I've been on a long and painful journey, but today, I went home. To take that journey up to London, was so wonderful, I'm floating on air. I have a kind of love affair with the city. I realised today, that I've been rumbling round London in one guise or another since I left school. I've never lived there, but I've worked and played there so much, I just love it.
So I took the train to London, and I took the tube across London and I went home - back to the Academy. it was a beautiful day too. I smiled at the tourists taking photographs of their friends standing infront of the Sherlock Holmes statue, and was interested to see the big queues for Madame Tussauds - the weather must be warming up! I have no idea what the appeal of that place is; wax people? WTF is that about? Nah, it eludes me completely. But then, it would. Current affairs don't inspire me, news is usually bad, and I can't do anything to improve it, so I'd rather stay out of it. So wax versions of goodness knows who - well, why would it appeal to me?
Of the music? The river has never stopped running; it was a trickle there for a while, but considering the amount of drugs that were running round my little self, and the amount of pain that they were just not able to hide, it's a bloody miracle that anything came out of me other than distressed sobs! I'm really glad that I managed to keep writing, it's kept the flame alive, and at times it's been the only thing that kept me focussed, was the only thing beyond the pain.
So today, I walked into the studio and was greeted with the warmest welcome. My dear friends, Hollie, Simon, Rob and Peiman were like sunbeams :) then Chris Redgate and his oboe joined us to run through our pieces for the microtone festival. That Chris is a legend; there is no corner unturned in his love affair with the oboe...it's not often you see someone so dedicated to their instrument. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be writing for him. He's so jolly too, yer, class!
I also met with Mee Na, the cellist for my Roehampton piece, and we ran through the score, tidying a couple of awkward little corners. I was comforted to find that there were only a couple of minor changes needed; it seems I'm learning!
So, lots and lots of music coming up - pieces being performed, new projects nibbing at my heels, so much singing to do, and ooh my yamaha and my rhodes have been burning up! I'm working on an arty live improv with electronics vibe ready for the Leeds composition with the poet...well, I'm not going to just write a 'song' am I? But I've set myself quite a major task for this one. Though nothing seems impossible after coming out the other side of these few months I've had (no, no, don't mention the boyfriend, the divorce, the custody battle, the...well, the past 5 years!!)
So now what? Low profile please. No dramas, no surprises please. Just me, my children, my family, my LVP family, and those crazy dots and lines that probably say a whole lot more about this journey than any words could express...
I'm a very happy lady. Thank you to everyone who has held my hand and kept me smiling - there's some pretty precious folk in my life, I am a lucky lucky fing, out to play again :) Hurrah!
So much music everywhere...
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Sunday 17 April 2011
Soundcloud
Finally, I have uploaded some of my recent compositions to soundcloud
Plenty more to come - I'm looking forward to the Leeds festival composition...have some ideas bubbling to the surface...!
More blogs post surgery now I guess, wish me luck!
http://soundcloud.com/nikkimusic
Plenty more to come - I'm looking forward to the Leeds festival composition...have some ideas bubbling to the surface...!
More blogs post surgery now I guess, wish me luck!
http://soundcloud.com/nikkimusic
Wednesday 6 April 2011
Time out of mind....
Well it has been a long time since I was here...
It has been a most strange time recently, with ever increasing pain in my back taking over my world really. There have been ups and downs like never before (no, surely not!!), but finding out that a major cause of all the emotional upset was due to the painkillers the doctor put me on way back in early February, explains alot. It was so easy to assume that the level of depression I found myself in was due to my physical pain, and the many major changes that I went through over the past few months; and yet, when I finally ended up in A&E, no longer able to walk; the doctor asked what painkillers I'd been taking...'tramadol mainly' says I innocently....his response 'I wouldn't give tramadol to a dog! Have you been feeling depressed?'
Hmm. Well, in a way it fits in with my whole blog really - it's another learning curve. One I could have done without, but hey, at least I'm on the other side of it now.
The back thing? Well, anyone who knows me, knows what pain I've been in out and through. At times, it's stopped me in my tracks. But what's that thing that drives me? the music. I have paused, and stumbled, but it keeps coming out.
