Of all the bizarre things that have happened lately, locally and worldwide, I am sure of one thing, and that is unless you try, you'll never know how much you can achieve.  Unless you try to be wise in the most difficult of times about finances, love, day in and day out activities, and the human will, you'll never fully experience the appreciation for what you have earned.  I am looking on the bright side of things as I soon venture into a new world at the Boston Conservatory.  I'm shaping myself up for a very rigorous lifestyle there and always filtering the doubts that are undeniable for every person in situations like this.  Even though many thoughts have circumnavigated my endless imagination, I am consistent to believe that nothing deserves bias or rejection.  I know that my experience at the Conservatory will be a powerful and educational one and I'm prepared to serve the world by sharing myself as I continue to learn about theatre craft.  Aside from that thought, I just got back from New York with the Inge group.  I watched the amazing Broadway shows of Wicked, Putnam County Spelling B, Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd, and a Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris.  I should also mention the musician's on every corner of Time Square.  Because of the Inge Foundation; Bruce, Peter, and Hannah, I was able to meet many acclaimed individuals in the theatre industry.  That's about all for now other than work.

Swizzle, Dizzle

A swizzle meets a dizzle kinda frontin to fizzle

and the kidzle have ta fiddzzle with their hands in the middzzle

while the mr. and the mizzle have a tele-vidizzle

ready in the room and the hotel badizle

Every body sing it together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Interview with Ricky- Interviewed by Ricky

4-1) The chief concept of troubadour poetry was the idea of courtly love, which was often unrequited (love was not given back), platonic (based on friendship), and built upon the notion of service to a lady. Discuss the idea of a woman "on a pedestal" in today's society and compare. Is a woman thought of in the same way in music today?

Although men were primarily the traveling musicians, I think it is important to understand the females also performed across the courts of Europe.  In several ways, females were considered noble because of their beauty and poise, not necessarily because of their stature and power.  The recognition that some of these female performers gained is widely accredited to their ability to catch and hold the attention of the audience because of numerous factors.  When you take into consideration the concept of male dominance in a pool of music, you sometimes ignore the adequacy of a females ability to have equal chance at success. 

It happens all the time in the workforce today.  Percentage wise, females are swept under the rug when it comes to handling many important situations; mostly those of war.  Yet this day in age has made very substantial improvement in the acceptance of female prowess.  However, in midieval times, a beautiful female performer with great looks is probably considered a sex idol by the guys and a friend to the girls, if she's within the code of conduct; proper attire, very little cleavage and this sort of thing. 

What I'm trying to say is that female power was probably associated with her compatibility to a man's position of power.  If she could compete yet succumb to the rules of society, as many of the female troubador's did, then she was accepted and allowed to appease.  Basically, I believe that many men were and are constantly trying to please women because they want their acceptance, so it was shocking to see a woman please men through her music and give back the longing if you will.  In current society however, it is much more acceptable for females to perform in a variety of ways: sexually, emotionally, vicariously... you name it. 

I think that we're coming to the realization in modern society that men and women are equal more than people think.  The book of questions can be closed and an atlas of answers is opened when as media, and nations begin to realize the potential for communication between both sexes.

5-1) What measures to steps did the Catholic church take against the reformation? What did they call this new deliberation? Why did they feel the need to change music?

In order to stablize the social upheaval of this time, a change had to occur one way or another, and so Pope and reformer Paul III, in 1543, called together the council of trent.  This counter reformation of Martin Luther's 95 thesis seperated the church of england from it's society, not entirely, but on a large scale.  The pilgrims and protestants in New World were already starting there colonies around the areas of Salem in Massachusetts.  With the need for change, the pope called together and convened for an elaborate discussion about music, life, and social order of the time. 

Several steps were taken to reform what had been challenged or called to question.  Music was considered faulty by the council because it was often to boiant and showy; it's polyphonic jumble caused listeners to focus more on the music then on the word of God speaking to their very hearts and souls.  Needless to say, changes were made for the time.  The third of a major chord was added to the previous tonic and fifth, or first and fifth notes, giving it a sense of completion in most church music, as was the counter reformations plan to finalize and complete the will of God within the cermonies. 

When the three main notes of a major chord are struck, the tonic, the third, and the fifth, it is powerful within the church and the father, the son, and the holy ghost come to life more flouridly.  Of course this is just one theory as to why the third was added, but still remains a strong one to this day.  Music was simplified and smooth through the construction and constant reorganization of composers, giving it a relaxing feeling for easy focus on the preaching within a religious setting.

2) How did the patronage system work for musicians? Compare both successfully musicians and unsuccessful musicians.

I personally would not classify musicians as successful or unsuccessful for more than one reason.  Primarily, during the renaissance and these general times, courtly aristocratic nobility were concerned with pleasing there mistresses and household through entertainment at meals and such, yet the issue of money was also important.  And so while one court would hire elaborate and expensive troubador 1, another may prefer less abundantly prepared composer and troubador 2.  It's all a matter of preference as well. 

Many performances were based on time, and one troubador may last for 2 hours while another only 1.  Money was the main concern however.  Josquin Desprez, a famous composer of this time, is a good example of elaborate and expensive.  He was prefered over another composer who demanded less, but demanded nonetheless as all starving musicians do.

To conclude on this thought, I think it is safe to say that the "successful" or more wealthy musicians, as you know, are the ones that spend time focusing on their craft more in depth.  Without shaping the vase, you just have a piece of clay, some people enjoy clay, if you're a child or have some kind of mentally unstable setting that calls for this type of performance, but there is always a need for all types of musical gist. 

3) What new styles of music began to appear that had not been widely recognized yet?

Polyphonic music was developing rapidly along with the use of imitation, or repeating themes within music.  Motets, or latin-based texts were being used in secular styles of music along with madrigals without the accompaniment of instruments.  Innovations in the smoothness and connectivity of the music was widely accepted and flourished.  Music by one composer could have repeated lines within his music of another composer's.  Of course this was accepted and considered as a respectable act.  The tenor voices within choirs stood out and carried the main message across the tunes continuity.  Word-painting was used to give life to words through the sound of music whether it be through dynamics, emphasis, speed, style or numerous other detailed factors.

Well hello, long time no talk.  I'd like to cherish these moments when I can let my writing speak for me because to sum up the entire situation, things are completely screwed!  First of all, there should be some notice before schools starts informing students such as myself that we're going to be transferred to the main dorm units with all of the sports players!? I don't mind being told in advance that I should prepare to live in an unfamiliar environment, but I guess some people do...  You see, now that school has started and we're being giving less than a week to move into these dorms, it makes things way too complicated for most of the students having to move.  So, why are we being moved?  well, because the school wants to save money for heating costs.  They should have thought about this before school began so that people could have had a chance to settle or argue the whole damn deal.  I'm pretty peeved, in fact, I'm moving out of the dorms entirely to live with three other friends in an apartment.  I've seen to many bad experiences over in the other dorms to move in.  Anyway, I think things will settle down and the school will never make such sudden and inconvenient decisions again once they're finished moping over the plethora of suggestions in the "make our school better" comments box; oh, and not to mention media's involvement.  Well, on another note, my auditions are next week in Chicago for eight different schools and I'm going to kick ass!  Later.... "A wise man once said follow me... but he walked behind."