Canon
I wrote a canon this week.
I actually started it early. I was working on it *before* the night before. And yet I still barely managed to finish it in time. And I mean literally; I was still adjusting it about a half hour before class. O yeah, the meaning, the implications of a 'canon' or 'canonic music' are as follows: essentially, you can do anything with the first voice, but the second voice performs all of the same thing at a set interval a set number of beats afterward. In my case, the right hand was the lead voice, and came in a measure before the left hand, which was exactly 1 octave lower. So (in my case), 4 beats after the right hand played it, the left hand had to play it. *AND* it all had to work together to form complex chords, key changes, tonalities, etc. I think it nearly killed me.
Stupid baroque-era contrapuntal textures. Not that they aren't useful etc, but they're freaking hard to write in. And my teacher expects us to pop out baroque pieces in just a weekend, neverminding the fact that I'm generally *working* all weekend.
As for listening music, I've gone, somewhat suddenly, from obsessive Pain of Salvation to moderately obsessive Sonata Arctica. In the period of about 2 days. Which is nice. I actually like it when they're the current interest. I think it's always Ecliptica first; it moves from the Ecliptica songs into their other albums, but it's those songs that draw me back first for some reason. I'm sure if I were in different moods or something, it could be a different album that does it. But honestly, you have songs like Letter to Dana, Fullmoon, 8th Commandment, Replica, and heck, most of the album really. It's no small wonder they're the ones that really caught my attention to the band first, and they have a special place in my heart.
And of course, now I have achings for the concert, on top of very fond memories (/withdrawals) of their last concert. But, I miss Jani, their old guitarist. He had a certain ... spirit that he contributed with. I'm sure Elias is plenty talented, etc., but still.
...For this weekend, I have my recital tomorrow, and a music paper to write for Tuesday analyzing a Bach invention (not a 'creation' or 'device', but a certain type of keyboard piece). Yay. But, I still need to finish up writing and forming my composition portfolio, on top of keeping up with the pieces I've learned for the audition. It seems everything will be coming to a head soon, and I'll know how well I've prepared for it.
By the way, I've purchased *and* received all the sheet music I needed for my audition, and have all my pieces memorized, so no worries there. I just need to fine tune all of them. If I ever had a bloody chance to practice once in a while.... I also applied for my AAS for the end of winter quarter, and had *another* transcript sent to WWU as per their request.
O yeah, I got a chance to talk with Jenn on the phone Wednesday night, which was very nice, and I think the first time since she left. My friend Gina's been up from Utah as well, and I got a chance to visit with her last night, and watch "Secret Window," which of course has my sort of ending where the guy gets the girl... and her boyfriend *laughter*. Tonight, I went and helped Cortney with her admissions essay. Which... should go a lot better now. She has major revisals to do tonight, but I think it's very much in the right direction. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go see a movie tomorrow, and hang out with Sarela on Monday.
I actually started it early. I was working on it *before* the night before. And yet I still barely managed to finish it in time. And I mean literally; I was still adjusting it about a half hour before class. O yeah, the meaning, the implications of a 'canon' or 'canonic music' are as follows: essentially, you can do anything with the first voice, but the second voice performs all of the same thing at a set interval a set number of beats afterward. In my case, the right hand was the lead voice, and came in a measure before the left hand, which was exactly 1 octave lower. So (in my case), 4 beats after the right hand played it, the left hand had to play it. *AND* it all had to work together to form complex chords, key changes, tonalities, etc. I think it nearly killed me.
Stupid baroque-era contrapuntal textures. Not that they aren't useful etc, but they're freaking hard to write in. And my teacher expects us to pop out baroque pieces in just a weekend, neverminding the fact that I'm generally *working* all weekend.
As for listening music, I've gone, somewhat suddenly, from obsessive Pain of Salvation to moderately obsessive Sonata Arctica. In the period of about 2 days. Which is nice. I actually like it when they're the current interest. I think it's always Ecliptica first; it moves from the Ecliptica songs into their other albums, but it's those songs that draw me back first for some reason. I'm sure if I were in different moods or something, it could be a different album that does it. But honestly, you have songs like Letter to Dana, Fullmoon, 8th Commandment, Replica, and heck, most of the album really. It's no small wonder they're the ones that really caught my attention to the band first, and they have a special place in my heart.
And of course, now I have achings for the concert, on top of very fond memories (/withdrawals) of their last concert. But, I miss Jani, their old guitarist. He had a certain ... spirit that he contributed with. I'm sure Elias is plenty talented, etc., but still.
...For this weekend, I have my recital tomorrow, and a music paper to write for Tuesday analyzing a Bach invention (not a 'creation' or 'device', but a certain type of keyboard piece). Yay. But, I still need to finish up writing and forming my composition portfolio, on top of keeping up with the pieces I've learned for the audition. It seems everything will be coming to a head soon, and I'll know how well I've prepared for it.
By the way, I've purchased *and* received all the sheet music I needed for my audition, and have all my pieces memorized, so no worries there. I just need to fine tune all of them. If I ever had a bloody chance to practice once in a while.... I also applied for my AAS for the end of winter quarter, and had *another* transcript sent to WWU as per their request.
O yeah, I got a chance to talk with Jenn on the phone Wednesday night, which was very nice, and I think the first time since she left. My friend Gina's been up from Utah as well, and I got a chance to visit with her last night, and watch "Secret Window," which of course has my sort of ending where the guy gets the girl... and her boyfriend *laughter*. Tonight, I went and helped Cortney with her admissions essay. Which... should go a lot better now. She has major revisals to do tonight, but I think it's very much in the right direction. Hopefully we'll get a chance to go see a movie tomorrow, and hang out with Sarela on Monday.