Finance Gal Fancies Notes

When someone finds out I work for the Indianapolis Symphony, the first question is always "Do you play an instrument?" I usually smile and say "Yes, a calculator."  

I've been a member of the Finance staff for nearly three years and enjoy being a part of the organization.  I've always believed in the power and importance music can have in people's lives.  It has been a part of my daily life for as long as I remember.  It's the first thing I want to hear when I wake up, I listen all day at work, exercise to it and of course it's a must for any car ride, no matter how long. It moves me, connects me to my soul and serves as a link to past memories and experiences. I didn't have much exposure to classical music though, until I started working for the ISO.  The majority of my music knowledge ranges from the late 70's to present day. 

Two assets that have served me well are having an open mind and a willingness to learn.  I plan to use both of these as I delve into educating myself about classical music.  I enjoy learning the background of a piece I'm going to hear performed. I find if I do some quick research, I can ascertain the composer's mindset when it was written. For instance, prior to hearing our performance of Faure's Requiem, I discovered the composer lost both of his parents within two years. Experiencing the death of a parent myself, I felt an insight and connection to the music. Before attending the Troika concert (Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev), I learned that two of the three selections were composed surrounding a war theme.  That night I also heard a piece from one of my favorite movies called "Somewhere in Time." I now know it by its correct name, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninoff.

Opening myself to new ideas has contributed to my personal growth immensely. The new approach to Happy Hour programming is very appealing to me.  I'm extremely excited for next week's show featurning the music of Brahms and John Mayer.  I was elated to learn Steve Hackman is including "The Heart of Life" in the Mayer selection from his Continuum CD.  I was introduced to this CD by someone I love deeply and immediately connected to the lyrics and melodies. It was almost a soundtrack to what I was going through in my life at the time. I appreciated Scott Harrison's recent blog about similiarities between Brahms and Mayer, it was very entertaining.

I look forward to sharing my insights into this Classical journey of mine.