Ah, Christmas Eve. A day of activity, but not. I didn't leave the house much because it rained all day. Instead, I got up, and began the wrap-a-thon. All while watching the grand Christmasy film...The Thin Red Line. Well, it's so beautiful, I love it. Then I watched Anchorman (***1/2). What appears to be a standard spoof succeeds as one of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. There's ample joking to be made at sexism in the 70's and the pompous self-adulation of TV stars. But such elements, while abounding in this film (highlight: the overdone coverage of a panda birth), are simply one layer beneath a fascinatingly screwy and inventive battle of wits. Will Ferrel and Christina Applegate prove adept at presenting an appealing Hepburn-Tracy prototype. They embody a nice balance between professionally competent and viciously offbeat. The supporting cast can be freer in their quirks, including Steve Carrell as a weatherman who hasn't a clue, David Koechner as a raunchy/emotional sportsman, and Paul Rudd as a self fashioned ladies man, but most of all, a dog who speaks wisdome and a little bit of Spanish. The screenplay has a deft ability to launch into absurdly funny scenarios with great ability, such as a rumble between rival news gangs, and a superheroish call-to-action. The actors take their roles seriously enough to make parody work its best, but also are willing to play the most out of every situation. The effect is a memorably crafted, often hilarious send-up of both newsrooms and of the imaginative characters themselves. After that, I cleaned my room, listened to Nickel Creek, and then company arrived for idle chatter, and foodage. Then, gift opening from Dad and Cindy. I got a book light. I don't quite understand...it's like a flashlight but bendier. It's something I've never thought about, and honestly the more I think about it, the less I can figure out how to use it. I mean, it's not like I read with the lights off. If I'm reading, the object is to stay awake. What they have succeeded in doing is find a gift that requires more thought on the receiving end than the choosing end, which is kind of amazing.
12:16 AM
Saturday, December 24, 2005
12/23/05- **
Well, today was rather off kilter. I got up to have breakfast what could be described as a friend of a friend. It was kind of stop and go, but mostly stop conversatonwise. Certainly not unpleasant, but never quite settled. So after that i wnt by a library and ran into Anne's mom. We had a nice brief chat, and I bought Beethoven's Diabelli Variations and Citizen Kane for $5. Then home, where I waited for Cindy's family to arrive, then to mom's house for dinner and conversation, which again was stop and go as everyone filtered in and out the rooms. The KU football game slightly held my attention when someone fumbled a catch from a punt, recovered it, and then ran 85 yards for a touchdown. Now, I'm bored. John was going to call me. But he didn't, and I couldn't get a hold of him. So I'm IMing with whoever's around feeling a little restless.
12/22/05-***
Christmas shopping most of the afternoon after sleeping long and late. Then I spent the evening in computing, registering, watching clips from The Daily Show, snippets opf shows and movies, reading, and obsessively checking grades. They are all in. A, A, A, A+. I'm pleased and rather amused. This seems ridiculous. It furthers my sense that Swarthmore is actually a place that really pushes you. Two of those As are for classes which weren't actually graded. And I mean, A+? Didn't they stop giving those out in 7th grade? Still, I'll happily take it as a sign of success at what I'm doing. Can't hurt either when applying for scholarships. Also next semester is tentatively: Musicology Research Methods (required), British music 1860-2000, Art History course on synthesizing art and architecture, and French reading (not for actual credit). And teaching of course, which is what all this hinges on- working out who teaches what when. if this works, I think it should be a good semester.
1:15 AM
Thursday, December 22, 2005
12/21/05- **1/2
I got up today, and started doing laundry. This would be a good thing, except for the part where grandparnets call while practically all your clothes are whirling around in a soapy heap and invite you to lunch. Still, food is food, and the food was good. As was the conversation, although I'm amused by their surprise that this restaurant, which is empty at 5 pm for dinner is hopping at 12:30 for lunch. Then i finished laundry, left messages, and saw Paradise Now (***) with Erin. Paradise Now is an intense, harrowing look at Palestinian suicide bombers. While not getting bogged down in emotive subplots, it raises several issues pertinent to the debate and the possible justifications for violence and against. And yet, this same thing is frustrating. Not so much that it doesn't take sides, but that the issues at hand strike me as unclearly managed. A film like this cannot be called dishonest by any means; it's one of the most straightforward and unflinching approaches to a tough subject. But because of this, I wished it had gone deeper than it did. The characters are compelling, but their lives are captured in poorly edited together vignettes that have more value in the parts than the whole. Aside from the two main characters, others just seem to exist in the peripheries, popping up effectively when they do, but their absence is rather distracting for much of the film. The drama of the decision is appropriately gripping and tense, making for a powerful experience, but the effect is marred by all these items which aren't there, but could and should have been. Anyway, after that, it was home, where I made a nice, simple dinner and watched the end of In Good Company with Dad and Cindy and got caught up on stuff.
