Lullaby

This afternoon I made up for yesterday afternoon's complete lack of culture, by going to see the fabulous ACO's Romantic Symphony at Hamer Hall, with my lovely friend and co-worker Kate. We went to the 2.30pm nanna matinee (mainly because she wasn't free to go tomorrow night), but discovered a fabulous secret... which has converted us to this particular session and which I will let you in on:

The balcony section of Hamer Hall is pretty much all C reserve from H row onwards. So it's cheaper. About $50 per ticket cheaper in fact. But that's not the secret. The secret is, that on a Sunday afternoon, the balcony section is never full. Only the first two rows were taken. So right before the orchestra came on stage, an usher came and invited everyone in H row to feel free to move down the front of the balcony to whichever seat took our fancy. An A reserve seat. Awesome.

So we moved down to the front row, just slightly off to the side. I had a perfect view of my favourite viola player in the world, who is not only cute and talented, but very entertaining to watch, as he clearly adores his job and has lots of fun. I also had the perfect view of the punters down below... always fascinating when you're at a classical music concert.

The first piece was a new piece written by Jonny Greenwood. Yeah. THAT Jonny Greenwood. It was a fab piece entitled Popcorn Superhet Receiver. Really cool. At one point all the violinists and violists were playing their instruments like guitars. Totally School of Rock.

The second piece was Schubert's Symphony No 8 in B Minor, Unfinished. Again, fab. Loved it. Love Schubert. Actually I love anything in B Minor. It's a key which sits well with me. Don't know why, but it always has. B Minor was always the scale I didn't mind practising. It perks me up.

Yes, I have a preferred key. Most people don't have such a thing. I'm odd. You've only just worked that out?

The final piece, after interval, was Brahms' Symphony No 1 in C Minor, Op. 68. Now I adore Brahms. It always reminds me of my childhood, when my father would pop on a bit of Brahms to lull me to sleep if I was a bit overwrought. It always relaxes me. ALWAYS.

And today was no exception. In one particular section (which was adagio, so always a danger), I felt my eyelids growing heavy and my body start relaxing. I had to fight really hard to stay awake, but then decided to go with it and see what happened. And of course, I think I might have fallen asleep for a brief minute or two.

I wonder if it's a psychological thing? Or a body-sense memory thing? Is it something I can break or is it so deeply ingrained from my childhood that I can't change it?

I'm going to give it a go and see if I can. Because it's such lovely music I'd like to be awake for all of it.

In the meantime, note to self: avoid seeing performances of Brahms until the deep state of relaxation factor is cured. I might really nod off next time and start snoring. Not a good look.