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Talking. About music.
0I hate public speaking.
This is nothing new to anyone who has known me for more than three minutes, and I’ve certainly gotten better at it since I’ve been in Oklahoma, but I still avoid it every chance I get. I’m usually fairly quiet when I’m around new people, and I don’t usually say much in class (I maintain that I got through my thesis defense because the committee was surprised that I actually spoke).
But one of the things that composers have to do is talk. Especially about their music. Especially to other people. Not that we’re good at it. But it still falls into the category of things we have to do.
And so, with 2012 being a year where I’m focusing on personal growth, I decided to take an open slot at this month’s Oklahoma Composer’s Association Norman Salon concert (OCANS?). The OCA salon concerts are a casual performance and Q&A session with the composer, and a good time is usually had by all. So I took Creatures from the Black Bassoon and played it for a group of composers and musicians and music lovers, fielded questions and comments about the piece, and then went out for milkshakes.
And it was awesome.
It’s interesting how an audience can pick out things that you haven’t noticed, or hadn’t intended. Of course, I’m new to all manner of electronic music, so hearing the audience reaction (and mine) was enlightening. It was fun. I want to do it again.
There’s something empowering about talking about one’s own music. Like, I can’t be contradicted. No one can tell me “You weren’t thinking about the complex relation between polyharmonic tetrachords, you were thinking about Batman.” I ran into the same thing when I conducted Peter and the Wolf at Drury. “I have an orchestra. AND I’M UNSTOPPABLE.”
So yeah. I’d like to do it again.
And besides, I could really go for another milkshake.
Go give Wikipedia some money. No, really.
0I donated to Wikipedia earlier this year (like I did last year). If you use it often, send some money their way. It takes a lot to run something that large.
-Kyle
——————-
Dear Kyle,
Here’s how the Wikipedia fundraiser works: Every year we raise just the funds that we need, and then we stop.
Because you and so many other Wikipedia readers donated over the past weeks, we are very close to raising our goal for this year by December 31 — but we’re not quite there yet.
You’ve already done your part this year. Thank you so much. But you can help us again by forwarding this email to a friend who you know relies on Wikipedia and asking that person to help us reach our goal today by clicking here and making a donation.
If everyone reading this email forwarded it to just one friend, we think that would be enough to let us end the fundraiser today.
Of course, we wouldn’t turn you down if you wanted to make a second donation or a monthly gift.
Google might have close to a million servers. Yahoo has something like 13,000 staff. We have 679 servers and 95 staff.
Wikipedia is the #5 site on the web and serves 470 million different people every month – with billions of page views.
Commerce is fine. Advertising is not evil. But it doesn’t belong here. Not in Wikipedia. Wikipedia is something special. It is like a library or a public park. It is like a temple for the mind. It is a place we can all go to think, to learn, to share our knowledge with others.
When I founded Wikipedia, I could have made it into a for-profit company with advertising, but I decided to do something different. We’ve worked hard over the years to keep it lean and tight. We fulfill our mission, and leave waste to others.
Thanks,
Jimmy Wales
Wikipedia Founder
The quick pre-Thanksgiving update.
1Several things, in no particular order:
There’s a new piano miniature over at Listen – http://listen.kylevanderburg.net/track/piano-miniature-no-2
I think I’ve decided on the instrumentation of my thesis – http://box.kylev.net/?get=TempestStaffPaper.pdf
A rudimentary version of NoteForge Hammer has been created – http://vandromeda.com/2010/11/22/noteforge-hammer-alpha/
That’s all for today!
Breathing at last – Kinda
1Despite the ridiculous amount of thoughts swimming in my head at the moment, I’ll try to keep this update fairly short.
Under the Oklahoma Sky was performed ridiculously well by the perpetually-talented Jennifer Tripi this past Saturday here at OU. Audio is up at listen.kylevanderburg.net and on the work’s page at kylev.net/oks
Salvation for piano trio is finished and printed, and all I need to do now is find people willing to play it. The current audio file online at listen.kylevanderburg.net is weird, I’ll try to get a better one posted sometime tomorrow.