12/20/05- *1/2
There were planes today. And a lot of sitting and waiting exhausted. And a Sunday crossword done in about 80 minutes. that left a lot of time for sitting and waiting. Home felt good to arrive, as did going to see Chris and Jan and Dale (and Nick by phone) before they left for El Paso. Chris I hadn't seen in like 2.5 years. It wasn't a big reuniony thing, just nice to see him and everyone else. And nice to go to sleep.
12/19/05- ***
Last night in Ann Arbor was spent turning in things (chatting briefly with anson as we walked over to turn in the film music final) getting a haircut, cooking shift, dinner, packing, and watching part of the Big Lebowski until Rebecca and Stephen popped over for a visit. That was nice, althougth I hate conflicts of interest. And I kind of wanted to see the movie. But, company was company, and I enjoyed it, and later wandered a bit and enjoyed other company as well, including David, who is leaving next semester to return to Germany. Oh, and much more packing.
12/18/05- **1/2
Done! I finished all my typing of papers and all that this afternoon, which was productive and actually surprisingly fast, all things considered. So, I went home for yummy Pho (if it was bad food, I'd call it Faux, but it was very tasty) and then spent an evening cleaning my room. The process was made bearable (despite being rather antisocial) by watching in succession Mr. Deeds Goes to Town and The Apartment. How can one not be happy in such circumstances?
12/17/05- **
Typity typity. Closer and closer to getting done. Dinner tonight was like the best food ever. Indian food, including cauliflower which i actually liked. Not just tolerated, got seconds of. Rock. On. Better rewards for productivity than yummy food like this are hard to come by really. But then after the food came more work. This cycle could gladly continue, if the food were reliably so excellent. Also, I'm the new Soc-Ed cochair for the co-op. I have big plans. BIG plans.
12/16/05- ***
So, more working on stuff. Actually the hard-hitting work began in earnest today. And then to take a break from it, after dinner I made a date to play Scrabble with Claire and Sarah. Woo! Bored after dinner, I went to John's room, watched a disturbing cartoon short, then dragged him to Scrabble. I won, with a respectable 171 (close to John's 164) and bingoing on EQUATInG. Also, I had to argue all sorts of silliness of words that count, and that you don't get to count Double Word Scores and such when you add to a word which has already covered them. They are not cumulative. Anyway, a lesson: don't argue me on basic Scrabble Rules. First Scrabble game in some time, and then I dominated a round of that anagramming Scrabble version where you flip over tiles and make words. Sarah calls it Paranoid Scrabble. Also, I drank a manageable amount (with John's help), largely to finish off a couple bottles, and thus assist room cleaning. And then, pleasantly reeling with alcohol, Scrabble, and a victory, I watched another short animated film and wandered around
3:05 AM
Thursday, December 15, 2005
12/15/05- ***
An afternoon of productivity, both in terms of writing some towards my revisions, and in completing most of a Sunday crosswrod. Also, I took back the transcribing machine which took almost half an hour because they couldn't find the slip that said I checked it out. It's in a) a book of scheduling and b) a computer, and yet they wouldn't consult either. Well, no matter. After a less-than-satisfying dinner, I headed out with Megan, Brix, John, Ascia, Adrian, and Beth for sledding and snowman making and snowball fighting and snowangel making and allowing John to snow tackle me. Rockin! I created a snowman who has ripped out another's heart. I'm pleased. And while they all headed back, I stuck around with several music theatre kids and eventually Brad the clarinetist freshman and constructed an igloo. Like a complete igloo. Despite people lobbing snowballs at us on several occasions (including from the roof), we persisted and were rewarded. So I got no work done. But I feel far more satisfied with myself as a result. Yay for snow!
