A few events have aligned to make me consider new positive exclamations. I’ve been watching Twin Peaks for the first time and noticed Special Agent Dale Cooper likes to exclaim “Aces!” I was texting a friend (my band-boss and sometimes work-spouse @muskoxmusic) who finished off an exchange with “Top Notch!”
what a swell guy!
I am tired of “awesome” and “wicked” and I want more! What have you got?
These days I am partial to “Cool Beans,” and using Google, I found more:
“Simply ripping!” “Spiffy!”
I appeal to the crowd-source. Lay on me thine classiest ones.
Last night I went to go see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol with my brother. Upon arriving at Kingston’s Gardiner Cineplex, I proceeded to the concession stand to buy a small root beer. With this in hand, we headed into theatre 10 and got some aisle seats. After waiting for the commercials to end we were treated to a bunch of trailers. Safe House is a Ryan Reynolds/Denzel Washington vehicle about Denzel’s rogue spy character constantly one-upping Reynolds’ rookie CIA agent and smirking a lot, even though they are obvs both good guys. The new Baron Cohen movie seems pretty dumb… I hope the good stuff was held from the trailer.
Though there was no Batman: Dark Knight Rises trailer (a movie about baking), it was alright because I saw it online already. Then the movie started. I wanted to make fun of this movie but it turned out to have a light enough tone that it already knew how silly it was. And as far as I tried, I couldn’t crack the movie’s logic. I thought I was pretty smart when Cobalt, the crazy terrorist, stole the nuclear launch codes, because I yelled “well why don’t they just change the codes!!??” at the screen. But it turns out that even though Cobalt’s plan successfully resulted in blowing up half the Kremiln, the Russians didn’t even realize the codes were stolen! So how could they change codes when they didn’t even know they had to? Airtight.
Then Tom Cruise climbed the tallest building in the world with the Nintendo Power Glove, Hurt Locker wore chain mail and Scotty from Star Trek was really nervous yet not bungling. What a pro.
The best part was in the final “sitting around and laughing about the mission” scene when Tom Cruise’s hair suddenly doubled in volume.
All things considered, this was a really fun movie but if you are a ghost looking for a primer on how you ought to behave you are sorely out of luck.
Today’s #resound11 prompt: “Earlier this month we revealed our theme song. Today, share with us the song you would like to be remembered by. Share with us your exit song. Is that a little too personal or deep for you? Why not share with us the song that helps you leave 2011 behind and ring in the new year?”
No, the song isn’t too personal, but the reasons behind my connection to it might be. My song is Uri Caine’s arrangement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”: Mov. 4, “Urlicht. Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht”:
All I will say about it on a personal level is that the title of the complete symphony, Resurrection, is very appropriate to the events of the past year. Urlicht or “Primeval Light” suggests a sense of waking up to something that’s always been there. Like a dawn that’s been waiting to happen. Titles aside, the music kills me every time I hear it; it’s one of the few pieces that can bring me to tears.
Who knows why this happens? I know that music written in major can sometimes make me sadder than anything written in minor. There is also something in Mark Feldman’s violin solo that reaches deep to I-know-not-what. On that front, there is something about the audacity of this solo, or the audacious instinct that at some point granted Mark Feldman or Uri Caine the internal permission to do such a thing to a canonical piece of music, that also digs deep inside me.
The piece is also short. It reminds me of some things I tried to do with music in 2010 and 2011 that are brief and to the point. In 2012 I want to reach a bit further and have some more successful large scale ideas. I want the pendulum to swing in the “complex/long” direction. Of course, I have to find ideas that need this treatment. If they don’t, they will continue to be short and sweet.
Blah, blah, blah: manifesto. Basically this song comes out triumphantly, goes through some serious shit, then ends calm and centred
I am pretty sure I have no more gigs this year, so to Mike Smith, Pete Johnston, Jeremy Strachan, Jake Oelrichs, Andrew Downing, Nick Fraser, Erika Agneta, Jamie Drake, Mark Laver, Lisa Conway, Carrie Wiebe, Jay Burr, Jason Logue, Alex Samaras, Andrew Hillhouse, Dave MacDougall, Daniel Gaucher, Chris Roberts, Kurt Nielsen, Jim Sexton, Norbert Botos, Russ Macklem, Peter Van Huffel, Sophie Tassignon, Lina Allemano, Taylor Cook, Jon Maharaj, Paul Tarrusov, Sheba Thibideau, Roland Hunter, Colin Hacklander, Amahl Arulanandam, Josh Cole, Dani Oore, Mark Godfrey, Ben McConchie, Mark Segger, Heather Segger, Linnea Thacker, James Anderson, Tristan Durie, Michele Jacot, Kristin Mueller-Heaslip, Caitlin Smith, Matthew Miller, Nicole Rampersaud, Mike Field, Tom Richards, Gord Mowat, Jordan O’Connor, Gillian Margot, Tim Shia, Alex Coleman, Todd Elsliger, Brendan Cassidy, Muskox, the Earthtones, Tiny Alligator Large Band and the Andrew Downing Ensemble…
I say thanks for a great year of music. I know I have forgotten some folks. Obviously we need to play more
So updating this everyday did not happen. I am at peace with that, but here this now: I’ll pick at it when I feel like, and I feel like it now! Today’s #resound11 prompt is: “Take today to talk about 12 things you would like to accomplish in 2012. These 12 things can be 12 resolutions, 12 changes in your life, 12 wines you’d like to drink, 12 cities you’d like to visit, or 12 monthly goals. The decision is yours. Good luck and have fun!”
