Saturday, January 24, 2009

The angels of Fort Worth


Any Cowtown native is familiar with the iconic image of the limestone angels, trumpeting high (well, not so high) above the cityscape. Sometimes called the gem of Fort Worth, it's pretty hard to find under the multitude of skyscrapers. But it is culturally rich all the same - just a few paces from the famous Flying Saucer and Sundance Square, it's one of the many locales (Man with a Suitcase, a huge modern-art structure that sometimes even stupefies the locals; the Water Gardens, a free-admission, open-to-the-public park with artistic water fountains, and the stuff-yourself-to-death-while-starving-your-pocket Texas de Brazil, among hundreds of other restaurant sweet spots, too many places to list) that make downtown such a fun place to be.

I don't mean to make this post resemble a travel brochure, but I can't help but love Bass Performance Hall.

Jazz, classical, comedians, dramatists, any kind of auditory art can be found at Bass Hall. There, on the corner of 4th and Calhoun, I saw my very first piano concert, when I was nine. The pianist was Olga Kern, performing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra shortly after her famous Van Cliburn win. I don't remember what she played, but I can honestly say that I have found such expression and musical passion rare.

And then there was the time I saw Nelson Freire, the Argentine pianist. His rendition of Chopin's Funeral March (WWE fans can remember it as The Undertaker's theme) brought chills and a profoundly dead silence throughout the entire hall. I can still remember how the bass was so evocative of tolling bells in the distant horizon.

And, more recently, I, and eyes younger than mine, have seen the pianist superstars Lang Lang, Rudolph Buchbinder, and Yundi Li perform in that same hall, and be inspired all the same.

It never fails - as I enter to see the velvet-clothed ushers, tall, curved ceilings, finely dressed clientele, marble floors, and bright atmosphere, I can't help but get goosebumps. I still dream of playing there someday, with the multitude listening with their person and observing with their ears.

27 comments:

  1. Very nice.

    Lang Lang? Yundi Li? Seen them both <3 They really are amazing. You'll have to see Yin Chengzong soon - another Chinese pianist. He puts such an energy into his work no one would expect at his age - wow.

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  2. Whenever he comes here - I don't think we'll travel anytime soon. Have you ever heard Richard Goode? Amazing interpreter. Or that Anderson & Roe duo...they don't have a WP page yet, but YouTube brings tons of results.

    Of course, I'd give anything for a performance from Rafał Blechacz...my PP (Polish pianist)! <3 to death!! Well, any kind of performance from him, for that matter... ;)

    Ooh, which reminds me to help out at that article sometime...*wanders off*

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  3. Architecture? This IS a new topic... ;) But methinks you have seen too many performances of pianists...

    ACK not the PP again! ;O

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  4. Well, I did see a flute concerto once, but I forget the soloists' name...lol.

    The PP is always there, baby. In fact, I'm writing my next post about him. <3

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  5. Weird without all the TPSs hanging around the page at the same time, and no edit conflicts too...

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  6. (@ Pianista) *cry* I refuse to read that when it is done... :P

    (@ Chamal) LOL! We are soooo sad...transplanted 'pedians....no one else would know what "TPSers" and "edit conflicts" are. :D

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  7. (@ Chamal again...sort of, actually mostly at everyone) - why don't we all become Myspace or Facebook friends? May be easier...of course, that is assuming that you HAVE one of those two...(I may have just wasted 10 minutes looking for Pianista on both of those sites... :O (yep, I'm a stalker...))

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  8. Don't have one. Actually made a pact with my paranoid Dad that I'd never have an account one either. Which is also why I only have one pic on the 'net (long gone, on a secure site for my rellie's wedding, unless I'm deceived). Not that Daddy annoys me, but he has been, and likely will remain, very, very protective, ever since my first bf when I was a tween. >.>

    Looking for me? :O Pst! I found Chamal! Not telling, though, since I think he'd want his full name private. What you get for sending me e-mails, buddy! :P

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  9. Arg! I meant, "never have an account on one." I hate not being able to c/e myself here...

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  10. (@ Pianista) Oh $h!t... I don't even use that anymore. Forgot the password :D But don't look at the pic there, it's weird (I'm far weirder than that, so I don't want you to think that this guys looks sane after all).

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  11. Cut that 's'. Damn blogger. Can't even edit your own comment

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  12. ...or not. :) Probably a good idea to not have one...it would make it a weeee bit harder to get addicted (thank god I'm not - I wouldn't have time for anything else outside of it and WP!). By the way, I found a *insert your name here, Pianista* in Houston on Facebook. So close... :D

    Chamal, you have low self-esteem for no reason. Get over yourself. :P

    Now, now, now, don't curse out Blogger because it isn't Wikipedia...look at the bright side: no e/c's!

    Now, recruiting is going on...who would like to join the upcoming drama-fest that will be the IAR nomination of USS Connecticut (BB-18) at WP:FAC? (see WT:TFA and the talk pages of Raul654 and SandyGeorgia for more info)

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  13. Lol, what? I didn't think "Pianista" was so common...

    Right on. I think Chamal and I need to switch brains for a while. But you're fine the way you are, Eddie - we'll always have something to poke fun at whenever you're around. :P

    Wowzie. I'm in! At least, I will try to be, (c/e-ing and the usual, that is) meaning late hours and weekends again. Dramaz r fun liek incredibul awsum.

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  14. Think of what your real name is. Insert it in the blank. I found a ____ ______ on Facebook that lives in Houston...so close to Fort Worth... :P

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  15. So close? It's a five-hour drive, honey.

    As I said (I think...once), look for some Latina. I'm not one, but that's the impression I normally give. :O If you find me, I'll be genuinely shocked.

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  16. Close enough. I would be too, though if I did I have the feeling that I wouldn't realize that it was you. :)

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  17. True. Honestly, I don't look like I sound, at least on text. Most people say I'm the quiet, keep-to-myself type...

    :O I know.

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  18. Oh, and I've got a question about LPQL (La Plus Que Lente) - how do I retain my sources if the lead shouldn't have any? At least, MOS says so.

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  19. Actually, I did :O...

    And it's becuase WP:LEAD says that the lead is supposed to be a summary of the article - all the info in the lead is supposed to be contained further down in the "body." Obviously this doesn't work for really short articles, but yeah.

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  20. Did...what? *smiles evilly* :}

    Well, I knew that. But is LPQL really that short? Is there a way to sum it up in the lead without being so redundant?

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  21. I don't know. I'm used to writing about ships or classes of ships, so I can summarize their history/history of how they were designed, etc....try looking at a song FA somewhere? I dunno....sorry. =/

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  22. N/p, no reason to kick yourself. :) Will look into that, thanks.

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  23. My goodness. 22 comments. Well, look at this the positive way - that's 22 edits off usertalk space :P. And super-fun to read!

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  24. Extra-super fun. Btw, I've responded at Sunlight, which I missed earlier. You may have already read it, but w/e. I haven't checked yet. :P

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  25. Halp, 8 days late as usual. Has Spittle turned up yet? Saw him asking about your blog on your userpage.

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  26. This is becoming a circus, yeah. Maybe by moving everything to blogspace I'll be able to evade the imminent you-have-been-blocked-for-excessive-myspacing block!

    &Pianisteth, Iceth hath respondeth to yar commenteth.

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  27. @ Queenie - Nope, not yet. I think he's abandoned the idea.

    @ Icy - thanks. I've read it, but can't think of a good reply without releasing a lot of useless hot air and miscellaneous ramblings. If that weren't any different from the norm ;)

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