Marguerite
Active Member
G'day, people.
We had a great day today. Time for a sleep-in to begin with, then we headed off to the city, collecting easy child 2/difficult child 2 on the way. It was hot today, summer-hot. Temperatures 31 C (88 F). Blue and sunny, singlets and shorts. Except for easy child 2/difficult child 2, who carries a parasol not just for effect.
The day was organised specially, for children. It was a combination of organ recital and carillon introduction. Inside the Great Hall of Sydney University it was delightfully cool and easy child 2/difficult child 2 has been admiring the architecture, hoping to afford to have her wedding in the place.
Because this was for children, we had hands-on opportunities. difficult child 3 & husband got in the queue to have a turn at playing the organ while I took easy child 2/difficult child 2 outside to listen to the carillon recital. I tried to find the various gardens, but because it was Sunday most of the special secret areas I know were closed off. Pity. You can hear the carillon from most of these gardens, there is something really special about the place.
The music was something else - can you imagine someone playing, on carillon, Pachelbel's Canon as well as a number of similarly beautiful pieces including rounds, in THREE PARTS! That takes careful lever-pulling...
After the carillon recital was over, we were able to go up to the clavier room to check it out. We even got to climb even higher, to see the bells themselves. The carillonist explained about how the bells were made, how they were tuned carefully - the whole thing.
We had to quietly chuckle - one of the first young people in the clavier room with us, clearly Aspie or similar, asked the first question. "Why are the bells all tuned to a semi-tone above Middle C and why do they have overtones in minor thirds?"
Hmm. Perfect absolute pitch. Very, very rare. The carillonist picked her jaw up off the floor and explained how the bells are made of expensive metal and the semi-tone higher means the bells are a bit smaller and lighter. The minor third overtones are also deliberate, the mark of really good bells apparently.
I would have loved to talk to this young man later. difficult child 3 & I have perfect relative pitch, which isn't that unusual. As far as absolute pitch, I can get to about a tone or two away, but certainly not closer. Even if I practised, I don't think I would ever do better. husband said he had heard this teenager playing the organ in Great Hall when the kids were all getting a turn, he was good.
Another laugh - easy child 2/difficult child 2 met up with us in the organ loft just as difficult child 3 was having a turn at playing this "king of instruments" as Mozart described it. When it was time for the next child's turn we had to get back to the staircase a different way because it is so very narrow. The organist said to difficult child 3, "Go with the little girl, she just said she'll show you."
The "little girl" was easy child 2/difficult child 2, who drew herself up to her full height of not quite 5' 4" and looked outraged. But despite her Goth/Victorian clothing, without make-up she looked about 10 years old. husband wished he'd been fast enough with the camera to catch the look on her face!
After seeing inside the carillon's peals we went back to Great Hall for an organ recital which began with Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor - you mightn't know the name but you would know it if you heard it, it's a fabulous piece that really tests a good organ. And this is one of Australia's best.
We have two carillons in Australia. I've heard this one many times - I used to work at the uni, so I would hear the carillon every week when it was played at lunchtime. But this is the first time I've ever seen it.
To get to the organ loft and the clavier room, each one has its own stone spiral staircase, about as wide as your shoulders. Tiny, twisting, very high. It just keeps going up and up and up... the buildings here are all made of Sydney's yellow sandstone, with gargoyles, columns, crenellations and curly bits everywhere. Stained class windows, casement windows, neo-Gothic arches, ivy everywhere. easy child 2/difficult child 2 was in hog heaven.
By the time we came outside the sky had clouded over and the sting of the sun had eased. It was still a warm drive home, we got back just before sunset and in time to water the garden. There is supposed to be a cool change coming through but no sign of it yet. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy and cooler.
Today was definitely a day for new adventures.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Marg
We had a great day today. Time for a sleep-in to begin with, then we headed off to the city, collecting easy child 2/difficult child 2 on the way. It was hot today, summer-hot. Temperatures 31 C (88 F). Blue and sunny, singlets and shorts. Except for easy child 2/difficult child 2, who carries a parasol not just for effect.
The day was organised specially, for children. It was a combination of organ recital and carillon introduction. Inside the Great Hall of Sydney University it was delightfully cool and easy child 2/difficult child 2 has been admiring the architecture, hoping to afford to have her wedding in the place.
Because this was for children, we had hands-on opportunities. difficult child 3 & husband got in the queue to have a turn at playing the organ while I took easy child 2/difficult child 2 outside to listen to the carillon recital. I tried to find the various gardens, but because it was Sunday most of the special secret areas I know were closed off. Pity. You can hear the carillon from most of these gardens, there is something really special about the place.
The music was something else - can you imagine someone playing, on carillon, Pachelbel's Canon as well as a number of similarly beautiful pieces including rounds, in THREE PARTS! That takes careful lever-pulling...
After the carillon recital was over, we were able to go up to the clavier room to check it out. We even got to climb even higher, to see the bells themselves. The carillonist explained about how the bells were made, how they were tuned carefully - the whole thing.
We had to quietly chuckle - one of the first young people in the clavier room with us, clearly Aspie or similar, asked the first question. "Why are the bells all tuned to a semi-tone above Middle C and why do they have overtones in minor thirds?"
Hmm. Perfect absolute pitch. Very, very rare. The carillonist picked her jaw up off the floor and explained how the bells are made of expensive metal and the semi-tone higher means the bells are a bit smaller and lighter. The minor third overtones are also deliberate, the mark of really good bells apparently.
I would have loved to talk to this young man later. difficult child 3 & I have perfect relative pitch, which isn't that unusual. As far as absolute pitch, I can get to about a tone or two away, but certainly not closer. Even if I practised, I don't think I would ever do better. husband said he had heard this teenager playing the organ in Great Hall when the kids were all getting a turn, he was good.
Another laugh - easy child 2/difficult child 2 met up with us in the organ loft just as difficult child 3 was having a turn at playing this "king of instruments" as Mozart described it. When it was time for the next child's turn we had to get back to the staircase a different way because it is so very narrow. The organist said to difficult child 3, "Go with the little girl, she just said she'll show you."
The "little girl" was easy child 2/difficult child 2, who drew herself up to her full height of not quite 5' 4" and looked outraged. But despite her Goth/Victorian clothing, without make-up she looked about 10 years old. husband wished he'd been fast enough with the camera to catch the look on her face!
After seeing inside the carillon's peals we went back to Great Hall for an organ recital which began with Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor - you mightn't know the name but you would know it if you heard it, it's a fabulous piece that really tests a good organ. And this is one of Australia's best.
We have two carillons in Australia. I've heard this one many times - I used to work at the uni, so I would hear the carillon every week when it was played at lunchtime. But this is the first time I've ever seen it.
To get to the organ loft and the clavier room, each one has its own stone spiral staircase, about as wide as your shoulders. Tiny, twisting, very high. It just keeps going up and up and up... the buildings here are all made of Sydney's yellow sandstone, with gargoyles, columns, crenellations and curly bits everywhere. Stained class windows, casement windows, neo-Gothic arches, ivy everywhere. easy child 2/difficult child 2 was in hog heaven.
By the time we came outside the sky had clouded over and the sting of the sun had eased. It was still a warm drive home, we got back just before sunset and in time to water the garden. There is supposed to be a cool change coming through but no sign of it yet. Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy and cooler.
Today was definitely a day for new adventures.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Marg
