Listening Exam

We listen to a lot of music in the Smith house. I'm always listening to multiple recordings of whatever is on the next concert, plus studying scores for any upcoming auditions and occasionally getting to put on a favorite tune just for the pleasure of it.

The development of James' musical interests has thrown a wrench in our normal listening life. For a long time, as many of you know, the only piece that would do was the Marquez Danzon no. 2, followed by many months of nothing but Stravinsky's Firebird Suite.

This morning I wrote down everything that we listened to (along with James' reactions) so as to fully document a few hours in the musical life of the Smiths.

James got up around 8 AM, and wanted to snuggle on the couch for a glorious 20 minutes before he started his day. I pulled a blanket around the two of us and held him close, but a few minutes in he pointed at the stereo and made his "please" sign?

"Firebird?"

He shook his head no.

"Uncles?"

He nodded. I turned the stereo on with the remote and selected disc three. The Flock of Uncles Christmas CD has been in the CD3 slot since last Christmas, and James hasn't given up listening to it yet. We had Christmas music on almost daily through the long Rochester winter, through spring, and through summer. But come December we'll save ourselves the trouble of having to put new music in the stereo, I suppose.

We listened to the Uncles (starting, as always, at track 3 and listening through the rest of the CD), and then James was down.

Next up was Overture to Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss, Jr. I can't confirm that this was the reason J left, but she wasn't seen for several hours afterwards. (Actually, she had a meeting downtown.) James thought it was great and asked for his baton to conduct, which he did with great enthusiasm. (Especially in the waltz.)

After Fledermaus we tried the Troika from the Lt. Kije Suite by Prokofiev, but James got a scowly face and shook his head no. When I didn't change it immediately he became insistent.

He's enjoyed Gilbert and Sullivan before (and with J out of the house, I knew it was a rare opportunity to listen) so I tried the Overture to HMS Pinafore. This was not approved either, and he began to fake cry.

Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi brought about actual tears, along with frantic "please" motions.

By the time I switched away from Stravinsky's Fireworks, we were flailing on the floor. Sometimes I think that we are very nearly two years old.

It was the Marquez Danzon no. 2 that restored us to happiness. James stomped around the kitchen and conducted with vigor. We hadn't listened to this one in a while, and we were very happy to hear it again.

I tried Adventures on Earth from John Williams' E.T. Soundtrack after the Danzon, but that was also turned down.

James has been in a mood for Mahler recently, and the last movement of the Symphony no. 7 was a big hit. It's very brassy, and it brought out some excited conducting while I washed the dishes. I'd turn around from time to time, and whenever he heard timpani he'd stop and make a face that said "Ooooh!"

The first movement of Mahler Symphony no. 8 wasn't as big a hit. James, like many little boys, doesn't particularly care for operatic singing. He tolerated it being on, but gave up on conducting and played with his block for a bit.

Once we were back in the living room it was time to listen to the Uncles Christmas CD again.

And then once we'd listened to the whole CD, we needed even more Uncles.

We were outside for awhile after that--I couldn't take any more Christmas music, especially when it was littered with my own wrong notes--and then we were back in.

Something changed for James over the course of the morning, and we loved Stravinsky's Fireworks while we listened to it with a snack.

The next tracks were from Petroushka, and we took in the fourth tableau.

But it was Rimsky Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol that got us really excited. We needed the baton back, and I was treated to a conducting showcase.

The rest of the morning was all Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky is always exciting, and it seems to fit James' spirit particularly well at present. We listened to:

The 1812 Overture

Marche Slave

The 1812 Overture again. (Steven conducted, which was very funny.

Marche Slave again.

and Romeo and Juliet.

And then it was time for lunch.

We have very full days.