Journey of 100
https://explorers.org/events/detail/public_lecture_series_with_shem_guibbory_and_dorit_donoviel
This performance in my series Journey of 100 is part of an amazing evening: a program I am sharing with my niece Dr. Dorit Donoviel, one of the chief scientists in charge of the medical program for NASA astronauts. We are calling it For the Love of Music and Space.
RESERVATIONS 212.628.8383 or email us at reservations@explorers.org
Date: Monday, February 13th Time: 6:00 pm Reception, 7:00 pm Lecture
Location: Explorers Club – 46 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021
Member Ticket Price: $10 Guest Ticket Price: $25 Student Ticket Price: $5 with a valid academic ID
at the JCC on the Hudson in Tarrytown, NY just next to Hyatt Doubletree.
371 S. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591, phone (914) 366-7898
Admission $5
http://shamesjcc.org/events/2017/01/23/events/j.s.-bach-journey-of-100-lecture-performance/
From my perspective, this performance touched into something that is hard to put into words…certainly a sense of me being able to “step back” in part, from “doing” (a state familiar to many musicians and others who perform on a regular basis), the music being organized in a new way…it left me feeling a new sort of freedom within a rhythmic structure, one larger than the measures of the harmonic phrase.
I finally achieved a balance for the Bass voice that I like – one that envelops, or surrounds the listening space and allows me to place the Soprano and Tenor voices in the middle of that space, and give them dynamics and articulations distinct from the Bass voice.
From my perspective, this performance touched into something that is hard to put into words…certainly a sense of me being able to “step back” in part, from “doing” (a state familiar to many musicians and others who perform on a regular basis), the music being organized in a new way…it left me feeling a new sort of freedom within a rhythmic structure, one larger than the measures of the harmonic phrase.
Some of my more creative fingerings that I devised to help create separation of the Soprano, Tenor and Bass voices that are present throughout the work, still present challenges for me. One spot in the Corrente and two in the Gigue. A wee bit more practice time needed here…
Some of my more creative fingerings that I devised to help create separation of the three “voices” (soprano, tenor, bass) that are present throughout the work, still present challenges for me. One spot in the Corrente and two in the Gigue. A wee bit more practice time needed here…
Well this performance was one of the best yet overall. The right attitude and expression in the opening movement (Allemande), unity of flow through the entire work, and assimilation of the fingerings I use to clarify the various voices in fast technical passages (Corrente and Gigue), so that they “disappear” (meaning you can’t hear them you only hear the music) – all these were just “there”. Still some internal confusion in musical organization of the 2nd part of the Gigue, that led to small errors, some three-voice measures in the Chaconne that were screwed up. I can tackle those this week and see where we are in next week’s performance.
It has been a year since the last one. Not for any particular reason, however. I just have been focussing on the two other Partitas – in b and E – and establishing the independent characters of the three Fugues.
Presented jointly with Dr. Dorit Donoviel, Deputy Chief Scientist, National Biomedical Research Lab.
6pm Drinks, 7 pm Presentation/performance at The Explorers Club
46 East 70th Street
NY, NY 10021
3 Comments
What a great night – a packed house once again at the Explorer’s Club. Dorit is so expert at speaking to lay audiences without dumbing down the scientific and medical content! Our idea played out well for our audience: fact is that the isolation astronauts experience during extended time in outer space is frequently reduced by listening to music, or taking their own musical instrument with them. Perfect parallels: a long Journey into Outer Space, my lengthy Journey of 100 Bach Chaconne performances – both take individuals deeper into their own Inner Space.
I hope all the people who planned to write their comments will remember and share them with you here!
Dear Shem,
This was my third time when I joined you in your Journey of 100. Every time my experience is a little different, but it is always that I can feel my own Inner Space (as you stated) listening to Bach. Chaconne for me is very personal and I find solace during your masterful performance.
Dorit’s presentation was so engaging and interesting and the idea of connecting science and music at the same event was great.
Thank you very much and I looking forward to joining you at your Journey in the future.
Serafima
This was such a wonderful event. I found the juxtaposition of human exploration of deep space with the kind of deep inner exploration that music can provide to be a profound experience. This was my first, but hopefully not my last, time seeing the performance of Chaconne journey of 100 and it took me through quite a spectrum of emotional reaction. At one moment watching the performance it brought me to a place of almost unease and sadness only to be swept along to a feeling of pervasive joy. The experience of listening to this beautiful music performed masterfully seems to open up a channel of connection, to cut off the stream of thought and plunge you deep into an inner space where seemingly only you can go. In the context of Shem’s interpretation of the piece, which he touched on briefly before the performance, and being in a room of people all taking that plunge into the inner space of connection, combined with Dr. Dorit Donoviel’s wonderfully informative presentation of outer exploration, it made for a very profound and intellectually stimulating night. Thank you Shem and Dorit and thank you all who attended!