11:52 PM
12/14/05- ***1/2
The day was full of activity after wonderful activity. It began by waking up, sitting in bed for two hours while I watched The Third Man (****). What a fantastic movie. It is gorgeously shot with angled, still shots, almost no movement beyond cutting, which evoke the setting of a crumbling, decaying post-war Vienna. The acting is stupendous: Joseph Cotten comes to Vienna, promised a job by his friend (Orson Welles). Upon arriving, he discovers his friend has just been killed in an accident. Varying accounts by policemen, witnesses, underworld men, and the girlfriend (Alida Valli, who is incredible) on the death lead him to suspect it was murder, and he begins his search for the third, unidentified man who helped carry the body across the street from the accident site. The ensuing mystery is full of complex characters, and even more complex decisions, mistaken identities, motives, and an empty, shadowed city. Exhilirating from start to finish, with a stunningly unsettling final shot! OK, on that note I began the day, having some oatmeal and heading off to the library for some research into where I might go over break for actual archival research, and then off to the computer lab, wherein I transcribed the interview I did with Adam. Three plus hours later, I was done and ready to be done. So I had dinner, worked on a crossword, and then headed out with Mary, Evan, Claire, and Dustin, for carolling (also with other friends of Mary, who organized it, one of whom I knew). We were happily greeted by lots of people (one person opened the door and then shut it quickly), and got to have cookies and chocolates and see adorable children and pets. And I got to sing, which I so seldom do, and I loved it. It was cold, and snowing, which is lovely, but gloves turning wet pages is rather difficult. And so after a couple hours of musicmaking, we went into a coffeeshop to warm up and talk and end the day. A favorite exchange was the sudden idea I had, following comments about knitting and bookbinding and the joy of making your own gifts, to give people expository essays for Christmas. Just what you always wanted. And now, I'm in the library, wanting to go home and either sleep or finish the crossword.
NOTE: Go to my livejournal site and take the movie picture quiz I put together. www.livejournal.com/~sonatanator It's fun and procrastinatory and features neat pictures! Enjoy!
12:49 AM
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
12/13/05- ***
Last Day of Class! I made it through one term, except for the finals period part. Should be busy, but manageable: 1 fifteen page paper to revise 1 five page paper 1 interview transcription 1 take home final 1 week to go! So today's events consisted of meeting Rebecca to go over my piece, going to class to have it performed (and see everyone else's projects, several of which were really cool), staying for film class, wherein I turned in my project, watched What's Up Tiger Lily and What's Opera, Doc? and had a fairly boring review session. I swear, professors here repeat stuff sooooo much. Glacial pacing is a little extreme, but some days, we cover maybe a third of what we ought to be able to. And from the other comments by others, it's not just that I get bored easily or learn fast or something. Anyway, this term was good- I learned new things, have newer, more refined ideas for my own direction, and look forward to teaching. After going home and eating and giving my brief campaign spiel for Soc-Ed co-chair at the co-op (hyphens!), I trekked downtown with Claire and assorted others (Kira, Kathy, and Matt) to see Holiday Inn. But it was sold out. So I took Kira's comment that she was going tosee the Orchestra as an invitation to go. I enjoyed this recent piece by a student with the stupidest name ever "Songs the Plants Taught Us." It has this lush orchestral, cineamtically epic feel to it. It's a warm piece, which incorporates middle-eastern music into a minimalist/romantic aesthetic. Really well done- constantly feeling familiar but with a vibrant energy pulsing throughout. Bravo. And the the Bartok 2nd piano concerto. The pianist was technically amazing, and did a marvelous job crafting the phrases and bringing a clarity to the dens counterpoint. The orchestra was also quite good, especially at evoking the atmospheric opening to the middle movement. The concerto I find plods a little in the middle and this performance felt a little hammeringly exhausting, missing some of the nuance in the outer movements, but it was an enjoyable evening. I ducked out at the intermission, skjipping Shostakovich 12 because a) I have yet to really get into him and b) time is a little tight these days, so I opted for workl, which got stalled because I forgot my headphones for the dictation machine. So I checked email and am updating here. Something is always gained. Maybe I'll be productive later. Also, I've not had much time to process Golden Globe noms, but it leads more excitement for Brokeback Mountain and Syriana and The Producers and Mrs. Henderson Presents and Match Point, while making me extremely pleased that The Constant Gardener held its ground and wasn't forgotten. But what about Joan Allen, so marvelous in The Upside of Anger? I'll probably have more reactions as the season continues. Stay tuned.