This year I aim…:
1. To complete composition, rehearsal and live performance (w/film) of Battleship Potemkin. Latest demo (be gentle):
This is my baby now.
2. To continue my improved reading habit. I haven’t finished the half-read books on my shelf as I said I would last year. Wow… I am actually still on page 100 of the first book of the Gormenghast Trilogy. But I am getting in at least 30 minutes a day of reading, so I’m starting to build a consistent habit.
3. I got wind of Tough Mudder through Twitter. I am doing it. It is this: “Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. As the leading company in the booming obstacle course industry, Tough Mudder has already challenged half a million inspiring participants worldwide and raised more than $2 million dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. But Tough Mudder is more than an event, it’s a way of thinking. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, you’ll unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time, and discover a camaraderie with your fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days.”
…who’s with me?
4. Half-Marathon in May. I will be faster this time. I just know it. Target time: 1hr50min.
5. To help fuel the currently top secret Muskox project, and over the course of the year, rock out with that amazing bunch of dudes (dudettes? = clue).
6. To learn canning. 7. To plant a garden. 8. To learn basic bike maintenance. 9. To perform classical repertoire in public.
10. To be more honest with those close to me than I have ever been. Every time I have tried this in the last little while, it has been for the best. It is an amazing relief to find out the thoughts you hide turn out not to be such a big deal after all. And even when they turn out to be a big deal, that’s a big deal that needed to get out in the open.
11. To cook more food for those close to me. I am now certain that the best form of vegan activism is to make awesome food for friends.
12. To get the band back together. Will it be these guys?
My number one has to be patience. Not original. I’m at my most patient (“short term patience”) when I’m teaching piano to kids. Yesterday I had to tell a kid to take his hand out of his mouth. With another one, I feel like a dog trainer, using a modified version of “sit…stay…stay…ok, good boy!” to prevent him from starting a passage without full concentration. I’m not a music teacher, I’m a behavior modification expert.
There’s really no situation that sharpens my teaching chops more than teaching youngsters because they don’t meet you halfway. It sure does burn a lot of mental calories though, and I don’t know how many more years I have in me.
“long term patience” I’d say, is about waiting for good things to unfold over many months, and that’s what I’m all about these days. I have to be. I started my film score for Battleship Potemkin last year, and the big push to finish it is underway. For my busy life that means it will be March before the entire score is done. Until then I can’t initiate any other small group projects (where I actually get to play piano with other humans). Right now there is no Arkana Music. I miss the high of playing that sweet, sweet time. But I will wait…and it will be worth it. I promise.
Ok this is going to be really seedy stuff so get ready… I have been wrestling with caffeine addiction. But writing about that would make a terrible blog. The only way to make that story interesting would be to cut together a video montage of all my caffeine highs and crashes (i.e. trying a piano passage for the 15th time, getting up in a huff, walking in a circle then lying down on the floor).
So to get into more “Chicken Soup” territory, my worst vice is…worry. The moment something bad happens in my life, or worse, the moment I imagine something bad happening, I immediately plot all the negative consequences that follow, until I’ve created a scenario where I am old, fat and living under a bridge.
Last year I took part in a December daily blogging challenge, and I succeeded in doing an entry for every day of the month. Each day a prompt would be provided, and I’d ruminate on it. It was a good thing to do, and I’m doing it again. Should I do it? Do I really need to feed my narcissism anymore by putting out yet another daily link to something so that everyone looks at me (and this is in addition to all the Tweeting)? “Need” is a strong word… but it’s helpful. I’ve been through a lot this year for my small brain to take, and if you’ll indulge me, I think this space will help. Besides… I need to practice my writing skills.
So this year I found #resound11, which is an offshoot of #reverb10. Today’s prompt is:
“One Word: What is one word to describe your 2011? Why does that word sum up your year?”
