Wednesday Morning
Today I'm preparing myself for a long couple of days coming; I work at the Espresso bar and at Garden's Gate tomorrow to Sunday. I'm catching up on laundry, reading, relaxing, I may crack open my Spanish textbook, even. Actually I think I need espresso first.
Right now I'm listening to this Fado CD that was found at the Espresso bar, someone had left it. Who had left a Fado CD, in Midnemoya, I can't possibly imagine. Probably some upright old woman. Anyways, I'm enjoying it... there is something about non-English music that really fascinates me. When I listen to English vocals, I am more likely to piece together the words I hear into my own perception of the meaning and intention of the song. When the vocals are nother language, I hear the voice as just another instrument, and pay more attention to tone and inflection, hearing the rise and fall of the singing ebb and flow with the rest of the instruments and the groove of the song. It's also more interesting, since I do not expect what sounds will follow what, the words of an unknown language are unpredictable and seem like some creative abstract of sound.
I finished Paul Bowles "The Sheltering Sky" last night; what an ending, I truly couldn't put it down. It was a brilliant book, fraught with inisghtful clarity into the characters' thoughts, while at the same time keeping up the pace of the plot. Some of the lines in that book just made me shake my head, he really is a beautifully clear writer. The style of writing that appeals to me most is something that walks the line between descriptive ornamentation and the minimalist approach. I like beautiful phrasing that gets to the point. I think Bowles has this. I've already begun a short ways into "The Spider's House" and I can't wait to keep reading. I love good books.
I was reading about Bowles on wikipedia and some other sites, looking at pictures of him, interviews, assorted biographies... he really is a character that lived a life I admire and aspire to... travel, language, the arts, culture. And yet there seems to be a poise about him, a no-nonsense approach to his romanticism. Apparently he's translated some Moroccan literature, I would like to get my hands on some. I really thirst for reading something from the Moroccan perspective.
Right now I'm listening to this Fado CD that was found at the Espresso bar, someone had left it. Who had left a Fado CD, in Midnemoya, I can't possibly imagine. Probably some upright old woman. Anyways, I'm enjoying it... there is something about non-English music that really fascinates me. When I listen to English vocals, I am more likely to piece together the words I hear into my own perception of the meaning and intention of the song. When the vocals are nother language, I hear the voice as just another instrument, and pay more attention to tone and inflection, hearing the rise and fall of the singing ebb and flow with the rest of the instruments and the groove of the song. It's also more interesting, since I do not expect what sounds will follow what, the words of an unknown language are unpredictable and seem like some creative abstract of sound.
I finished Paul Bowles "The Sheltering Sky" last night; what an ending, I truly couldn't put it down. It was a brilliant book, fraught with inisghtful clarity into the characters' thoughts, while at the same time keeping up the pace of the plot. Some of the lines in that book just made me shake my head, he really is a beautifully clear writer. The style of writing that appeals to me most is something that walks the line between descriptive ornamentation and the minimalist approach. I like beautiful phrasing that gets to the point. I think Bowles has this. I've already begun a short ways into "The Spider's House" and I can't wait to keep reading. I love good books.
I was reading about Bowles on wikipedia and some other sites, looking at pictures of him, interviews, assorted biographies... he really is a character that lived a life I admire and aspire to... travel, language, the arts, culture. And yet there seems to be a poise about him, a no-nonsense approach to his romanticism. Apparently he's translated some Moroccan literature, I would like to get my hands on some. I really thirst for reading something from the Moroccan perspective.