ADELA PEÑA

posted by James Reel

    So what’s happening with violinist Adela Peña, one of the founding members of the Eroica Trio? According to Playbill, she’s now been permanently replaced in the group by Susie Park. Peña, according to Playbill, “has been out of commission due to illness since February.” That sounds ominous. Violinists fall prey to arm and shoulder problems, which is bad enough, but the word “illness” makes it sound even worse. Well, it’s not. If you dig up the original article in the Illinois newspaper from which Playbill gets its info, the word “illness” doesn’t show up at all. It’s a “fatigue injury.” That’s potentially career-threatening, but it’s not life-threatening, which is a relief. I do wish writers and editors would be more careful with their word choice.

WORTHWHILE?

posted by James Reel

    Oboist-blogger Pattricia Mitchell is going through one of her periodic periods of doubt, wondering what she’s doing in the music biz. I suppose nearly every professional musician, except the most arrogant, has similar doubts from time to time, no matter how well the career is going. (Sometimes the most successful musicians have the greatest doubts, because the pressure is greater, the schedule often more intense.) During her musings, Patty has run across a comment by someone else about how difficult it can be for musicians to “accomplish anything worthwhile.” Our oboist asks, among other things:

    And is the writer suggesting that all musicians really care about accomplishing something worthwhile? I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but I honestly think I want to play music because I love it, and because I happen to be good at it. (And, ideally, I want to "glorify God and enjoy him forever" and music seems to be the way that works well for that purpose, but that desire is often shoved into the background, and being honest I have to admit that.) The fact that it is also worthwhile and, I hope, enriches other people's lives is a great thing. I would love to think that I'm in it for the good of humanity. But I have to be honest and say I doubt that is truly the case. Sad, but true.
    And while music is, I believe, worthwhile, in some ways it's a really a most wonderful "necessary unnecessary". …
    Am I saying music (not just classical, but anything) is entirely unnecessary? … See, here's the thing: I wouldn't want to live without music. I think the world would be a heck of a lot poorer without music. I think that people who are struggling and weary and worn are encouraged by music. I think people who are sad and heartbroken grieve through music. I think people who are in a celebratory mood or at a joy-filled occasion celebrate with music. Mommies and daddies all over the world sing to their babies. Children sing songs as they play alone, and sing as they skip rope and play other games. Teens seem unable to let go of music; it is nearly like food. And movies? Movies are scarier because of music. Kleenex is pulled out more often because of music. Funny scenes are funnier much of the time. Tense scenes are definitely more tense. (When I'm too scared or stressed because of a scene I'm watching on the tube I turn down the sound. Things are usually much less intense that way.)
    But if music were banned, we wouldn't die. Not physically. Emotionally, sure. Spiritually, possibly.

    She makes sense. As I’ve said before, people exaggerate the benefits of music and the other arts. If music were really so uplifting and improving, nobody who listens to classical music would be a jerk. You can read the rest of Patty’s post here.