12/12/05- ***
A fast-paced day. I got up and made a quiche, which made me late for class, but just a little, and it was not really even starting when i got there. It was a party. We talked, we were social, and we had fun and food. Yum! Then a cook shift which sucked because a) we only had 2 people and b) A bunch of leftover dishes to wash by hand from last night were still needing to get done and c) my passing along of directions to make the salad last went unheeded, so I finished washing dishes and then had to do a ton of other stuff the other guy forgot to do or didn't think about. But, I listened to Company and natalie Macmaster and Prokofiev 4and 7, which provide excellent madly running music, don't you think. Dinner sort of whule my banana chocolate bread pudding baked. Then Alex came and we and his pie and my pudding went off to gather Rebecca and Liz and went off to Mark's house for our 509 party. It was fun, although Alex, Liz, Bethany, and I were in the other half of Mark's living room, which was odd. I was my usually silly self, making Rebecca laugh when i told her, "Sometimes God speaks to you through a burning bush, and sometimes He speaks to you through me." Also getting laughs was the battery exchange- Pat: "WHy does he have all those D batteries on his shelf?" Me: "In case the A, B, and C batteries fail." Alex: "I'm not going to give you grade on this paper. I'm just going to give you this battery." And my 509 Drinking Game, with catchphrases and other repeated bits from the class got a lot of laughter. Finally we had our serious portion, where we had to write ourselves a letter about our goals, which Mark will mail in a couple years. I put a mint in mine, just so it's a bit more exciting to receive. Then I came home, read a bit, talked to Claire and Natalie for a while, and went to bed rather early (circa midnight). That's now early, by the way.
10:23 PM
Sunday, December 11, 2005
12/11/05- ***1/2
Return to dancing! It's been, like, forever since I went dancing. And so I did today. I trekked out to Meijer by bus to buy food to make into potluck dishes and toothpaste and other exciting necessities. Then off to rapper rehearsal. Which, apparently was cancelled. So I played the piano for a bit, and eventually helped set up and chatted with the arriving folks. Then, dancing. Awesome music, and a festive program with several singing dances (Faithless Nancy, Merrily on High, Sellenger's Round), and some fun favorites like Round About Our Coal Fire, Levi Jackson, and Pat's Tradition. Excellent. Best moment was Ruth's incredibly strange analogy: "These dances aren't like...lunch." By which she explained meant you don't just eat the same thing all the time and get sick of it. And then after the dance, Greg and Gretchen invited me out with them and others for Thai food, which was very very yummy, and fun to hang out. So a day gone without much work done (OK, none), but worth it. Especially since it's unclear how much I'll get to in the coming weeks. Home, and interviewing Adam for this music project, which was really awesome. He's created a number of instrumental tracks on his own of voices and noises layered to intriguing effect, with some surprising insight into composition, art, humor, and craft. Worth reading, I think. Now maybe some more work (doubtful, but I can say it anyway), and then bed. I have to make a quiche in the morning.
12/10/05- **1/2
Hmm. Not a fun day, really, but productive. I began though with a thoroughly enjoyable performance of Company (with Marry Me a Little, and without Tick-Tock, which is my least favorite bit on the soundtrack because it's so repetitive and overdone, but makes the part in Barcelona where he says the wrong name really really out of place). The humor was well delivered, but even better was that chilling realization of change which occurs. The voices were generally good, though a couple were shaky or annoying. And of course The Ladies Who Lunch stole the show. Watching it while writing about Sondheim, there are a number of factors I see tying the two shows together. The odd chronology and blending of real and fiction. The asymetry of 5 and a half couples, and 3 girlfriends. The central staging, meant the chorus numbers were either focally directed at Robert in the center or out to the audience, which was done to good effect. In short, it's just a marvelous show, and effective with simple staging and good acting. Then I came home to a delicious dinner of Shepherd's pie, and went off and wrote the rest of my film final paper, which is now essentially done. Came home, watched the last bit of High Fidelity with folks, talked about co-op politics and other stuff, watched Pride and Prejudice, and went to bed content.
