Sunday after the BPO concert (which was made inaccessible by a lesbian parade, and also some foul mouthed “Christian” protestors) I drove to J’s parents, and then the next morning to Washington D.C. Our GPS, Rhonda, needs updating very badly. She is perpetually confused about where the new and altered roads are going, and attempted several times during the morning drive in to re-route me against the flow of a one-way street. Perhaps she’s trying to kill me off. I didn’t play very well in the NSO prelims; accurate, but without real convincing character or authority. Instead of driving straight to New York, I spent another night with J’s parents, which was very agreeable.

I drove back to New York (knowing, fortunately, the entire way without Rhonda’s assistance) and made it back in enough time to teach a Hochstein student who never showed up.  The following morning I started a long-term substitute position in Albion, covering middle school vocal music. 

I vaguely remember watching the movie Sister Act (n.b. boyfriend duty) at some point, and commenting afterwards that the arrangement they sang of the Ode to Joy was near blasphemy. Justly, I now have to conduct this piece on a chorus concert. (And when I say conduct, I mean stand around and pretend that I’m into it…there’s no actual point to beating time.) The other selections are just as bad. It’s rather a grating welcome back to public school life after spending most of the past two weeks in concert halls. Still, the weather is warm, and the end is in sight. It will be a sore test to get through the next few weeks. Yesterday I taught until 2:30, started teaching at Hochstein at 3, and then immediately rushed from Hochstein to a rehearsal at 7. 

Needless to say, I haven’t seen much of J recently. We’re very glad to have Cheryl M. visiting us this week, so she’s had some company. Still, I’ll be glad to have an evening meal with her soon. And then, after school is out, even if I’m unemployed, I won’t have 1) CPC choir or 2) quite so much private teaching…come swiftly, summer!