For the past few months I and another hundred or so students have been working on a piece by Monteverdi called "Vespro della Beata Vergine" (The Monteverdi Vespers). It is an hour-long piece for an enormous 8-part choir or two enormous 4-part choirs, soloists and a medium-sized chamber orchestra with thirteen movements. We had our concert tonight so it is finally finished and I am very happy that it is over and we don't have rehearsal for another week.
Why am I telling you this? For the last two months rehearsals have been very hard to bear because of overcrowding. It wasn't as bad as a factory farm or a Japanese subway station, but it is pretty close to it. Even during the concert, when we are expected to give our best performances, we were still squished together. It was almost like rehearsing in a crowded setting was a practice for the crowdedness of the performance. And instead of desks, we had to sit in black uncomfortable folding chairs so we could fit everyone in the classroom we rehearsed in. I got especially frustrated last week when I was rehearsing with this massive choir for two hours every day. It would be hard to find a bigger place to rehearse and perform without paying a lot of extra money, but I felt that this overcrowding negatively effected our singing.
In the last few rehearsals, which dominated my weekend (instead of, you know, having a social life or at least getting some homework done), our director and other students noticed some serious problems: bad tuning in almost every section, no facial expression, people not watching the conductor, people texting in rehearsal, tentative rhythm, people still not getting some of their pitches. I think some of this might have been improved if people weren't packed in like sardines at the front of the church.
When we were performing, all dressed up, ready to go, if I moved my arm slightly, it would touch the person next to me, and I'd end up touching them if I leaned back. I actually felt my back hurting a few minutes into the piece. I also could barely see the conductor and since I was between two people, I couldn't move to be able to see him better. By the end I was exhausted. If you've ever been in a choir, you know how annoying all of this is.
In conclusion, I wish I had more room in choir because then I would probably sing better and not be as bored and cranky and tired.
Now I'm going to go and write some darned good fanfiction gosh darn it!
P.S. Damn it, Janet!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Posting for the hell of it
Hello there.
Not too much news. Nothing too interesting. But I wrote half a song today. I wish I could show you but I currently can't. This is new for me, because I usually just write song lyrics and never set them to music because I'm too afraid to. But today, after playing some Sarah Harmer for fun, as usual, I wrote a sort-of song. Well, it's not done yet, but I did a good chunk of it. But I didn't write the words. Perhaps that's what was holding me back. I needed something that I didn't create in the song. So I spontaneously pulled out a monologue I did for my Acting for Singers class and set it to music. And I actually like what I've written. Maybe I'll continue or finish writing the song tomorrow. The first few lines of the monologue (by David Lindsey-Abaire) go like this:
"And what's interesting about George Washington, and most people don't know this about him, he wasn't just the father of our country, he was also the father of the first septuplets born in the United States. Martha gave birth the seven children on October 5th, 1762. Five of the children were very badly behaved, so they were sold into white slavery, while the two remaining, Maxwell and Hortense, drowned tragically in the Potomac while trying to retrieve their father's wooden teeth, which had fallen out of his mouth while he was beating a seagull with a canoe paddle."
The monologue is really funny. I'm thinking I might put the whole thing to music, so it will be longer than a conventional song, but I don't really give a fuck. Generally the better songs are like that anyway. Ok, not always, but often. I also wonder if I have to get some kind of permission to use David Lindsay-Abaire's text in a song if it gets performed or something. It probably won't, so at this point I won't worry about it.
I also keep getting cool fanfiction ideas for my current stories. I'm going to post another story on my fanfiction.net soon. It will be another Atlantis story, about an old coworker of Milo's named Beatrice, a university student in love with Milo, who tries to find Atlantis in Milo's honour, believing him to be dead. I'm really excited about this story, which was actually inspired by the Imogen Heap song "The Moment I Said it." A lot of my stories and fantasies are inspired by specific songs. Music just says so much. A picture is worth a thousand words, while a piece of music is worth a million words.
What is frustrating about having crazy amounts of creativity is that I don't get my practicing and homework done. But what am I supposed to do? Just ignore my ideas and let them itch at me while I focus on things that aren't as exciting? It's hard. Creating is so addicting.
