films galore

Some of the best classes I have taken in my lifetime consist of Dr. Claudine Bigelow’s String Literature Class, Professor Julie Bevan’s Chamber Music Literature class and now Dr. Ronald H. Sadoff’s Film Music: Historical & Aesthetical Perspectives. For whatever reason, this class fascinates me to an obsessive rate. We have been given two texts to read, and I have already read Film Music: A Neglected Art. Besides that, I am already on page 106 of Overtones and Undertones: Reading Film Music, both of which are over 300 pages long. I am able to dive and get lost into these books about film and their respective scores. I have always had an affinity for the topic, and am now grateful to be LIVING in this class.

In Overtones and Undertones, Royal S. Brown quotes from page 222 of Langer’s Philosophy, and this is the best description of music I have ever read in my entire life!!!!

music is not self expression, but formulation and representation of emotions, moods, mental tensions and resolutions—a “logical picture” of sentient, responsive life, a source of insight, not a plea for sympathy. Feelings revealed in music are essentially not “the passion, love, or longing of such-and-such an individual,” inviting us to put ourselves in that individual’s place, but are presented directly to our understanding, that we may grasp, realize, comprehend these feelings, without pretending to have them or imputing them to anyone else.

Nailed it.

In other discussions, I am adjunct faculty at NYU. It is an interesting thing—I never thought I would like teaching, and now that I have about 10 students, I am growing fond of the art. My students range from cannot-read-music to should-have-been-a-music-major. It is really fascinating to have to pull out old skills I have not even thought about since I learned them. Also, the fact I learned to read music via playing the piano, and learned how to play a string instrument via violin is interesting. I am glad I took all those pedagogy classes from Monte and LeAnne while at BYU. Who knew I would chose to use Castleman/Koob/The Art of Vibrato/The Violist’s Guide to Exquisite Intonation ever again. Thank you Dr. Bigelow, and thank you for the rich heritage. (I also drastically miss the Primrose International Viola Archive like no one’s business).

I am still working for Rob Fisher as his music assistant. I am legally not allowed to talk about projects and such, but this is a wonderful opportunity and a great blessing/break away from my busy, crazy life. It is nice to be using my skills as an organized person as well as combine said skills with my musical knowledge. I am so honoured to have this job, and to be able to work with such a star as Rob, not to mention the projects themselves.

I have some other awesome things lined up like orchestration THE CARNIVOROUS, a new play, more performances of A MUSICAL FANTASIA ON PIRATICAL THEMES [working title], making my Off-Broadway debut with the amazing piece FANNIE LOU and more news of FOLK WANDERING rising in the works that I cannot talk about until they are announced. All this to be said, I am really enjoying life and it is slowly starting to pick up for me. I am thrilled. 

I was lucky enough to see the Public’s presentation of INTO THE WOODS as part of Shakespeare in the Park this summer. I just want to make a statement about how Ben Brantley doesn’t rule the universe. I do value his opinion, and most of the time he is right, but I do not understand how this production received less than favourable handouts. I thought Amy Adams did a remarkable job with the Baker’s Wife, and surprisingly enough, was way more in tune than Donna Murphy. Not to say Donna was not outstanding, because she did act the living daylights of the role, not to mention the new version of “Last Midnight” is beyond amazing—I wanted to press pause on my real life TiVo and rewind to watch her sing it again to new orchestrations. I really hope it does not transfer because the magic will be lost from being outside, in a park, with woods everywhere. If they can reconstruct the same feeling as they did outdoors indoors, then we have a different story on our hands. I just do not want something to transfer that is a success in a different venue to lose the sparkle it had in said venue, ie. LYSISTRATA JONES anyone?

More soon. I love my new bow.