Doctoral applications are done and portfolios are mailed!
And with that update, I’ll see you all on the other side of all the homework I need to do this week.
-Kyle
This really makes me wonder who writes spam messages…
1I received this wonderful piece of literature in my inbox this morning, with the subject of “Video: Medicare: The $60 Billion Fraud”
Cuba’s leaders lay out details for layoffs Home buying up in week, but down 40 percent in year I am afraid of this man Aylesbury, said Paul Harley. We sat in the deserted dining room. I had contributed my account of the evenings happenings, Dr. Rolleston had made his report, and Inspector Aylesbury was now examining the servants in the library. Harley and I had obtained his official permission to withdraw, and the physician was visiting Madame de Staemer, who lay in a state of utter prostration. I mean that he will presently make some tragic blunder. Good God, Knox, to think that this man had sought my aid, and that I stood by idly whilst he walked out to his death. I shall never forgive myself. He banged the table with his fist. Even now that these unknown fiends have achieved their object, I am helpless, helpless. There was not a wisp of smoke to guide me, Knox, and one man cannot search a county. As well ask where the shot came from, Knox. Out amongst all those trees, with a house that might have been built for a sounding-board, who could presume to say where either came from? Harry held up his hand to show that they were ready, having before he did so chosen a stone round which to wind the lariats. The other boat was then launched. Sam and Ben took their places astern and began to paddle against the stream. As they were in the back-water below the ledge of rock they were able to keep her stationary while Jerry took his place and got out his paddle. When all were ready, they paddled her out from the back-water. As soon as the current caught her she flew past the cliff like an arrow, although the three men were now paddling at the top of their speed. Harry and the chief pulled in the rope hand over hand, while Hunting Dog and Tom went a short way down the rocks. The check of the bow had caused the stern to swerve out, and when they again checked her she was several lengths below them with her head inclined to shore. More and more strain was put on the ropes, until they were as taut as iron bars. Avec sa bravoure, son genie militaire et politique, et ses cinquante ans, il netait encore, a louverture de la revolution, quun brillant aventurier.Cependant il avait conserve le feu et la hardiesse de la jeunesse. Des quune guerre ou une revolution souvrait, il faisait des plans, les adressait a tous les partis, pret a agir pour tous, pourvu quil put agir. Il setait ainsi habitue a ne faire aucun cas de la nature dune cause; mais quoique trop depourvu de conviction, il etait genereux, sensible, et capable dattachement, sinon pour les principes, du moins pour les personnes. Cependant avec son esprit si gracieux, si prompt, si vaste, son courage tour a tour calme ou impetueux, il etait admirable pour servir, mais incapable de dominer. Il navait ni la dignite dune conviction profonde, ni la fierte dune volonte despotique, et il ne pouvait commander qua des soldats.
I’m glad my Tonal Development final wasn’t this:
0I can’t find the original author of this, but I can say I found it on the Doublereed-L list some eight or nine years ago.
Doctoral Music Exam – you have 1 hour.
1. Explain the difference between sforza, sforzando, sforzata, and La Forza Del Destino. Be specific.
2. What is the diameter of the hole in the water key on your instrument? If your instrument does not have a water key, what is the diameter of the third moon of Jupiter?
3. List Johann Sebastian Bach’s children (include middle names) and give:
a. Date of birth
b. Date of death (if deceased)
c. Last known address
d. Social Security number
4. Name the composers who wrote a First Symphony.
5. Give the opening theme of each symphony in #4 (above).
6. What is the relationship and musical significance of the 10th and 11th bars of the aria “Soldaten, Soldaten” to the aria’s final bars (1048-1063) in the Alban Berg opera “Wozzeck”?
