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Letter from Boston

Compsers' Conference

By MASAKO YAMADA


作曲家たちの会議

先週はニューイングランド音楽学校のサマースクールの様子をレポートしてくれた雅子さん。当初希望していた母校ウェルズリー大学の音楽キャンプへの参加を断られた末の参加でしたが、先ごろ、母校から「欠員が出たのでキャンプに参加してほしい」という電話が。雅子さんは忙しいスケジュールを承知で両方に参加しています。

My Alexander Technique teacher is an avid amateur musician and she has often told me about a certain chamber music program that she has participated in every summer for many years. It is called Composers' Conference because many contemporary composers discuss and perform their works during the session.

Partly because the program is held at my alma mater, Wellesley College, I've listened to her stories with great interest. Since I was not planning any major vacation for the summer, I decided that this was the way I wanted to give myself a summer break.

However, I sent in my application form a couple of days late, and by the time it arrived at its destination, the program organizers had already selected all of the pianists. My grand vacation plan was rejected even before I had the chance to play anything for the judges. I therefore gave up on going to this program and signed up for two sessions of chamber music coaching at the New England Conservatory (NEC).

I've been very happy with the program at the conservatory, and I'm glad that my misfortune put me in touch with some wonderful musicians. However, after I'd paid my tuition to NEC, I received a phone call from one of the organizers at the Wellesley program: They had a new piano opening!!

Judging from the encouraging tone of the organizer ("It would be wonderful if you could even just do one or two sessions ... We have financial aid, so you won't have to pay full price."), I guessed that they were, in fact, desperate to find a replacement. Although I knew I'd have to double book, I decided to join the program.

Unlike the NEC program, the Wellesley program is a sleepover camp. Most of the participants stay in one of the Wellesley dorms. Not only are there formal music lessons every day, the participants can also engage in their own impromptu music gatherings. They can also swim in the lake, work out in the gym, or read in the library. They are known to just hang out in the living room to chat over beer and snacks as well.

When we had our orientation session I could tell right away that many of the participants were regulars. People were milling from table to table during dinner greeting their friends and recruiting them for their own music practices. It seems that some of the newcomers are threatened by these old cliques, but I think it speaks well of the program that so many of the participants want to return. I have enjoyed conversations with people who have been participants for 10 years or more.

Unfortunately, I knew that I really wouldn't be able to immerse myself in the true spirit of the program. This is certainly not because the people were unfriendly but because of my personal scheduling conflicts. Because I have research obligations during the day and evening practices at NEC, I knew I had to leave right after my morning rehearsal at Wellesley. I simply couldn't stay around to chat or to practice fun pieces with the other participants. This is part of the charm of the Wellesley program.

Of course, I could have simply taken a week off from work so I could take my time at Wellesley before heading off to NEC in the evening — many people in my research group take extended vacations during the summer so this would have been accepted. I suppose part of the reason I chose not to do this is because I've already committed myself to practicing enough music for the summer.

The pieces that have been assigned to me are not trivial, and they ordinarily would take months to study properly. I've never been an eat-drink-and-sleep-music person, and I like treating it as a supplement to a busy day. This week, I'm practicing at Wellesley in the morning, going to school in the afternoon, practicing at NEC in the evening, and going back to school at night. This is the kind of lifestyle I had in college, and it almost feels like a vacation to me.

As with any vacation, however, I can't keep up with this pace forever and I'm looking forward to resuming my regular schedule after a week.


Shukan ST: Aug. 13, 1999

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