The paintings and drawings in this video slide show were done at Palau de la Musica, Valencia. They explore the state of mind we experience as music transports us to a semi dream-like state. The paintings and drawings in this video slide show were done at Palau de la Musica, Valencia. They explore the state of mind we experience as music transports us to a semi dream-like state. The music is Arco de Noe by Oscar Navarro, a Valencian composer. He was in the audience the day we heard this piece.
symphonic bands
¡Hola de Valencia! First drawing from Palau de la Musica
We are back in our favorite winter quarters, where the sky is always blue and the winter temperatures moderate, the street life vibrant, the food fresh and varied, and the people warm and friendly. It’s a place that brings smiles to our face the moment we look out the window or go out the door.
The flight from Rome is normally quite beautiful. You might get a view of the Coliseo. You fly over Sardinia and then get a lovely view of Valencia. Not this flight. Weather has hit the entire Iberian Peninsula, and even Valencia is effected. Light rain greets us but still we shed the jackets and sweaters we were wearing to get to the airport in Rome.
We are staying in a new ‘piso.’ This one is near Plaza de Toros, much larger than our previous place, more expensive too, but better for the painter in the household. We will miss our view:
We go to the Palau de la Musica here most Sundays to listen to the symphonic bands, of which there are many in the province. The first Sunday we heard the Banda Municipal. I often do small pen and ink drawings as I listen. Here’s the flautist playing a piece by one of local composers:
More about Valencia’s symphonic bands (with link to a video)
Peg writes:
You may know my penchant for these Valencian symphonic bands. We can hear groups of this caliber almost every week at the beautiful Palau de la Musica here in Valencia.
In any case, we heard this composition by Bert Appermont, a Belgian composer who was born in 1973, last Sunday. It tells the story of Lamoral, the Count of Egmont, a descendent of one of Spain’s wealthiest families, who was a general serving under King Philip II of Spain in the Low Countries (Belgium and Holland), in 1560 ruled by Spain. He was born and raised in Holland, however, and after years of military training in Spain and distinguished service in the army, began to protest strongly against Philip II’s cruel and tyrannical government. He was eventually imprisoned and beheaded. To make a long story short, his death sparked the 80 years war that resulted in the independence of the Low Countries from Spain. You can hear the entire story in this piece.
This is a typical band from our area. There are more than 600 of them, most with music schools attached. These people all have day jobs, many of them having nothing to do with music. They do it out of love, often living in the town where they went to the local music school. Sometimes their kids play sitting next to them – I’ve seen a few who look like they’re about 12 years old. Until they are good enough, the kids play in the school band. This performance was taped during a band competition in the area.