7. Who conducted “Tannhauser” at the 1847 Bayreuth Festival? Was he right or left-handed?
8. Trace the development of the “Family Unity” theme in Richard Strauss’ “Sinfonia Domestica”. In which key(s) is it presented?
9. Describe in detail the formula for the varnish on violins made by Stradivari during the first third of his career. Explain how this varnish differs from varnish used on his violas. What modern substances could be effectively substituted in duplicating this formula today?
10. What is the optimum acidity/alkalinity (expressed in pH) for soil in which cane for bassoon reeds are to be grown? For bass clarinet reeds?
11. Name the bones and muscles involved in forming a brass player’s embouchure.
12. What is the advantage of using xylophone mallet heads made of:
a. Ebony
b. Teak
c. Philippine Mahogany
d. Compressed moose chips
13. Argue both sides of the following statement: “The most important element in music is rhythm.”
* Critique both arguments and decide which is correct, or more nearly correct.
* Compose a three-movement symphonic metamorphosis (not to exceed 1 hour in length) on a theme by Ned Rorem to support your decision.
14. Defend Mozart’s use of the glass harmonica and explain why this instrument has lapsed into disfavor, especially among punk rock groups.
15. Give the “Slap-Back” time in seconds (to three decimal places) of each hall used by all major American and European orchestras. Defend your selection of each orchestra as a major orchestra, and name each orchestra’s past and present conductors.
16. In which of his symphonies did Franz Joseph Haydn use:
a. Clarinets
b. Horns
c. Tympani
d. Bassoons
17. Write the first 25 bars of Stravinsky’s “Circus Polka” (from memory), and analyze.
18. What is the Koechel number of Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto?
19. Develop a simple set of rules that explain the harmonic and melodic progressions, voice leadings, and rhythmic notation of the music of Bartok.
20. Give the ratio between the bore and overall length of a Couesnon Contra-Bass trombone, Model G-571a, when the slide is in flat 4th position. If the position is used in conjunction with both thumb valves (F and D) to play the 7th note of the overtone series, what note will be sounded? Will it be sharp, flat, or in tune? If sharp or flat, by how many hundredths of a semitone?
21. Who invented the Ocarina? In what year? Why?
22. Explain the musical inconsistencies as to key, notation, accidentals, etc, found in the original score of Robert Schumann’s Symphony #3.
23. Write a seven-voice motet in the style of Orlando di Lassus in invertible counterpoint. Extra credit if the motet can also be performed backwards.
24. Using materials commonly found in the kitchen, construct a 15 rank, 3-manual positiv organ (with pedals) and use it to perform two pieces by Oliver Messiaen.
25. Reconstruct the missing movements of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony.
26. Give the Russian, German, and Serbo-Croatian equivalents of the following Italian terms: Tuffato, Con Amore, Cadenza, Fugato, Garbonzo, Mafioso, and Ferrari.
27. Explain why Benny Goodman could use parallel octaves, but you can’t.
But seriously, I’m finished with my summer class! And now I’ll have to actually get back to work and write music!
Screwing up is the real mother of invention…
0As chronicled in my last post, in the massive amount of shuffling around that has happened to KyleVanderburg.Net lately (and vandermusik.com and kyledavey.com and and and…) I managed to drop the wrong database, losing all of the posts from Poor Little Misled Notes. Did I have a backup? Of course not. The entire KyleVanderburg.Net server structure is a wonderfully convoluted system that I sometimes copy to an external drive if it’s a full moon and the planets are aligned. And backing up things like databases (which run the ~8 WordPress blogs, applications like my library and photo album, the Vandermusik billing system, and of course the KV.Net core)…who backs up databases? I mean, who would be so stupid as to accidentally delete…
Oh.
So in a blazing moment of clarity (and by that, I mean an evening of binge-coding) I wrote a file-copying-database-exporting backup script. It’s ugly. It’s weird. Any real programmer would have an aneurysm. But it works.
I was going to post news about the ongoing piano sonata, but SVU is on and I want a sandwich.
Sq.