(no subject)

Whooo! I am done with my theory project. Stephan and I ended up inspiring each other to heights of composition to which we've never before aspired. Instead of sonata for Writer, Paper and Pen, he decided to compose the two-minute Missa Automobilis for Power Window Quartet with an Introit and Ite Missa Est intoned by the dinging bell of ignition. I, following in the vein of vehicular composition, composed the Bicycle Bi-Cycle: two songs for three performers and one bicycle. The first is the Front Wheelist, Brakes and Gear Shifter, the second is the Pedals and Kickstand, and the third and most important is the Back Wheelist and Light. Both the front and back wheelists play arco and pizz on the spokes. It's highly complicated and almost impossible to record cleanly in an hour, especially if you're already an hour late for work (which I was, and another half-hour before Stephan's piece was fully recorded).

But now I'm here. And..

Evan's poking me in the shoulder and telling me to mention him.

(no subject)

In an undeservedly fortuitous turn of events, my being an hour and a half late to the Thresher had no effect on the time at which every single story had been through copy, and I was actually done about fifteen minutes before 5. Also undeservedly fortuitous, Diego dropped into the News/Copy office as he came up for his shift at KTRU and gave me the a brief but highly encouraging shoulder rub and a similarly brief but encouraging word. He wins, since his shift goes till 7. I remember those days when my shift was 1am-7am, getting off and waiting for Shepherd to be opened so I could sleep on the black couches till class...

In any case, I had ann awfully nice day for having been bratty about the bel canto. Happy Shepherd Singers rehearsal (Eric even made the Backpage of the Thresher, a first for Shepherd School humor! I should submit more examples, cause they certainly exist), tumultuous joy of Windward DVD's arrival, amazing dinner at Patu with the highly entertaining combination of Stephan and Diego, and more Bat Boy and fine company till the commencement of the hilarious Theory project. I hope I'm not getting too much of a run through the gossip mill in the tongues of the News Section whose office I share; I really don't intend to be disrespectful by arriving late or asking for a shorter shift on the night before a show opens. I like my job, and I'd stay longer if I circumstances had been different the past few weeks.

Anyway, good day. I'll be awfully sleepy in Ling tomorrow, but hey... what can ya do?

(no subject)

As far as composing, I feel like I've been kick-started out of a rut. Most of my projects are lying in piles waiting for motivation; my piano-cello sonata is going through tough times right now because the premise it was written on is changing. So it's kind of languishing. Same goes for another art song I was writing over Christmas as a present for a friend; things have changed, so I'll write him something else instead as a damnably late Christmas present. Today, actually, at 12:34 am, was the first time I'd finished a piece in quite a long time, and it was a 20th-century Music Theory assignment. Having been inspired by the Missa Automobilis for Power Window Quartet, I really got into the composition of the Bicycle Bi-Cycle. It was well-received this morning. The one played in class which I thought was the coolest was actually Dan's. He wrote a sonata for electric toothbrush and oral cavity, using the drone of the motor, the overtones and the two speeds to control the pitch. It was awesome.

So the most productive I've been has been in a capella classic rock arrangements in Garageband, and I haven't even written those down. We'll see what I can get up here.

(no subject)

Wow, I'm feeling accomplished. I have all five of my songs for French Diction (that started today, and Madame Dechambrier is taking a somewhat different approach to pedagogy than we'd previously experienced). I have all but one spelled out fully and literally translated, and I just have to find the music to it again (C'est le joli printemps). Then all I have to do is wait until I know enough rules of French to IPA all these, and I'll be mostly done for the semester, cause I can certainly perform them decently. I just gave myself goosebumps doing Apres un Reve in the kitchen.

So yeah, I'm doing well with that. But what really precipitated this post was that Elliot, the baritone of the Western Wind, mentioned he thinks I'm up to the job of creating the modern equivalent of Led Zeppelin and the Doors. Whoa. I don't think anyone's ever paid me such a high compliment.

(no subject)

Decent lesson (I was in a fantastic mood before it), interesting watching Dan's lesson, and the evening just kind of flopped. I was hungry, but I didn't feel like making anything, so I just ate an entire head of raw celery. I don't know what to do with myself. I am despondent. I need a show to do.

I think I'll go to sleep.