Also, me and my roomies had a cleaning party tonight. This has happened more than once. Yes, university students doing chores and not having a completely crappy time. It wasn't really a party, but one of my roommates put on some Motown 60s music and soon all five of us were asking to help out. I Windexed my mirror and a bathroom mirror, cleaned a bathroom sink and vacuumed my room. Not really that much, but the other stuff got taken! It was kind of fun, but I'd rather watch a movie, to tell you the truth.
Alright. That's more than I thought I would write. I always have more to say than I think on here. Goodnight, fellow bloggers and readers!
Not too much news. Nothing too interesting. But I wrote half a song today. I wish I could show you but I currently can't. This is new for me, because I usually just write song lyrics and never set them to music because I'm too afraid to. But today, after playing some Sarah Harmer for fun, as usual, I wrote a sort-of song. Well, it's not done yet, but I did a good chunk of it. But I didn't write the words. Perhaps that's what was holding me back. I needed something that I didn't create in the song. So I spontaneously pulled out a monologue I did for my Acting for Singers class and set it to music. And I actually like what I've written. Maybe I'll continue or finish writing the song tomorrow. The first few lines of the monologue (by David Lindsey-Abaire) go like this:
"And what's interesting about George Washington, and most people don't know this about him, he wasn't just the father of our country, he was also the father of the first septuplets born in the United States. Martha gave birth the seven children on October 5th, 1762. Five of the children were very badly behaved, so they were sold into white slavery, while the two remaining, Maxwell and Hortense, drowned tragically in the Potomac while trying to retrieve their father's wooden teeth, which had fallen out of his mouth while he was beating a seagull with a canoe paddle."
The monologue is really funny. I'm thinking I might put the whole thing to music, so it will be longer than a conventional song, but I don't really give a fuck. Generally the better songs are like that anyway. Ok, not always, but often. I also wonder if I have to get some kind of permission to use David Lindsay-Abaire's text in a song if it gets performed or something. It probably won't, so at this point I won't worry about it.
I also keep getting cool fanfiction ideas for my current stories. I'm going to post another story on my fanfiction.net soon. It will be another Atlantis story, about an old coworker of Milo's named Beatrice, a university student in love with Milo, who tries to find Atlantis in Milo's honour, believing him to be dead. I'm really excited about this story, which was actually inspired by the Imogen Heap song "The Moment I Said it." A lot of my stories and fantasies are inspired by specific songs. Music just says so much. A picture is worth a thousand words, while a piece of music is worth a million words.
What is frustrating about having crazy amounts of creativity is that I don't get my practicing and homework done. But what am I supposed to do? Just ignore my ideas and let them itch at me while I focus on things that aren't as exciting? It's hard. Creating is so addicting.
Also, me and my roomies had a cleaning party tonight. This has happened more than once. Yes, university students doing chores and not having a completely crappy time. It wasn't really a party, but one of my roommates put on some Motown 60s music and soon all five of us were asking to help out. I Windexed my mirror and a bathroom mirror, cleaned a bathroom sink and vacuumed my room. Not really that much, but the other stuff got taken! It was kind of fun, but I'd rather watch a movie, to tell you the truth.
Alright. That's more than I thought I would write. I always have more to say than I think on here. Goodnight, fellow bloggers and readers!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Divorced Men
A poem I wrote last night.
Divorced Men:
I miss you
You always smelled like flowers
Like a woman
I wanted that scent
so I could breathe it in every day and feel you
picture you
put in on and become you
I still want to become you
You're perfect
Your dirty blond hair
Your moon-shaped glasses
Your shoulder bag
Your salads
Your smile
Your quick wit
Those rebellious ears that stick out
Just like you do
In a crowd
The freckles and tiny hairs on your arms
Your slim fingers
So perfect
So immaculate
So precise
Your forest green cardigans and white dress shirts
Your tweed jacket and pants
Your ancient blackberry
Your voice
Smooth as milk and honey
Your exercises
Your books
Your mind
Your ring
Which you no longer wear
What do divorced men do with their rings?
