The Music Speaks to Me

Some of you may know that I love classical music. I've recently become enamored with Opera, but my favorite compositions deal primarily with the piano. I have XM sattelite radio in my truck, and channels 10,11, and 12 are all on my presets. (That's the classical channels for those of you who haven't upgraded...$12.99 a month is totally worth it!)

Lately I've been doing some soul searching - well, not exactly soul, but...maybe brain searching. I've come up with a list of works I'd like to own, preferably before year end. Here goes:

Rachmaninoff - All of his preludes, I already have a cd of a lot of his Etudes. I like the preludes better.
Chopin - 24 Preludes, all of his nocturnes. Arthur Rubenstein was one of the best Chopin performers ever. I have a cd with various Chopin compositions played by Rubenstein
Edvard Greig - The ENTIRE Peer Gynt suite. I'm tired of only hearing Anitra's Dance, Hall of Mountain King, and The Return of Peer Gynt...I want to hear and experience the entire suite!!
Mozart - All of his Piano Sonatas. I have 14-16 on itunes. I'd like to find a hard copy of all of them.

------EDIT-------
I forgot to Add
Beethoven - I want to hear ALL of his piano sonatas. Every one's heard "Moonlight Sonata" (Sonata una Quasi Fantasia), but who has heard of the "Waldstein Sonata?" I heard it for the first time a few days ago. I'm hooked now!!
-----End of EDIT-----

on an opera note
Wagner - I'd like to find the ENTIRE DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN series, both cd AND Libretto. This series is made up of four operas "Das Rheingold", "Die Walküre", "Siegfried", and "Götterdämmerung".

I eventually want to own all the Wagner operas (with libretti), but I'd like to start with The Ring cycle.

There's more, but this is what I want to start with. There's a few Piano concertos I'd like too.

refuel

This is a video I just made for our upcoming youth retreat. The theme this year is refuel. The kid is my best friends nephew. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GBKIU3IyBc



What do you think?

LSU is beautiful!

Isn't she so pretty? Lori and I got to go to the LSU game v. Kentucky with Lacey, Ryan, Ryan, and Andre. LSU spanked them 29-0!

With all my heart, I'm sorry.

I'm obliged to apoligize to you today. I've neglected you, my most gracious blogsters. I know you're all up-in-arms, waiting to hear of my most recent excursions and blunders. It's been far to long since I've filled each of you in on my comings and goings. For instance, did you know I went to New York City in August? Or that I went with my GIRLFRIEND? Or how bout that I've been talking to my Mom for the first time in FOUR YEARS??!! I bet you didn't know my brother (Tim) was in Iraq either! See? I need to keep you all updated with my life. Otherwise, how will you know these important happenings?

So lets start back in July. July 10th to be exact. That was the first day I called Lori! To say we met online is less than appealing, but it resembles some of the truth. In fact my friend and her friend talk online on Everyones Connected. When it was discovered (by my friend) that Lori would be moving to a city about 45 minutes away from me to lead worship at the local church, he suggested (to her friend) that we should "hook up." About a month later, I found myself placing a phone call to the young lady I would later be privileged to call "girlfriend." Come Thanksgiving I'll be on my way to Missouri to meet her family!! (Her birthday is May 19th...note to guys - when your girlfriend tells you her birthday...remember it...that will score you points.)

Let's move to August. Lori and I had been talking for almost a month, and theRevolution student ministries College and Career trip to NYC was quickly approaching. Bro.Derek suggests..."why don't you see if Lori would like to go?" So, of course she did! NYC was terrific! We went to a Yankees' game, Battery Park, the WTC site...heck, a few of us even ended up in Brooklyn at Juniors, only the most famous cheesecake joint in NYC!! I'll post a few pictures at a later date (probably about the same time as the Germany pics).

By the way, the Saints, who most people thought would only win 4-5 games this year are already 3-1. My prediction is 9-7 with a legitimate shot at an NFC wildcard spot!! GO SAINTS!!

Whew!!

So much for posting everyday. Let's try weekly instead!! I'm going to have to post ALL my pics online so you guys can see how cool this country is. Monday we took a 5 hour train to Munich and stayed till Tuesday. When I have access to photoshop, I'll post the pic of the Glokenspiel on here. The Munich townhall is this MASSIVE gothic building with a gigormous clock on the front. Beautiful!! Tuesday we took a bus around the city to see all the sights! That was neat, especially since it ended at Schlöss Nymphenburg, the summer home built by Emperor Maximillian for his wife when she finally gave birth to a son. That was neat.

Last night when went "German Bowling." It's actually called Kaegeling. There's only 9 pins, the lanes are narrower, and the balls are smaller (with only two holes...some have no holes). It was so fun, but kinda hard. "Strikes" are very rare.

Today we're going up to the town chapel (set high up on a hill), so Shane, Robert, and Alexander can practice for next week. The town is making them sing....heh heh! More to report later. Right now, I've got to go.

Ciao!

(Update!!) Here's a picture of the steeple at Glockenspiel.

Hallo von Deutschland

*Disclaimer
I'm using a German keyboard, so disregard any typos (you know, y's and z's and what-not. bitter)

I'll be able to post pictures tomorrow, as I don't really have time today. <


It's gorgeous over here. When my brother and I drove in (he has 1 of only 11 Pontiac GTO's in all of Germany), everywhere you looked, you saw mountains, and large square patches of these little yellow flowers. There are also a lot of windmills here. I wasn't expecting that.

Every time you go up one hill (not mountains, I found out) and down another, there's a new town, each one unique and characterized by its own church. I haven't seen any Gothic or Baroque churches yet, but I will soon.

Tonight we're going to a gospel choir concert. That should be interesting!! They also told me I could play the pipe organ if I want to. ACH!

Anyway, I've got to go now. There will be plenty of pics later. Stay posted each day. I'll normally post at either 6 or 7 AM (Central Standard Time) or about 2 PM (CST). You can also stay in touch with me via email at jessy.keys@gmail.com.

Tschuess!

To capture or not to capture

So, I'm in to photography right? Right!

I was perusing my sister's future mother-in-law's photography website today and started thinking. I have a great DSLR and really want to build my skills as a "hobbiest-photographer." I have a growing knowledge of Photoshop CS2. And I think with some practice I could make some really good shots.

So the question is, should I attempt to start a "Photo-a-day?" I'd definitly have to post everyday. But it means I'd have to take pictures everyday too. That'd be tough. I'll give it some thought though.

Also, Chantell, I know how anxious you are to hear about my birthday revelry yesterday. But I'm trying to locate a picture of a friend of mine that I'll need to post.

Gotta get back to "work" now.