12/9/05- ***1/2
Friday of work! Library time! Research done, bibliography for film music project begun! All mornign and afternoon and part of the night (with breaks for food, although dinner was terrible, especially this orange stuff, squash I think, which was tasteless untill you got the aftertaste of pepper. Bleh! I termed it Mexican Baby Food, which was funny, possibly as funny as the faces of everyone who tried it. But it looked so good before I tried it! The evening was resevred for partying. First, the co-op pinata party. I hit it, but ineffectively. But they got smashed eventually, and so I had candy. And pina coladas. It was fun and low key, and after a while I trekked across the street for Ian's house's party. It was a bunch of music people. And me, well I am and I'm not one. I was the only musicologist there. I recognized a lot of people from the school, but knew 3 of them. And so, I got good practice standing around looking awkward. And chatted to people drunk enough to come up and say hi, and to those I knew. And it was kind of fun, observing everything just a little removed, learning something about social interactions from my vantage point, mentally running over scenarios that didn't happen. I guess this is how you meet people. Maybe by party number 4 or 5, I'll be at a point where I can circulate more, talk to people I don't know, and participate in this little microcosm. But it does underscore just how separate the musicology and theory departments are from the performance here. That wasn't the case at Swarthjmore, becase it was too small for anything to be separate. But now I wonder- is that always how it is?
11:06 PM
Thursday, December 08, 2005
12/8/05- ***1/2
What a lovely day. It's snowing outside now. I'm also going home soon, countering the late night trends of late. Today I had only film music class. And I did not squander the afternoon, but felt well rested and actually accomplished some reading and researching. I called Chloe to wish her a good trip and talked to her for a bit. There are cute pictures on my livejournal (username also sonatanator), to which I've gotten numerous comments. And two crises have been averted! The first of not having a cellist has been answered by a bassoonist agreeing to play. The second, and more important, the case of the disappearing loan has been rendered not solved, but better- irrelevant. I got an email this afternoon offering me a GSI position for next term. This means full tuition and a stipend, and excitingly teaching experience. I've spent a lot of time thinking about the upcoming days. I skipped Scottish in favor of work, but do plan to go to rapper/advanced English on Sunday. And Company is this weekend! And holidays will be fun and wonderful and busy. I read through the Journal of Film Music book reviews. Know what? They're long. They're footnoted. Somehow I have to manage this over the break as well. Still, I'm excited by all the projects. Slightly panicked about time, but the overriding sense at the moment is satisfaction.
12/7/05- ***
Last day of 509 (working day that is, and since it was Carlos's presentation, I didn't even have to work). I love that class, and the people, and the prof. All is full of wonderful possibilities and fascinating unanswered questions. And bit by bit my research is developping focus and persuasive power. Good good good. We're having a party on the last day. I like this- everything on the last day seems to be either a party or some form of self-chosen free day. I wonder what would have happened if Carlos's presentation had been interrupted by his wife's having a baby. Somehow, no matter where I go, people keep reproducing. Funny story: Bekki responded to Carlos's comment about the baby coming in the next three weeks, "How do you know that? I was a month late." To which I stared confused until I realized Bekki was born late, and not that Bekki had a baby. After class, reading, a nap, listening to Phillip Glass movie scores (partially while napping), meeting with the music secretary which she forgot about, and thus rescheduled, and then dinner. Dinner always goes later than I intend, so I ought to stop figuring half an hour and just go with it. Then an evening of typing more of this final film project (work) and editing and uploading photos (not work). I strive for balance (although I ought to strive for earlier bed times).