I choose: submission. Get your minds out of the gutter. I chose this word because I was thrown a few curveballs this year. Futures I imagined for myself were completely derailed, but when I submitted to my new paths, everything was o.k. and maybe (probably) better than what I was headed for. I was ripped out of complacency, and like micro-tearing in the muscles that hurts at first, I can eventually heal and be stronger. That is definitely happening. An important aspect of that healing is owning my part in what happened, which I’ve done. I’m not a victim…just a participant.
The details are too personal, even for this blog, but my closest friends know exactly what I’m talking about. There are other ground-shaking things on the horizon (wow this is melodramatic) that have nothing to do with the aforementioned series of events that I will also meet with a submissive attitude. You know… the good kind of submission, where you realize you are not the best judge. Time to let go of what I think the future ought to be.
Since I completed my Masters degree last year, I’ve been thinking about what area I might research next, and possibly going back to school to do it. It has been an anxious time, wondering if I have any passion left for the academy, which has given me so many opportunities and security. I was worried there would be no topic left that would ignite my passions enough to do thorough research and writing.
Then I saw this:
Bill Evans was the first jazz pianist that I studied. The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album is probably my favourite vocal jazz recording (aside from Shooby Taylor’s work). Until I saw this footage from the Johnny Carson show, I always thought that Bill’s talents were hard-won after years of practice. Bill was well-known for espousing the merits of hard work over natural talent in a now legendary quotation:
“I believe in things that are developed through hard work. I always like people who have developed long and hard, especially through introspection and a lot of dedication. I think what they arrive at is usually a much deeper and more beautiful thing than the person who seems to have that ability and fluidity from the beginning. I say this because it’s a good message to give to young talents who feel as I used to.”
And now my whole epistemological foundation has been shaken after watching this video and noticing this:
What in the heck is that around his neck!!!!!!???????????
I know what you’re all thinking: “It was the 70s… everyone was wearing medallions.” Well that would be simple, and occam’s razor would cut right through that shit. But here’s the thing… check out what Tony says at the very end of the video:
Clint Eastwood: “Bill Evans unfortunately didn’t live long enough to do half of what he’s really capable of doing.”
Tony Bennett: “And you know I must tell you that he really regretted that
This is a serious problem. In fact there is a tangled web of problems here. First and foremost, how does Tony Bennett know that Bill regretted anything after his death? The obvious implication is that somehow Bill is staying in touch with Tony from the afterlife. And we’re not just talking about vague ghostly ramblings where Bill moans things like “aaaaavvveeeeeenge meeeeeeee!!!!!!” Tony and Bill managed to get enough clarity and time on the supernatural airwaves to get to a discussion on their career regrets. Bill could tell Tony about all the projects he wished he had been able to complete, and Tony could lord it over Bill that he got to do a duet with Lady Gaga.
I believe that Bill’s amulet grants him amazing powers. Possibly, these powers are musical (amazing voicings, piano touch and +5 vs. vampires/jazz singers), but all the clues seem to lead also to power over death.
this is a close-up of Bill's amulet of power. see also: http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Wolf-Short-Sleeve/dp/B002HJ377A
I think Clint is also in on the “talking to Bill Evans from the afterlife” club. Notice that when talking about Bill, he uses the present tense: “Bill Evans unfortunately didn’t live long enough to do half of what he’s really capable of doing.” So Clint knows. What are these three up to??
One last thing – the guy at 2:24 says “Bill Evans was an orchestra.” He doesn’t say “Bill Evans was like an orchestra.” So now are you telling us that the amulet grants the power to transform into an actual full-on orchestra, or was Bill Evans an orchestra the whole time, walking the earth in human form? I think it’s the former, as there are many photos where he is not wearing the amulet.
Whatever Bill’s powers were (or currently are), there’s one thing I think we can all agree on: now that Paul Motian has passed, maybe Bill can use the power of the amulet to get a session together with Scotty and they can all make the follow up to Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Let’s dig up this old thing here. Oh… it looks like there used to be a blog here. What? You say I once promised to update weekly? You won’t catch me falling into that old trap again. But… I will update from time to time, maybe, or maybe never again. Or maybe every day in December. I don’t know anymore… I don’t know so many things anymore. Maybe it’s dumb to think I ever did. How cryptic.
this horse is relaxed now but things don't go so well for him because zombies
Well here’s why I’ve returned to this medium. Read this excerpt from the book Art & Fear by David Bales and Ted Orland:
“Eventually those who stepped forward to carry the West Coast Landscape Photography banner were not producing art, so much as re-producing the history of art. Separated two or three generations from the forces that spawned the vision they championed, they were left making images of experiences they never quite had. If you find yourself caught in similar circumstances, we modestly offer this bit of cowboy wisdom: When your horse dies, get off.”
Crystallizes the way I feel about things, more than once in a while. So does this.