Do they make love to them?
Divorced Men:
I miss you
You always smelled like flowers
Like a woman
I wanted that scent
so I could breathe it in every day and feel you
picture you
put in on and become you
I still want to become you
You're perfect
Your dirty blond hair
Your moon-shaped glasses
Your shoulder bag
Your salads
Your smile
Your quick wit
Those rebellious ears that stick out
Just like you do
In a crowd
The freckles and tiny hairs on your arms
Your slim fingers
So perfect
So immaculate
So precise
Your forest green cardigans and white dress shirts
Your tweed jacket and pants
Your ancient blackberry
Your voice
Smooth as milk and honey
Your exercises
Your books
Your mind
Your ring
Which you no longer wear
What do divorced men do with their rings?
Do they make love to them?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Culinary criticism... and praise
I went to Williams for breakfast at 11 am today and ordered a Strawberry Caramel Waffle. I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn't expect it to be heaven on a plate!
It was perfect. I don't think I could offer any criticism except more strawberries.
The ingredients? Freshly made waffle, strawberry syrup, strawberries, caramel, two scoops of vanilla ice cream, whipping cream and icing sugar.
In a word: amazing. Five stars!
Probably not at all healthy, but it was fucking delicious and it made my day!
And I wasn't too bloated when I was finished either, but that might have been because of how much my stomach stretched last night...
Last night I went to an Indian restaurant in Brampton called "Tandoori Flame." It was an all-you-can-eat buffet with 150 items! Basically Mandarin only with Indian food. And since Indian food is pretty much my favourite type of cuisine, I was in paradise!
They had all my favourites, like chana masala, basmati rice, gulab jamun, garlic naan, cute mini samosas, etc, but they also had unique things I'd never tried before, like this really tasty black lentil dish and some kind of curried potato and cauliflower dish. I was going to do four trips, two for main course, one for soup (dal) and the last one for dessert, but by my second trip (where I had taken a large helping of chana masala, my all time favourite) I was ready to surrender.
But I had to have my gulab jamun! That's my other all-time favourite! So I drank a LOT of water, and went to the bathroom and ate watermelon and sat for a long time, but I was so full it was painful! It hurt to stand up! Indian food is so filling! So I had one gulab jamun, which tasted amazing, and gave the other to my brother. Everything was cooked so well. Very warm and spicy and full of flavour.
There were two things I didn't see: Mulligatwony (sp?) soup and Pakora. But pakora isn't really one of my favourites, although Mulliagatwony is. Definitely on my top 5 restaurants list, which has just formed in my brain now. Five stars! It was great. I just have to know my limits next time. Small servings, don't be a hero...
This talk of food is making me hungry. Time for lunch!
It was perfect. I don't think I could offer any criticism except more strawberries.
The ingredients? Freshly made waffle, strawberry syrup, strawberries, caramel, two scoops of vanilla ice cream, whipping cream and icing sugar.
In a word: amazing. Five stars!
Probably not at all healthy, but it was fucking delicious and it made my day!
And I wasn't too bloated when I was finished either, but that might have been because of how much my stomach stretched last night...
Last night I went to an Indian restaurant in Brampton called "Tandoori Flame." It was an all-you-can-eat buffet with 150 items! Basically Mandarin only with Indian food. And since Indian food is pretty much my favourite type of cuisine, I was in paradise!
They had all my favourites, like chana masala, basmati rice, gulab jamun, garlic naan, cute mini samosas, etc, but they also had unique things I'd never tried before, like this really tasty black lentil dish and some kind of curried potato and cauliflower dish. I was going to do four trips, two for main course, one for soup (dal) and the last one for dessert, but by my second trip (where I had taken a large helping of chana masala, my all time favourite) I was ready to surrender.
But I had to have my gulab jamun! That's my other all-time favourite! So I drank a LOT of water, and went to the bathroom and ate watermelon and sat for a long time, but I was so full it was painful! It hurt to stand up! Indian food is so filling! So I had one gulab jamun, which tasted amazing, and gave the other to my brother. Everything was cooked so well. Very warm and spicy and full of flavour.