10:29 PM
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
12/6/05- ***
Does it ever stop snowing? I mean, we never get rain. Now there's daily precipitation. Wacky. I woke up on my own accord, which was wonderful. I got to class. And to other class, realizing I'd accidentally turned in my paper for the film class in my previous class. So I went to reprint to discover that it never saved to my account (neither did the other paper I turned in to the previous class). Then I went up to Mark's office and retrieved it, so all is well. Before class, it was Mulholland Drive. Excellent. Unfortunately today's class seemed to have little point except pointing out horror movie scores and remakes and how they are different, but still effective. The big excitement came from getting a task- review a book. Our prof had agreed to do these book reviews and has no time, so Rebecca and I will each do one. And in return, I get a publication credit! Exciting. My book is on Charlie Chaplin's musical direction of his films. Interesting. After class Rebecca played through my piece and will do it. I gained a pianist, and lost my cellist. Minor disaster there. Crisis to be averted as soon as I can manage. Then, home for yummy dinner and off again, skipping the house meeting and the dance in favor of The Shop Around the Corner. So so charming. And I haven't stopped grinning since that moment. LJ reading, chatting with Steven and various IMs, including Joanna with ball complaints. She got some sympathy and a chance to vent, and I got an invitation to do talkthroughs at the ball. How exciting! And I'm updating! Double excitement! I like not having anything immediately due.
12/5/05- ***1/2
Class was fine, but after class was more fun (except for making the professor forget his question by breaking into Dr. Strangelove references when I raised my hand and then forced it down at his command). Liz and Alex were upset about one of the presenters' theories (I agree, but am less vocal). Then they saw a deer run across the path and started screaming excitedly. Wow. Hampton also told me about seeing a deer for the first time coming here, and jumping out of the car to see it closer. Off to central campus to talk with the financial aid office about loans and why mine didn't go through. Not well timed. Then home for lunch and cook shift (without music as our CD player disappeared, but was found, and I put on West Side Story, which people recognized as familiar but not knowing what it was. Oh, and Hampton declared that America is the most annoying song ever. We had not gotten to I Feel Pretty yet) and dinner and then downtown for It's A Wonderful Life. Except at the last minute, I opted to go see Heavenly Creatures, which was incredible, and the editing comes across well on the big screen. And then I went in to see the last half of It's a Wonderful Life. I love it, and I smiled and cried, and smiled again. Then I chatted with Nathan on the bus to the music school about Capra and Hitchcock. I had noticed watching it how Hitchcockian that shot of Mary locking up the library as George approaches her is. Satisfying. Very satisfying. With the happiness rush from a great film and discussion, I managed to work- write two short papers, and finish my composition, and get Hayden to play it for me- AND retain my merry mood all the while through!
1:05 AM
Monday, December 05, 2005
12/4/05- **1/2
The day had a lot going wrong with it. I trekked downtown this afternoon to catch Its a Wonderful Life, but they put it in the tiny theatre, so it was already full. So I trekked to the library to check out The Hunt for Red October so I could watch it tonight and not have to watch it tomorrow night so I could go to the movie tomorrow night. The library's system suddenly went down. So I had to wait. I couldn't compose (my other plan for the day), as I discovered nonbe fo the computers outside the music school have Sibelius. Eventually I got the video, just missed a bus, and eventually made my way home having at least accomplished one thing. After a dinner which made me feel better, I cleaned the bathroom for an hour. I swear, no one else has cleaned this. And I'm really not done. But I stopped after my hands were getting sore and red, got some ice cream, watched the rest of Vertigo with John on TV and talked with him for a while, and eventually moved on to The Hunt for Red October (***). I'm not sure what to say about the music. It's often buried under dialogue and other sounds, and randomly placed. Of course, it makes sense in contrast to some other random decisions, like the continuing shift of the Russians between English and Russian, or the sudden shift to black and white for one scene. The film concerns Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin) a CIA man, an expert on a Russian who is pilating a newly created stealth Russian sub. Is he set for first strike? Ryan is convinced that Captain Ramius (Sean Connery) means to defect. He must convince a number of officials that he is right, and eventually gets onto a sub, where he must repeat this task. Perhaps in the aftermath of 9/11, it's less incredulous, but does the government really not communicate between its segments? The plot is also often unclear, barrelling along its labyrinthian path. Why leave so much of the reasoning for decisions unclear when you've already divulged early on the main question in the American's minds- is he defecting or not? Quibbles with the plot aside, the director does a fine job of ratcheting up the tension at all the right moments, such as when the Russian sub is dodging a torpedo, or as the Americans are tracking them. The filmmaking is quite conducive to capturing the tension and claustrophobia of the submarines, with the layers of sound filling up the space. Smartly paced and given an air of credibility in its grittiness, it kept my attention, even though I couldn't help feeling I'd be better off with Das Boot.
