Too Many Notes

The 2012 Festival Miami is the 29th annual premier live music festival of Florida and it is right here at my Alma Mater the University of Miami's Frost School of Music from October 2nd through November 4th. Every year, I make it a point to come see at least one performance. Tonight, I am at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall to see Santiago Rodriguez, Cuban born award winning pianist performing solo piano works of Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Lecuona, Sleeper... Sleeper? well, he's a contemporary composer and professor of music here. He is the Director of Orchestral Activities and Conductor of the University of Miami Frost Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theater.

If I remember correctly, all music composers, no matter who they were (or are) are not appreciated until after they are dead. So I was curious to hear the work of composers who are still alive, and in the audience too. Truthfully, I was particularly interested in tonight's performance because the opening piece was Marina (1993) a composition by Thomas Sleeper. That composition casts T. S. Eliot's famous poem Marina to music. That got me here. Do you know why? That is because I read Marina many times and never get to understand what that poem was about, despite several attempts trying to learn from many poetic critics and commentaries that dissected T. S. Eliot work. I was hoping that the music may help me in some way. Alas, no luck for me because the music was just way over my head and instead of helping, it got me more confused. I may appreciate this a couple hundred years from now... may be.

Other than that, it was a very enchanting evening. I am always amazed that music can have so many notes... millions of them and they keep coming at you. I was thinking to myself that if the performer(s) misses a few notes here and there, who is to count them and notice? Of course, I am kidding. I am certain maestro Rodriguez did not miss any note. I really loved his playing my favorite Malaguena. Powerful.

I am sorry that my photo blog today only shows you an empty stage. The announcer threatened to put me in jail if I dare to turn on my cell phone to take a shot during performance. I am lucky I managed this photo before things got serious. Next year, I will come with a camera hidden inside my eye glasses. Come back then for a better blog photo.