There were two things I didn't see: Mulligatwony (sp?) soup and Pakora. But pakora isn't really one of my favourites, although Mulliagatwony is. Definitely on my top 5 restaurants list, which has just formed in my brain now. Five stars! It was great. I just have to know my limits next time. Small servings, don't be a hero...
This talk of food is making me hungry. Time for lunch!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Quickie Post
Hi peoples,
I'm a bit busy with school now, so I will make this short, but I just realized I left the blog on a sad note - that my first day back was bad, but the rest of the week actually went quite well. Thursday and Friday I was in an extremely good mood. And the weeks after that have been nice, too. I've kind of realized that everything I am afraid of is completely harmless. I'm afraid of learning to act, afraid of getting vocal techniques wrong, afraid of embarrassing myself in front of people, afraid of being criticized, afraid of not being at the same level as other people in my year, afraid that my repertoire isn't right for me, afraid of things that are out of my comfort zone, but all of that is just learning, and lately, the scariest things have been the most enjoyable things. So I've decided to not give a fuck and just enjoy myself. Does any of this really truly matter in the grand scheme of things? Definitely not. So I'm just going to try to enjoy myself, no matter what I'm doing, and try my best.
Speaking of enjoying myself, I am still right into fanfiction.net. I check it every day. Sometimes more than every day. Although, I haven't posted on there too recently. People have been eating up my stories! Ok, not a lot, but I've actually been getting reviews and people subscribing to my stories. It's so awesome! And on the stats page it tells you how many people looked at your stories each day, and you can see all the different countries of the people reading your stories. My readers are mostly American and British, but I've got readers from Chile, Belgium, Mexico, Germany, France, etc... I love that site!
Now off to do my homework for Acting for Singers... practicing my monologue, and critically watching "Pride and Prejudice." Yes, I am serious. I shall enjoy this assignment immensely.
Until I post again,
Psychicbyinternet
P.S. I have no idea why this post has taken the form of a letter.
I'm a bit busy with school now, so I will make this short, but I just realized I left the blog on a sad note - that my first day back was bad, but the rest of the week actually went quite well. Thursday and Friday I was in an extremely good mood. And the weeks after that have been nice, too. I've kind of realized that everything I am afraid of is completely harmless. I'm afraid of learning to act, afraid of getting vocal techniques wrong, afraid of embarrassing myself in front of people, afraid of being criticized, afraid of not being at the same level as other people in my year, afraid that my repertoire isn't right for me, afraid of things that are out of my comfort zone, but all of that is just learning, and lately, the scariest things have been the most enjoyable things. So I've decided to not give a fuck and just enjoy myself. Does any of this really truly matter in the grand scheme of things? Definitely not. So I'm just going to try to enjoy myself, no matter what I'm doing, and try my best.
Speaking of enjoying myself, I am still right into fanfiction.net. I check it every day. Sometimes more than every day. Although, I haven't posted on there too recently. People have been eating up my stories! Ok, not a lot, but I've actually been getting reviews and people subscribing to my stories. It's so awesome! And on the stats page it tells you how many people looked at your stories each day, and you can see all the different countries of the people reading your stories. My readers are mostly American and British, but I've got readers from Chile, Belgium, Mexico, Germany, France, etc... I love that site!
Now off to do my homework for Acting for Singers... practicing my monologue, and critically watching "Pride and Prejudice." Yes, I am serious. I shall enjoy this assignment immensely.
Until I post again,
Psychicbyinternet
P.S. I have no idea why this post has taken the form of a letter.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Back to School Depression
Today was my first day back and it depressed me and made me tired. What a wonderful start to the new year... University is simply a different world from home. I have so much less time and everyone around me seems so much, well, more impressive. You'd think I was in first year, double-taking at each person that walks by. I feel so impressive back in my hometown, but when I go back to university, I'm left wondering what it is that I have to offer?
