November 16, 2007
Balance
…listen
…about the musicTwo sounds weigh in against each other.
Balance is often a good thing. English is a weird language because while it’s easy to get off balance, one never gets on it.
But I try.
This week I continued honing my circus skills and juggled several things at once: ongoing bang bang buzz whack bang whrrrrr smack house remodeling bang oops slam ahhh, ongoing note remodeling in the form of a concert wind band piece I’m in the flurry of composing, and ongoing thought remodeling in the form of a new essay, which was published in the webzine NewMusicBox on Wednesday.
I will admit that the presence of the bang bang whack bang whrrrrr was not especially conducive to the powers of concentration needed for the other two tasks occurring a few feet away, but having no choice I learned to stop my internal whining (which at times may have been louder than the table saw) and do my best to tune it all out. As it happens, the tune in my head is not in the same key as either the table saw or the air compressor, making this an even more, uh… interesting, exercise.
More often than not, the day’s interruptions, both home and business related, necessitate working during the only pocket of blessed peace and quiet: from after dinner until 5 or 6am. These have been my normal working hours for many years. Except that in the past, I’d sleep until about 11, sometimes noon, and after 5 or 6 deep, zzzzz-filled hours I’d be refreshed and ready to start all over again. But with workmen showing up at 8:30am, well now, it throws a vampire’s body clock waaaaay off… balance.
And so the cycle begins anew: bang bang, work work, try try, finally finally, no sleep, no sleep, good morning Bob/Michael/Howard/Jessie/whoever you are in myblurryeyes, would you like a cup of coffee??
Ah, the weekend has arrived! For two days, coffee will wait until…. noon!
Doug Palmer said,
November 17, 2007 @ 8:30 am
I want to thank you for the chicken soup.
In appreciation, I want to tell you an important secret about Washington.
The official state song is not that soggy awful “Washington, my home”
That is an even worse piece of music than Beethoven’s “Wellington’s Victory”
The real state song (especially among musicians) is “Louie, Louie”
This honor is not often conferred upon Californians.
I don’t know if you have tried my link “Beadlust” She is a neighbor of yours just outside of Friday Harbor. Lovely beadwork. Her husband is a photographer and has some truly beautiful work on his site.
I have been meaning to tell you how much I enjoyed your piece for “tape” and Bassoon.
i usually don’t think much of that sort of thing, but your blend seems sublime.
I am reminded of the sea.
I will purchase your album.
I enjoyed your article, but I’m afraid all I can say about it is “Ah, to be young again”
Anyway, peace, love, harmony and good enharmonic spelling to you and yours.
……………..Uncle Doug