Brett says:
July 12 - I don't know exactly what year the change happened, but I am to the point where I no longer welcome the age increase that accompanies every birthday. True, age is more than just a number, but how did my number end up getting so high? Due to my interest in numbers I try to make a milestone of every birthday by finding something unique about my current integer. This year, at age 27, marks the last time that I will be x^x (x raised to the power of x), unless I live to be 256. This occurs just three times in a normal person's life: At age 1 (1^1=1), age 4 (2^2=4), and age 27 (3^3=27).
Sorry about that mumbo jumbo. Anyway…..
I was blessed to have a marvelous birthday this year. We were in Vienna and the rest of my family gave me the day to do whatever I wanted. We began the day with a 343 step climb to the top of the south tower of Peterskirche.
Mom is undeterred by the climb
From there we went over to the "Haus der Musik" (the house of music). It contained very good and interesting exhibits about the physical nature of sound and also housed some neat treasures (Mozart's piano from his time in Vienna, Schubert's glasses…). It also gave the chance to virtually conduct the Viennese Philharmonic which was really a blast.
I found myself wishing that they would have given Music a bit more respect. It seemed at some points as if they were pedaling a new-age "all sound is music" philosophy which conflicts with my musical beliefs. Music needs a creator and a mathematical base. Any bumpkin with an oscilloscope can tell you that. But I digress….again.
Those cellists never pay attention
In the afternoon we headed out to Schonnbrunn palace, summer residence of the Hapsburgs. The scenery in the open to the public gardens was amazing.
Being in Vienna, I naturally wanted to catch a concert but avoid the touristy pitfalls. When we got off of the subway, we had not gone 10m before we were hounded by powdered-wig solicitors trying to sell overpriced tickets to gimmicky performances. The Vienna opera house was unfortunately closed the day we were there. We were able to find a much better option after some searching. There was a concert of historical instruments in St. Ruprecht's Church, the oldest church in Vienna (12th-Century). The quarted featured a Soprano singer, Traversflote (Baroque flute), Viola da Gamba (looks like a cello but has 7 strings and is fretted) and a Cembalo (Harpsichord). It was amazing! It felt a bit wrong to be listening to the Baroque heavyweights Telemann, Bach and Handel in the town that birthed the classical era, but I in no way regret the decision.
I am so thankful my family went along with me and allowed me to have such a special day. Maybe 27 won't be so bad….
Strauss and I (the real golden one is being refurbished).
BA
No comments:
Post a Comment