One course that I'm in is really intimidating. Acting for Singers. A friend of mine said it was mostly yoga, but we have readings, discussion of readings, we have to prepare a monologue, a scene with two other people and an aria. Writing it down now, it doesn't seem so bad, but it feels like I have to have all this stuff ready for the teacher so soon... It's kind of scary. I miss chilling out with my family and writing fanfics, isolated in my tidy house. I was fantasizing about those things all day. I already want to go home and I have three days left before I go home for the weekend. I'm such a baby when it comes to homesickness...
No offense to my university apartment, but it's really not half as nice as home. And I'm constantly hand-washing my dishes... This morning, we hardly had any water and when I went to wash my dishes, hardly any water came out - not enough to wash anything, of course. It's back now, but student housing frustrates me. The landlord knows we don't know our rights, so he'll do a shoddy job with the hydro, the heating, the lighting, the fire alarm... Why can't landlords just do a good job, whether you're a student or not? Anyway, I have a feeling that I'm just depressed because it's my time of the month. But, all in all, not the greatest first day back after winter break. I really hope tomorrow is better. Time to go get some delicious corn chips!
One course that I'm in is really intimidating. Acting for Singers. A friend of mine said it was mostly yoga, but we have readings, discussion of readings, we have to prepare a monologue, a scene with two other people and an aria. Writing it down now, it doesn't seem so bad, but it feels like I have to have all this stuff ready for the teacher so soon... It's kind of scary. I miss chilling out with my family and writing fanfics, isolated in my tidy house. I was fantasizing about those things all day. I already want to go home and I have three days left before I go home for the weekend. I'm such a baby when it comes to homesickness...
No offense to my university apartment, but it's really not half as nice as home. And I'm constantly hand-washing my dishes... This morning, we hardly had any water and when I went to wash my dishes, hardly any water came out - not enough to wash anything, of course. It's back now, but student housing frustrates me. The landlord knows we don't know our rights, so he'll do a shoddy job with the hydro, the heating, the lighting, the fire alarm... Why can't landlords just do a good job, whether you're a student or not? Anyway, I have a feeling that I'm just depressed because it's my time of the month. But, all in all, not the greatest first day back after winter break. I really hope tomorrow is better. Time to go get some delicious corn chips!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Riddles
These are some old riddles I made. The answers are at the bottom of the post. Don't peak!
1. This world has many disguises and accessories. It may have bumps one day, dots another, often many trenches, and very rarely some mountains and hills. It all depends where you travel. It can take on a variety of colours; Red, Blue, Yellow, White, Purple and Black. A chameleon of conditions, ever vulnerable. What is it?
2. It bars the way but pulls lies out of our mouths. It puts the forks in the roads and makes mud surround our feet while with it we swoon for money. It stings you while you work, blocks the way to your big leap, separates you from other people... This deadly sin causes most worldly problems. What is it?
3. Made up of firsts and seconds, this toolbox has many materials; silver, wood, brass, strings, steel and even plastic. It comes with instructions on paper, but they are strange alien symbols. Luckily you are supplied with a magic wand. Combine that and your logic and ears and you will have a work of art, prone to pretentiosity. What is it?
4. Swallows your pride, never on your side, encourages lying, yawning, ambition, stealing and tea. You share with them one of your greatest secrets so that they can harness it. Your best friend and your worst enemy. What is it?
5. Your body's boss, your brain's power-hungry advisor. What is it?
6. Never warm until it's gone, always beautiful, can be deadly, made of fragile crystals, born of the never-ending blue. What is it?
7. Acts as if you are a stranger, insults you, twists your arm and knows nearly everything about you. He would bite the bullet for you in any danger. What is it?
8. It's descendants stand on top of it's trunk. Below, it soaks it's toes in hell. Without it, these words wouldn't be written in my notebook. What is it?
9. The noise and culture of a subway station, squeezed into a giant Crayola box with wheels. What is it?
10. It is as intricate and detailed as mathematics. Every spasm-causing agent has several formulas. Each culture has it's own stationary set. It belongs to everyone and can never be taken away! It was once free until the men in white wigs put it in a cage made of paper and threw in a few nasty creatures called critics. It is still capable of unleashing emotions but most of it's catches are lumpy, salty and runny. What is it?
