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Charles Noble

@nobleviola.bsky.social

Violist, cyclist, cat person. Plays viola in Oregon Symphony and 45th Parallel Universe.

53 Followers  |  89 Following  |  20 Posts  |  Joined: 21.12.2023  |  1.8471

Latest posts by nobleviola.bsky.social on Bluesky

how itโ€™s going A day off gets one of these. In case you're new here, I'll give a tl;dr thumbnail sketch. I have been Assistant principal violist of the Oregon Symphony for the past 30 years. During those 30 years I also have played in two nearly full-time string quartets, a new music ensemble, and whatever else came along. This season, my 31st, I decided to hit the pause button on everything but the symphony work.

how itโ€™s going

A day off gets one of these. In case you're new here, I'll give a tl;dr thumbnail sketch. I have been Assistant principal violist of the Oregon Symphony for the past 30 years. During those 30 years I also have played in two nearly full-time string quartets, a new music ensemble, andโ€ฆ

03.11.2025 22:59 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
the latest generation This past Saturday at the Oregon Symphony's Music Box space downtown I attended an introduction of our new 'class' of musicians that have recently joined the orchestra to a select group of donors and supporters. This may have been something that the orchestra has done before โ€“ it's entirely possible that I missed it in the past โ€“ but it sure was a great idea to get to know these wonderful additions to the orchestra and have them answer questions from the audience.

the latest generation

This past Saturday at the Oregon Symphony's Music Box space downtown I attended an introduction of our new 'class' of musicians that have recently joined the orchestra to a select group of donors and supporters. This may have been something that the orchestra has done beforeโ€ฆ

29.09.2025 21:12 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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on art andย perfectionism Note: I've been drafting this post for close to two weeks. This was NOT due to being a recovering perfectionist! There is a insidious and prevalent trope of artistic life that boils down to this: to create (great) art, one must suffer. I don't think that this is true โ€“ but I only make pretty good art. But the notion that art requires suffering in order to be good has been around for a long time.

on art andย perfectionism

Note: I've been drafting this post for close to two weeks. This was NOT due to being a recovering perfectionist! There is a insidious and prevalent trope of artistic life that boils down to this: to create (great) art, one must suffer. I don't think that this is true โ€“ butโ€ฆ

21.09.2025 16:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Summer Roundup (Partย 2) Sunset at the J. Christopher at Appassionata Estate vineyards. Just a week or so after my wonderful time at the Chintimini festival, it was time to begin rehearsals for what is truly the highlight of my year, the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival. The founders and co-artistic directors - husband and wife team Sasha Callahan (violin) and Leo Eguchi (cellos) - are now dear friends after 8 years of making music together - as is their fellow Bostonian, violinist Megumi Stohs Lewis.

Summer Roundup (Partย 2)

Sunset at the J. Christopher at Appassionata Estate vineyards. Just a week or so after my wonderful time at the Chintimini festival, it was time to begin rehearsals for what is truly the highlight of my year, the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival. The founders andโ€ฆ

02.09.2025 15:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

The New Tom Clancyโ€™s Dictionary of Music and Musicians

28.08.2025 20:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Summer Roundup (Partย 1) Summers are an interesting time for musicians - whether they are in a full 52 week orchestra, freelance performers, or members of orchestras that play less than 52 weeks each season. The Oregon Symphony plays 40 weeks a year - leaving 12 weeks where we find work where we can. 52 week orchestras often have brief vacation periods before and after their summer seasons (which they get paid for).

Summer Roundup (Partย 1)

Summers are an interesting time for musicians - whether they are in a full 52 week orchestra, freelance performers, or members of orchestras that play less than 52 weeks each season. The Oregon Symphony plays 40 weeks a year - leaving 12 weeks where we find work where weโ€ฆ

28.08.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

tourtiรจre is anytime food IMO - though my of French-Canadian descent mom served it at Christmas.

21.04.2025 19:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
AI generated image of a sasquatch sitting in the forest playing a viola.

AI generated image of a sasquatch sitting in the forest playing a viola.

Just a few thoughts about a hell of a long time doing the 'same thing'. www.nobleviola.com/wordpress/20...

21.04.2025 19:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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This Republican senator is leading the charge against Trumpโ€™s tariffs Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is issuing a stark warning to fellow Republicans that Trumpโ€™s tariff policies could lead to a generational political loss.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) is in some ways an unlikely figure to articulate a searing case against President Trumpโ€™s agenda.

But heโ€™s issuing a stark warning to fellow Republicans that Trumpโ€™s tariff policies could lead to a generational political loss for the party.

07.04.2025 14:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 293    ๐Ÿ” 59    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 58    ๐Ÿ“Œ 16

Maybe itโ€™s just because of Yale?

31.03.2025 01:16 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Concert: In Motion: An Evening with Musical Activist Vijay Gupta Your official source for 45th Parallel Universe tickets. Our passion is great music and Portland is our stage. Join the collective!

Saturday March 1st in Portland, OR - be there if you can! www.45thparallelpdx.org/concerts/in-...

24.02.2025 02:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Feeling really fortunate to be able to play two great strings quartets within two weeks of each other: Beethovenโ€™s Op 59/1 (last Sunday) and Schubertโ€™s Death and the Maiden (this Saturday). The show on Saturday is going to be with 45thParallelPDX featuring the incredible violinist Vijay Gupta.

24.02.2025 02:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Do Not Obey In Advance: A Moral Crisis in Arts Funding February energy is the NEA falling apart, a story about my mother, and learning to tell the difference between being trapped and just being scared.

This, from @clairewillett.bsky.social, is a really excellently written summation of the reckoning of values currently facing every arts organization in America that receives, or applies for, money from the NEA.

23.02.2025 20:49 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 79    ๐Ÿ” 20    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Can you explain why Vermont and New Hampshire are diametrically opposed politically? Water sources, etc?

26.01.2025 16:15 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I still get mine to play in tune. ๐Ÿ™„

26.01.2025 16:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

UPDATE: It was lit.

26.01.2025 16:09 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

So moar.

23.01.2025 22:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Beethoven x Beyoncรฉ | Oregon Symphony Tickets Experience Steve Hackman's thrilling new blend of pop/R&Bโ€™s queen and classical musicโ€™s king as Beyoncรฉโ€™s iconic repertoire is seamlessly interwoven with Beethovenโ€™s Seventh Symphony.

Playing Beethoven X Beyoncรฉ tonight. Rehearsal in a little while. We just played Beethoven 7 five times this past weekend and Iโ€™m genuinely wondering what weโ€™ve got our collective selves into. It should be fire for the kidz tho. www.orsymphony.org/concerts-tic...

23.01.2025 22:25 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I did! Fall of 1995 was my first season in the orchestra.

09.12.2024 07:17 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Wow, I donโ€™t post much. Hopefully that will change. Iโ€™m a violist with the Oregon Symphony (since 1995๐Ÿ’€) and the Pyxis Quartet. I love cats, riding my bike, and - often - music.

26.11.2024 01:11 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Capybara car!

22.12.2023 04:13 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 0    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Hello. Happy Solstice!

21.12.2023 16:36 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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