first day.

I realized that the Bach cello suites do, indeed, deserve their reputation as cornerstones of the solo repertory. I'd previously been no great lover of them, but my impression was based mostly off the overplayed first suite in G major. Today, however, I read through the second suite in D minor, and am actually quite surprisingly in love with it. I also attempted sawing through the fourth suite, in the rather troublesome key of Eb major, but didn't complete it - it rambles too much, especially the Courante, which in my opinion is a stupid piece of garbage not very interesting in the first place. I do love the Gigue from the fourth suite, though, and the Prelude too, though it kind of plays like an etude.

The first day of school was supposed to be uneventful, but still managed to end on a sour note. Right off the bat was a briefing by RA, with some important announcements, firstly that Nancy Yuen has created a subdepartment for screamers and growlers is the new Year 2 Level Head, instrument lockers will soon be available for us to throw deposit our instruments, and Momo has been promoted to Deputy Head of Music will be staying on until Jesus returns September, whereupon RA has another boyfriend music assistant lined up to take his place.

Orchestra audition was the next activity for the day. My slot was at 2.50pm, and I was still suffering from the aftershock of my travesty of an audition exactly seven days ago. I decided to play it safe and go with the first movement of the Shostakovich sonata, seeing as the Courante from the Bach second suite wasn't shaping up well after about an hour of dedicated sawing. So much for trying to learn a piece at such short notice.

The audition, however, was another disaster, even though I did take the necessary precautions, such as catching forty winks just before heading off for it. The panel consisted of RA, EW and VH, and each participant lasted only minutes inside the Gamelan Room before the next one was called. I had played scarcely five bars before my fingers slipped off the fingerboard suddenly, and VH stopped me. Certainly demoralizing. I know they only listen to very little of each student, but I cannot help but feel that I made a worse impression than I could, or should, have.

Am I really THAT bad?

Practised for about an hour and a half before meeting princess and heading first to National Library where she borrowed some books, before escorting her home, where her mum stayed me for a chat and a snack. Reached home a demoralized man.