Events of late

In my efforts to;
a) do something constructive
b) procrastinate
I want to record some ideas.

If anyone reads this but me (which occasionally I hope the answer to that is no) you have learned that if you are searching for a straight progressive train of thought, it isn't here.

Stupid vs irresponsible. This was a discussion which I promised to think on. The argument made was stupid is singular in regards to effect and irresponsible is multiple. The two may not be totally synomous but are related or....( I know there is a great mathematical term here that I am not thinking of) linked ( that wasn't it). Can something be irresponsible without being stupid? I think I agree that the answer is no.

Guest speaker at school - Wow. This woman about my age or a year or two my elder, told a story of here fiancee getting his head blown off while an RA at his college, because he failed in successfully "ratting out" 2 druggies at his school. So they hunted him out in return. Her speech was to the student population was about choices concerning alcohol and drugs and why not to take part in either. As much as the story grieved and moved me, she said a thing or 2 that I didn't agree with.... perhaps because I choose to drink on occasion. I medically may be mistaken, but I think the problems with substance abuse ( most particularly alcohol) are recognition of personal weakness, personal accountability and responsibility, and education. Does Europe have the young adult problem with alcohol that we do in America? How do I get the answer to that?? If it wasn't a forbidden fruit and people could be educated on how to use it, maybe it wouldn't be so attractive. Yes, it does have some mind altering affects, but amount, type and time can all be figured on how to handle that.... if it is desired to be handled. To an addictive personality, it may be a very wise choice to never sample an addictive substance. Or to the person who doesn't like the smell or taste of it, they can never try it an be alright. But, I don't believe a person should be instructed of only the tragedy alcohol has caused without knowing the effects - pro and con of the substance and being able to sample and know how it might affect them should they choose to imbibe it. Lastly, have a plan. I do not endorse driving impaired, regardless of your driving record. Be in good, safe, trustworthy company in case you drink far beyond the point of sanity or consciousness. People who do that at large random parties or bars... I am sorry... get what they get.

Rehearsal last night....EE gad. This was not pretty. Our conductor was all but pissed, and he has every right to be. Our concert is this weekend and Monday night - not so good. He is an odd bird ( and I don't entirely mind admitting that I have a small attraction to him as he is peculiar in that "genius" sort of way) but... he needs to lighten up A LOT and he needs to be willing to admit that he can and does err too. That being said, he was fully in his right to blow a gasket last night as there were moments of major suckage for this level of group. People coming in at the wrong times, wrong notes, bad intonation..... just not pretty. The principal bassoon player suggested that we put the conductor on suicide watch as , being a rather tightly wound gentleman to begin with, he was battling some major anger issues and perhaps high blood pressure last night. If we were more friendly, I would have offered to buy him a drink as he sure needed one.... or 10.

What else?? Christian had a bloody nose tonight. A real gusher. This is a little bit of unfamiliar territory as I never have had a bloody nose. So, after getting it under control, I went online to see what can cause them. Nothing there that was surprising. The saddest part of the event was when Christian apologized for getting blood on his t-shirt and on the floor, as I'd get in trouble by the apartment people for getting blood on the floor. I told him not to worry over either. I cleaned the floor and washed the tee. Besides, if the shirt were stained, he'd practically outgrown it anyway.

I need to help this kid come out of his 40's and back to 8. But I love him :-)

I'm pushing not getting my 8 hours so I better stop here. Let's see what happens during the rest of the week/month/ whenever I type again.

O Magnum Mysterium

Can't sleep. This is not good as I'll probably be worthless tomorrow, but, that doesn't change the truth of the matter that I can't sleep.

Anyway, as i lay in bed, my heart pounding a little too fast for comfort, I keep hearing this piece in my head that I am rehearsing with my one ensemble. It is entitled " O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Laurisden. It is a MAGNIFICENT work. A renaissance polyphonic work.... before the days of melody and harmony. All lines are melody. Basically whoever has moving notes is the most important at any one given time. The way that the lines interweave creating these POWERFUL moments of tension and release is just....... amazing.

It was originally written as a choral work in Latin ( which I, in all honestly, have not translated). It is a sacred work, but don't let that chase you away. In order to really feel its power you have to hear it performed by voice. The way the voices intertwine is most purely represented by the human voice.

The instrumental transcription is very well done and very challenging for any players, but very much so for high schoolers. The students are doing fabulously, but the obstacle is getting them to feel it.... experience it.... not play it. I wish I knew how to attach sound clips as I have several recordings, but please let me solicit you to look them up. ( or if someone wants to send a quick tutorial, I'll attach them)

The opening statement is like a plea made by the French horn and saxophone. The sentiment is then sympathized with by the clarinet and flute. There is a pause and a stronger statement of the same plea is made again by the sax and horn and continued on for a short time. Because the statements are so brief the power of the tension created by the dissonances reaching for a consonant resolution, regardless of how brief is just ........ aaaahhh, indescribable. There are times that the instruments need to sound like an angel taking the back of their hand and lightly brushing a persons cheek in an offer of comfort or a time when the all the sounds come forcefully together to show beams of brillant light bursting through a thick of storm clouds to just consume the skies with light. And then from all this excitement, in seconds to return to a sense of peace and tranquility, of quiet hope and comfort. Amazing. There are so many of such moments in this piece, but the kids I think still just see notes, not moments, not pictures.

Notes on a page to experience. How do you teach that? Music is aural representation of sight, feeling, experience, emotion. It's not first valve. Yet it is a concept that I learn and relearn, live and relive everyday. Some music connects with you like a pleasant touch or a familiar friend. You feel it and know it. And then there is the music that touches you, but instead like sandpaper as toliet paper. Yet, that music meant as much to the writer as the other, but _you_ just don't respond to it the same. It's so much more than sound.

When I can get someone to "feel" the music, to experience whatever movie or sensation the sounds elicit from them, then they have learned.

Listen to this piece "O Magnum Mysterium". It is as it's title infers. I think I'll play in on iTunes to take the burden off my head.