11. A miniature planet earth built from convulsions and think-on-your-feet arithmetic. This robotic fortune teller is often associated with Romans. What is it?
*
*
*
*
*
Answers:
1. Skin
2. Pride
3. A Band or Orchestra
4. A singing teacher
5. Pain
6. Snow
7. A brother
8. A tree
9. A school bus
10. Music or music today
11. A clock
Hope you liked my riddles. Use them as quiz questions when people want stuff from you.
Example:
My brother: Can you buy me some ice cream?
Me: Okay but you have to answer this riddle first.
My brother: Okay I'll do it.
Me: (insert one of my riddles) What is it? You get three guesses.
My brother: Um, a house?
Me: Nope.
My brother: Um, a book?
Me: Nope.
My brother: Um, the ocean?
Me: *shakes head* Sorry, no ice cream for you.
And if you're really mean...
My brother: What was it then?
Me: Not telling. You'll have to keep guessing the next time you want something.
My brother: I hate you.
Me: I hate you too.
This happens to be a really great money and resource-saving strategy!!
Okay, bye for now! Happy New Year's!
1. This world has many disguises and accessories. It may have bumps one day, dots another, often many trenches, and very rarely some mountains and hills. It all depends where you travel. It can take on a variety of colours; Red, Blue, Yellow, White, Purple and Black. A chameleon of conditions, ever vulnerable. What is it?
2. It bars the way but pulls lies out of our mouths. It puts the forks in the roads and makes mud surround our feet while with it we swoon for money. It stings you while you work, blocks the way to your big leap, separates you from other people... This deadly sin causes most worldly problems. What is it?
3. Made up of firsts and seconds, this toolbox has many materials; silver, wood, brass, strings, steel and even plastic. It comes with instructions on paper, but they are strange alien symbols. Luckily you are supplied with a magic wand. Combine that and your logic and ears and you will have a work of art, prone to pretentiosity. What is it?
4. Swallows your pride, never on your side, encourages lying, yawning, ambition, stealing and tea. You share with them one of your greatest secrets so that they can harness it. Your best friend and your worst enemy. What is it?
5. Your body's boss, your brain's power-hungry advisor. What is it?
6. Never warm until it's gone, always beautiful, can be deadly, made of fragile crystals, born of the never-ending blue. What is it?
7. Acts as if you are a stranger, insults you, twists your arm and knows nearly everything about you. He would bite the bullet for you in any danger. What is it?
8. It's descendants stand on top of it's trunk. Below, it soaks it's toes in hell. Without it, these words wouldn't be written in my notebook. What is it?
9. The noise and culture of a subway station, squeezed into a giant Crayola box with wheels. What is it?
10. It is as intricate and detailed as mathematics. Every spasm-causing agent has several formulas. Each culture has it's own stationary set. It belongs to everyone and can never be taken away! It was once free until the men in white wigs put it in a cage made of paper and threw in a few nasty creatures called critics. It is still capable of unleashing emotions but most of it's catches are lumpy, salty and runny. What is it?
11. A miniature planet earth built from convulsions and think-on-your-feet arithmetic. This robotic fortune teller is often associated with Romans. What is it?
*
*
*
*
*
Answers:
1. Skin
2. Pride
3. A Band or Orchestra
4. A singing teacher
5. Pain
6. Snow
7. A brother
8. A tree
9. A school bus
10. Music or music today
11. A clock
Hope you liked my riddles. Use them as quiz questions when people want stuff from you.
Example:
My brother: Can you buy me some ice cream?
Me: Okay but you have to answer this riddle first.
My brother: Okay I'll do it.
Me: (insert one of my riddles) What is it? You get three guesses.
My brother: Um, a house?
Me: Nope.
My brother: Um, a book?
Me: Nope.
My brother: Um, the ocean?
Me: *shakes head* Sorry, no ice cream for you.
And if you're really mean...
My brother: What was it then?
Me: Not telling. You'll have to keep guessing the next time you want something.
My brother: I hate you.
Me: I hate you too.
This happens to be a really great money and resource-saving strategy!!
Okay, bye for now! Happy New Year's!
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