musical tension

Having studied classical and baroque mandolin and guitar for ten years under the best professors at the New England Conservatory of Music I knew I was ready. Here I am, though, playing a duet, Weiss’ “Fantasia In C minor”, at Lincoln Center with Professor Ennio Baggiagalupe, a student of the great Segovia. Now we’re only practicing backstage but soon we shall be forced to face an audience of snooty longhairs. Baggiagalupe, the Maestro, is such a merciless taskmaster. The ticking of the clock is too loud and slow. There’s no turning back.

14 thoughts on “musical tension”

April 23, 2014 at 4:00 pm Reply
Snow's Fissures and Fractures says:

“There’s no turning back.” Indeed. Lovely story.

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1. April 23, 2014 at 4:37 pm Reply
  larry trasciatti says:
  
  thanks
  
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April 23, 2014 at 10:15 pm Reply
aliciajamtaas says:

“but soon we shall be forced to face an audience of snooty longhairs” – This, Larry, says it all. Puts tension in MY stomach, I can’t imagine what the musician is feeling at the Lincoln Center. Chills, Alicia

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1. April 23, 2014 at 10:17 pm Reply
  larry trasciatti says:
  
  Thanks for the nice comment Alicia. I was wondering how it would work out
  
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  1. April 23, 2014 at 11:11 pm
    aliciajamtaas says:
    
    It worked beautifully. Upon re-reading it just now I was struck by the ticking of the clock which brought to mind a metronome. Cheers.
    
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April 24, 2014 at 9:19 am Reply
patriciaruthsusan says:

This story describes perfectly the nerves suffered by some performers before going on the stage. It must be worse before the first professional performance. Well done. 🙂

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1. April 24, 2014 at 9:43 am Reply
  larry trasciatti says:
  
  thanks for all the credit
  
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April 24, 2014 at 10:47 am Reply
sustainabilitea says:

We have friends who are professional musicians, so I can well imagine this. Good job, Larry.

janet

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1. April 24, 2014 at 10:49 am Reply
  larry trasciatti says:
  
  Thanks Janet. My brother in law teaches music. I mooched the name of the school he attended & put it into the story to make it seem as real as possible.
  
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April 25, 2014 at 5:57 am Reply
rochellewisoff says:

Dear Larry,

The tension is so thick in this story, I feel the sweat between my shoulder blades. Nicely done.

shalom,

Rochelle

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April 27, 2014 at 10:13 am Reply
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:

Oh indeed.. those longhairs can be rough on classical music… (psst the mandolin is actually a portuguese guitar)

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1. April 27, 2014 at 10:14 am Reply
  larry trasciatti says:
  
  Thanks for telling me about it. I have a plum impossible time distinguishing between the mandolin & lute
  
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  1. April 27, 2014 at 10:15 am
    Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:
    
    I had never seen it before either.. but the picture comes from a fado performance in the harbour of Funchal…
    
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April 28, 2014 at 1:38 am Reply
Nan Falkner says:

Dear Larry, Well written story and I can feel the animosity between the student and teacher. He must be unkind. Too bad, and I can understand the nervousness before playing. also, Sorry Bjorn, I thought it was a mandolin too, I apologize. I stand corrected, sorry about the mistake – a Portuguese guitar – Nan 🙂

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