12/3/05- **1/2
I'm dissatisfied with the piece. I want it done, but it feels to uninteresting. I've checked out a George Crumb piece I've had in my mind as what I want it to sound like, so I got the score and CD and have looked at and listened to it. It's a movement from his Makrokosmos I, and what it does so well is blur in and out of a Chopin Fantasy, the way I want to with this Chopin Nocturne. I think Whistler evokes a lot of what Crumb does, a mood, and a sense of distance, both spatial and temporal. Whistler's paintings have a subject and a structure, but it's buried under the surface. I've also been listening to Debussy's La Catedrale Engloutee. Marvelous work. I think I'm close, but frustratingly missing the right element. After a day of exploratory pianercising, I came home and watched North by Northwest, ever so satisfying. Classic scene after classic scene, and numerous quotable lines. The rest of the evening passed with reading, some hanging out with co-opers (I hold that R2D2 does not sound like Cary Grant), IMing, other things like that. Typical quiet aimless Saturdays.
12:11 AM
Saturday, December 03, 2005
12/2/05- ***
Not as productive a day as I would have liked, largely due to the presence of nothing on campus to do and not enough time to really justify the trek back and forth. After a leisurely morning of waking up and some reading, I went to a free lunch with Steven feld, the guest lecturer today. It was tasty and fascinating. He's doing a major research project on bells in culture, and taping his travels and creating layered musical soundscape compositions out of them, which I find intriguing. But yeah, the lunch was fascinating enough to sell me on going to his lecture. The rest of the afternoon was failed attempts to find technology for photo capute, the film library did not have Hunt for Red October (this week's movie, also it's due back today, so maybe Sunday when it opens again) so I got North by Northwest to watch the rest of it, and the video store did not have Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Maybe I'll just order it off Amazon or something. Well, anyway, the lecture proved equally fascinating- a discussion of "nostalgia" and the similarities in sound between modern string band music in Papua New Guinea and Appalachia old-time music, and the popularity of the latter after 9/11 (think O Brother Where Art Thou?). Anyway, yes, good. Afterwards, chatting with Phil and Carlos and others, and eventually heading out briefly to a restaurant with them, before I cut out to finish this composition (done!). At least I have something to show for the day, aside from a smile and frostbite.
12/1/05- ***
A fairly good day, begun by not having to wake up until when I wanted, result of not having a 9 am class today. Woo! US Music was good, and very film-oriented, and then for Film music, we watched one of my all time favorites North By Northwest. People tried to talk to me about stuff, but I couldn't not pay attention to all those great lines. "You gentlemen aren't really trying to kill my son, are you?" "Don't tell me where we're going- surprise me!" "Something wrong with your eyes? Yes, they're sensitive to questions!" After class, an enjoyable bit of internetting, IMing, and then dinner which never ended, it seemed. Eventually it morphed from food into conversation into trying to make whipped cream, into Trivial Pursuit. The game dragged on forever (5 people playing), and eventually turned into give lots of obvious answers to people when you felt like it because you wanted them to get pie. I succeeded in winning the game (I didn't realize I'd gotten some sort of reputation, but people kept asking who was winning, finding out it was me, and saying "Why am I not surprised?") after a bit of cheating with the dice roll (not by me- I had someone else role while I was up getting water, and they just gave me the amount to get me into the center and ask me a question). I also finally succeeded in making whipped cream. And then I made music in the library for a couple hours. I think the trade off of fun for productivity in this casse was worth it.
12:17 AM
Thursday, December 01, 2005
11/30/05- **1/2
I beat my alarm in waking up for the first time since school started, I think. I'll take minor accomplishments. There was snow on the ground this morning, but it seems gone now, not that it's actually all that warm, but not cold enough to keep it frozen. I presented in class today on my topic, which went surprisingly well, although I invariably ran out of time. The professor complimented my love and depth of knowledge grasping my subject, and suggested casting a wider net for supporting it. And Alex IMed me to tell me I did a good job. I feel pleased. The rest of the day was spent working on my 509 composition, which consisted largely of transcribing Chopin. It's a pain. And from doing this all day, I now have a headache, which tea did not get rid of, nor did watching The Day The Earth Stood Still, and so, perhaps sleep will. No 9 am class for the rest of the year! I shall truly rejoice tomorrow morning.
1:08 AM
