Whew…
Ryan and I go into the book store just about every day. OK, yesterday they weren’t open when we tried to go in, and then just as we were about to re-round the corner to the door, I received a phone call urging me to come home soon… and then I never went back uot, due to the snow on the ground, combined with the smallness of my car and the baldness of my tires.
But in general, we go in daily.
Probably about a week and a half ago, I spotted a book with a Cello on the cover. And yes, I judge books HEAVILY based on their covers. That being said, I have always been attracted to violins, violas and cellos. Basses have never held any special allure to me. But the other three, look out. The book was called The Cello Suites and seemed to be not only the style of writing that I like, but the type of story-telling that I like - an amalgamation of biography, memory/personal experience, and technical explanation in a flowery sort of way. So, I bought it, being entirely unsure of whether I’d even wind up reading it. Today, I am 72 pages from the end. I’d likely be much closer right now, but I left the book at home when leaving for work, without realizing, and thus have been unable to read during this shift.
The book has sort of taken over my life. Not in the way of my carrying the book everywhere and talking to everybody about it. The information it provides is pretty interesting, yes, but it’s not the sort of interesting topic that I need to discuss with everybody and their mother.
But instead, it’s revived my desire to listen and play. I bought Yo-Yo Ma’s recordings of the Cello Suites on iTunes. Additionally, I bought a Viola about 2 years ago for a similar reason - a revived interest in playing. But at that time, it was to try to make myself a valued member of the stupid fucking relationship I was half in, half just an accessory to. But when I bought the Viola, it had already been 3 or 4 years since I’d last played, and I had no sheet music, nor any hope of finding some nearby. I did sort of teach myself a couple new techniques, but I quickly tired of trying. The Viola eventually got cased for semi-good. but this week, I opened it back up. I tuned it. I rosined the bow. I discovered that I hate the rosin I have, and I want a mute so that I can actually practice without feeling incredibly self-conscious.
I ordered the mute and the rosin, I downloaded some free sheet music to practice with, and soon I will begin! :)
I’ve also been seeking information about instruments, left right and center. I stumbled upon a blog a luthier wrote, in which he documented the entire process of building a Cello. Fascinating. Talks about instrument size, string technology, amplification, mathematics, details about wood itself - how it works, the different types and the different cuts, the strengths and weaknesses of each… Great stuff.
Here’s his blog: Starting Work on a New Cello
After finishing reading his documentation, I started looking up luthiers websites in general, being that the shape and tone of the colors of these instruments have always caught my eye.
Tonight Ryan told me about scribd.com which is, actually, where I downloaded some sheet music from.
Next, I hope to read Proust. God only knows, if that takes over my life, in what ways it will be. I can’t imagine. Hopefully in good ways, though. I feel this Viola/Cello endeavor has been good. Read the book if you’re reading this.
