|
The21stImpression
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Joshua
Country: United States
State: Tennessee
Metro: Nashville
Birthday: 10/29/1982
Gender: Male
Interests: * Music * Composition * Saxophone * Musicology * Theory * Electro-acoustic Music * Jazz * Traveling * Germany * Photography * Literature * Philosophy * God *
Expertise: playing the piano with a pencil in my hand
Occupation: Artist
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message meEmail: email me
AIM:  KJosh7
MSN: keelingj@pop.belmont.edu
ICQ:  343143986
Member Since:
12/6/2003
|
|
| RavelI'm listening to a recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G, which I
heard live with the Nashville Symphony and Pascal Rogé in May.
The second movement is nothing short of amazing... the simple
waltz-like rhythm never stops; the piano part is remarkably simple, and
the orchestration weaves brilliantly through a wide array of colorful
solos. I've heard few compositions this peaceful and settling
that can blend so effortlessly between comfortably tonal, melodious
passages and sections of quasi-polytonal, subtly dissonant lines.
The thing that makes this movement so impressive is that Ravel creates
a comfortable balance between meeting the expectations his music
creates and defying them. Often I would find myself wrapped up in
a soothing melody that satisfied the ear, but before it got boring or
monotonous, it would ease into a section of unpredictable changes and
tension; all the while maintaining a character of effortless beauty.
And the most beautiful English horn solo I have ever heard.
So it's not just about the sounds, or the program, it's about the
decisions... that's what separates the mundane pieces from the great
ones; the decisions made at every change of direction, such as every
new section, every instrument and choice of tone color, even the
meaning of the whole piece. Ravel was in total control - he made
audacious decisions confidently, but he kept the audacity to a moderate
level... not to be to stauch a traditionalist, but it is so important
to write in a language that is not too foreign to the average
listener... innovation can be overdone... but many people don't think
so.
Anyway, I think the most important aspect of a piece of art is that the
decisions made are confident, reasonable, and bold when
necessary. I strive to make these kinds of decisions, but I don't
think I do very often. It's my new goal.
| | |
| July is hereIt's hard to believe that July is here and I will be leaving Nashville
for good very soon... it hasn't really set in yet. My
parents are on their way up right now for a visit, and they will be
taking some of my stuff back with them... then when I see the empty
space it will be real and will be that much more motivation to make the
most of my time left here and to prepare for school.
Really don't know what to expect at UT... I don't know if I'm going to
study with Welcher or Grantham or one of the other professors, or if I
have a choice... Which reminds me to listen to more of each of
their music... so far I've heard some wind ensemble and orchestra
pieces from each of them, but I'd like to hear more so I know who I'm
studying with... it's just really hard to get a hold of that stuff.
I'm writing a Sanctus for church, working on some songs, and getting
ready to look for some competitions to enter in, so I can have some
work begun on it before I start at UT.
Pictures next time!~
| | |
| Josh: How tall are you, six feet?
Tyler: Yeah.
Josh: Oh, so that means I must be 12' 7"
| | |
| It's been a while since I last updated.
So I'm going to Austin this fall! I don't remember what I posted
last time, but Northwestern didn't come through for me with financial
aid. It's too bad that I can't go there, but UT is a great
school, and Austin will be such an awesome city to live in! Plus,
they gave me a full tuition scholarship! I'm looking at places to
live right now.
The weather has been incredible... I love this time of year in Tennessee because it actually feels like spring, unlike in Texas where it's already topping 100 degrees. And some people from here have the audacity to complain about the weather?! I just don't understand it!  I'm trying to spend as much time outside as possible. Anyone want to go biking with me?
Yesterday I played piano and saxophone at a wedding in Kentucky -
Grace's brother got married and she asked me and Tyler to play. I
had so much fun - it was my first wedding to play for. The
weather and the landscape there was gorgeous - it was a little like
Texas but a lot greener; we took some pictures, which I will proceed to
display here, thus enticing you to continue to read my blog.
Mullets abounded (well, just names for mullets; only one was actually
spotted). And I accidentally left my wallet at the church, so we
had to turn around. We found an open door at the church and spent
an hour searching the place. We were thinking about spending the
night at the church when I finally realized that I had taken it out of
my pocket by the swingset. It was still there, thank God.
I'm really concerned that I'm losing my mind. No, really. I
keep doing these kinds of things. I think it's getting worse and
I don't know what to do about it.
Other fun and exciting things have been happening.
We played my congregational song in the liturgy this morning. It
went pretty well - the people who knew I had written it were very
complimentary. But someone forgot to print my name in the worship
guide, and Thomas forgot to announce it, so it was just sung as if it
were a standard that we printed up from somewhere. I don't care
if they give me credit for it; that's not why I wrote it. But I
imagine it would be good for the people to know that the music they are
singing was actually made up by a member of their own community.
And it would have been nice to have my work recognized in some
way. Now, if I want people to know that I wrote it, I'm going to
have to tell them myself, which I don't enjoy doing at all.
I'm going to clean the apartment up and lay low today; I am coming down with a cold. And I'm going to listen to Madeleine Peyroux all day.
 | | |
| Here's the latest on the grad school standoff: I knew my letter
from Northwestern was mailed last Thursday the 23rd, but by the
following Tuesday I still hadn't gotten it, so I called them. It
turns out they had my old address - I had applied there before I knew I
was going to move. Oops. It wouldn't have been a problem; I
can still check mail at the old apartment, but instead of the letter, I
found a note saying that the Post Office was no longer delivering mail
there anymore!
So Northwestern FedExed it to me and I finally got the letter on
Friday. It read, "you have been admitted to the Doctor of Music
program in Piano Performance and Pedagogy," and that I had been awarded
no financial aid. I didn't apply for piano performance! I
applied for composition! So I called one of the composition
professors. Fortunately, I was on his list of accepted composers,
so the letter was a mistake. I emailed the admissions coordinator
to make sure the financial aid letter wasn't wrong as well, but it was
actually correct. So I did get
accepted by Northwestern, but I did not get any financial aid at
all. I have to make my decisions to UT Austin and Mills College
today, so I am going to call the admissions coordinator in a little
while and see if he can change anything about the financial aid.
Otherwise, it looks like I will probably decide to go to UT, which is
great as well.
The weather has been unbelievable here - this weekend was
perfect. On Saturday I slept in, went to Baja Burrito to meet
Adam and Grace, went to Phonoluxe to get some used cd's, and then went
walking around Radnor Lake for a couple of hours with Tyler and
Patrick.
Yesterday was really nice too...ate Mexican food for lunch and made
some progress on a new composition. Then it rained at night and I
got some great shots of lightning
 
| | |
|
