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Since we got no really good shots of the baby (who does not like mornings) at my last appointment when my doctor did the ultrasound-- he couldn't really get a gender shot and had a hard time even taking all the measurements-- we're going in tomorrow night (KPC's birthday-- he'll be 28, btw) for a 4D ultrasound. We're hoping for a gender determination (birthday present for KPC, who is the one of the two of us who always really wants to know what we're having, I honestly could do without, but Ems and Jeff won't let me this time) and also for some nice face shots and such, since the baby only half turned toward us once the other day and only for a second-- we didn't see much at all on the grainy old u/s machine at my doctor's office (I do love a good face shot, and am looking forward to that, since by 22 weeks-- where I am-- the baby will pretty much look like a miniature baby, just skinnier and wrinklier.)
Anyway, besides the picture printouts, they also give you a DVD of the session and will put it to music of your choice. Jeff is letting me have complete control over what I choose, although he did make some suggestions. I was thinking something classical, maybe "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", which all little babies I have ever met adore and I'm fond of myself, or one of the livelier of the Brandenburg Concertos, which I was born to and have always been partial to, or maybe something sweet like children's church songs from the Primary Songbook (most of them are downloadable for free and some like "I Lived in Heaven" and "I am a Child of God" are very appropriate) or a mix of both, maybe.
But in the car we were listening to one of the kids' cds and "Ninja" by 7 Seconds of Love came on, and Jeff says, "You could use this for one of the songs for the ultrasound." And I was just cracking up at the thought, because babies really do jerk around in vitro like the crazy jumping people (and cats) in the animation, and it would be SO FUNNY. But then I was like, "Could I really do that, knowing this would be a keepsake of the pregnancy we'd probably show the kid some day and will definitely share with friends and family members?" And then I was like, "I totally could. They'd think I was INSANE, but I would just laugh so hard every time I saw it!"
Please, Hatrack, tell me I should use the classical music or children's songs.
Unless it would be too funny to pass up to use "Ninja."
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(Especially because I just clickitied and found out I could buy an infant bodysuit with the ninja kitten on it that says NINJA! Save me from the madness!)
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quote:Unless it would be too funny to pass up to use "Ninja."
Yes. It definitely is too good of a chance to pass this up. At least.... that's what I'd go with. And really..... You could always edit it and put different music to it later on.
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Raia, which one would you choose? I have 15 minutes, so it would have to be one that took well to that time frame.
I was also thinking last night that I could do kids' songs or classical for the first part and just put "Ninja" at the very end, and hope the baby cooperated at that point...
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quote:Originally posted by DSH: For what it's worth, ultrasound pics/video are really cool until after the baby is born. They suddenly pale in comparison to the 'real thing'.
But enjoy the ultrasound images until then!
Well, I know that. It IS my third. Frankly, I would probably watch a DVD maybe one time if I didn't have to show it to myriad relatives. But it comes with the package (cheapest package) and we're really going in for a gender determination.
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Do you have exactly 15 minutes? Appalachian Spring would be very nice, but you wouldn't be able to get to the "simple gifts" section in 15 minutes (at least going by the version I have), and then what's the point? Perhaps with some creative editing it could work.
Beethoven's sixth symphony would work nicely for something like that as well. Of course, it's much longer than 15 minutes. But you could get through all of the first movement and part of the second, both of which are very tranquil and lovely.
The Largo (mvt. 2) of Dvorak's 9th Symphony is nearly 15 minutes long, and it's recognizable and pretty without being too distracting.
The first two movements of Mozart's clarinet quintet are right around 15 minutes, and chamber music might work better than the full orchestra. It's one of my favorites, but I don't know if you have a copy handy.
Just a few suggestions off the top of my head. I'll post more if I think of any. Good luck. Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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Exactly 15 minutes. I can burn a CD to bring in with edited selections, if I so choose.
I don't really have classical CDs at home-- I listen to the radio or online when I want classical, or borrow from my dad's huge collection. My dad's tastes run toward chamber music so he does have a large variety, but he also loans stuff out to everyone all the time so I've no clue what I'll find or not find if I go over there. So more choices are better. I can also download things (preferably for free-- legally of course-- or a very small cost. If I'm paying for it I want to be able to hear it first to know it will be perfect.)
I do want it to be either perfect for watching a baby kick around to or have special meaning to me (like the Brandenburgs do.)
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Do you want one of the Brandenbergs all the way through, or a collection of movements from various concerti that you like? I could see which of the concerti is closest to 15 minutes, but that will vary greatly based on which performance you're using.
I'm sure all the pieces I've listed are available on iTunes, but I know you don't want to download anything based upon a 30-second sample. Sometimes there are free MIDI versions of these pieces, through Gutenberg or other sources, that might help you decide whether you like them enough to pay for them. If I were home I'd post some samples myself. Anyway, best of luck finding something. Posts: 2804 | Registered: May 2003
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I found a free recording of Mozart's Clarinet Quintet here.
It's not exactly professional quality, either in recording or performance, but it's pretty good--superior to a MIDI file anyway. If you like the piece enough to pay for it, I recommend the version by the Emerson Quartet, available through iTunes.
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That is a very nice piece, Speed! I'm not sure it's quite as high-energy as I want (at least in something I'm not emotionally attached to) (is the Emerson Quartet version a little more high-energy?)
I would probably use various pieces of the Brandenburgs, or even just one little snip and some other stuff (I was thinking Concerto 4, Movement 1 would be good.)
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(Oh, and also, that I abhor iTunes and prefer to not use it if I can find something anywhere else. Even if I pay a couple of dollars more.)
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I'm with you on iTunes. I prefer uncompressed audio, but I thought I'd suggest it, as time may be a factor.
And the Emerson version isn't really any more high energy... I think I misunderstood your intentions. I was looking for pieces that were more mellow, for unobtrusive background purposes. So you should probably disregard all my suggestions from earlier. I'll see if I can find something that swings.
(Of course, if you have the Brandenbergs already, and that's what you like, it shouldn't be too hard to pick 15 minutes worth of your favorite movements. There really aren't any bad choices there.)
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Well, I don't, but my dad has 4 recordings of the Brandenburgs. And like I said, I was born to them, so they've always been special to me. I may go with that, and then stick on "Ninja" at the end, for laughs. (I'm thinking I'll see if he's currently got the "Switched on Brandenburgs" with him, which is one of my very favorite recordings.)
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Is that Wendy Carlos? I've got her version of Switched on Bach (on vinyl and CD), but I've never heard Switched on Brandenbergs.
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(He has Switched on Bach too. Like you, on vinyl-- and tape-- and CD. He loves it so much that as each format came out he got it again.)
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Well, we went with the Switched on Brandenburgs (starting with Concerto 4, movement 1, and just going for 25 minutes until we were done) since I didn't have time to edit together a CD after all. It was a very nice session. We got to see a cute little yawn, and waving hands and feet-- always one of my favorite parts-- and it's a GIRL!
In the end I'm glad I didn't go with "Ninja" because she really wasn't that active, even after dinner and the technician shaking my tummy and having my lie on my side trying to get her to turn. Just a few kicks, here and there, and squirming away once in a while (she's REALLY camera-, or rather ultrasound-shy, apparently.)
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Maggie. Short for Margaret, of course (I'm not big on giving nicknames without formal names, unless said nickname has become a formal name by now, like Nancy. But I digress.) Tentative middle name is Faith, but we're considering a few other options. We're taking nominations for online screennames/nicknames, currently. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: (I'm not big on giving nicknames without formal names, unless said nickname has become a formal name by now, like Nancy. But I digress.)
Leave it to me to comment on the digression . . . what's Nancy a nickname for?
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Precisely. Once the name has moved firmly into "given name" territory I'm okay with it but I am still not into the ones that are firmly at least halfway in "nickname" territory (like all the little Abby-not-Abagails I've met lately.)
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And then you get people who use Nan as a nickname for something entirely unrelated to Ann, Hannah, or Nancy. My great aunt Mary Josephine was Nan most of her life (I believe after her father died mostly, so when she was 11).
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