When my op is done (and the surgeon reckons that he'll be able to completely cure me...walking a mile within a week of surgery, and full stamina recovered after 6 weeks), I'm gonna write for England. I've got songs and scores and plots and plans oozing away, that I simply have not had the physical or mental capacity to concentrate on long enough to get out onto paper. But they are not going away these musical fragments, they seem to be waiting for me, luckily, with some patience, until I'm ready to hold them and listen to what they have to say. Then I'll write them down and pass them on. It's like a story that just has to be told. The story exists, beginning, middle, end without the book. All my music has a story within it. and sometimes the stories change a little along the way; but rarely does the the theme differ. There may be a twist in the plot that I didn't know was coming until it presents itself so forcefully that I just have to include it! Others just wander through me and come into existence with few surprises. The more I develop the techniques of composing, the truer I can be to my original intention. When the gap between intention and articulation of sound becomes smaller, the clearer the music becomes.
No wonder the shortcuts of the 'cut and paste' composer stand out more and more. I am so thankful to Gary for telling me to put away my midi sounds and to write the music away from the piano. I have a long long way to go, but that gap - the intention / articulation gap is way smaller than I could ever have imagined. I guess the more I do it, the clearer it will become.
I am so thankful to my friends and family for (often literally) holding me up. There's not many of my closest people who I haven't phoned for a kind word, when Ive been hurting so much that I didn't know how I was going to make it through that intense moment of pain. All I've needed has been a distraction, just to get me through that little moment. time out of mind. And now I'm nearly there! People have said to me 'you won't know yourself when you are better'.... I've a funny feeling, I've gotten to know myself much more deeply and honestly because of this experience - so I guess I won't know my 'old' self when I'm better, because I've changed. I've pushed myself closer to the edge of reason than I ever dared to look before. It's a dangerous place - but if you go there, at least you know where the boundaries lie.
I have some new friends that weren't there before. I can't wait to go out to play with them without the pain, without the 'sympathy eyes'...it's gonna rock!
I wonder what the music will do now? Post pain. Apres exploding discs. To the next phase of music I bring pain and recovery, I bring love and support, I bring the edge of reason and the glimpse just beyond. I bring absurdities of gigs on crutches and sleepless nights, and laughter and joy and fear. I have a feeling there's something musically brewing...Donald Fagan says 'she has the right dynamic for the new frontier'. I believe he may have a point.
It has been a most strange time recently, with ever increasing pain in my back taking over my world really. There have been ups and downs like never before (no, surely not!!), but finding out that a major cause of all the emotional upset was due to the painkillers the doctor put me on way back in early February, explains alot. It was so easy to assume that the level of depression I found myself in was due to my physical pain, and the many major changes that I went through over the past few months; and yet, when I finally ended up in A&E, no longer able to walk; the doctor asked what painkillers I'd been taking...'tramadol mainly' says I innocently....his response 'I wouldn't give tramadol to a dog! Have you been feeling depressed?'
Hmm. Well, in a way it fits in with my whole blog really - it's another learning curve. One I could have done without, but hey, at least I'm on the other side of it now.
The back thing? Well, anyone who knows me, knows what pain I've been in out and through. At times, it's stopped me in my tracks. But what's that thing that drives me? the music. I have paused, and stumbled, but it keeps coming out.
When my op is done (and the surgeon reckons that he'll be able to completely cure me...walking a mile within a week of surgery, and full stamina recovered after 6 weeks), I'm gonna write for England. I've got songs and scores and plots and plans oozing away, that I simply have not had the physical or mental capacity to concentrate on long enough to get out onto paper. But they are not going away these musical fragments, they seem to be waiting for me, luckily, with some patience, until I'm ready to hold them and listen to what they have to say. Then I'll write them down and pass them on. It's like a story that just has to be told. The story exists, beginning, middle, end without the book. All my music has a story within it. and sometimes the stories change a little along the way; but rarely does the the theme differ. There may be a twist in the plot that I didn't know was coming until it presents itself so forcefully that I just have to include it! Others just wander through me and come into existence with few surprises. The more I develop the techniques of composing, the truer I can be to my original intention. When the gap between intention and articulation of sound becomes smaller, the clearer the music becomes.
No wonder the shortcuts of the 'cut and paste' composer stand out more and more. I am so thankful to Gary for telling me to put away my midi sounds and to write the music away from the piano. I have a long long way to go, but that gap - the intention / articulation gap is way smaller than I could ever have imagined. I guess the more I do it, the clearer it will become.
I am so thankful to my friends and family for (often literally) holding me up. There's not many of my closest people who I haven't phoned for a kind word, when Ive been hurting so much that I didn't know how I was going to make it through that intense moment of pain. All I've needed has been a distraction, just to get me through that little moment. time out of mind. And now I'm nearly there! People have said to me 'you won't know yourself when you are better'.... I've a funny feeling, I've gotten to know myself much more deeply and honestly because of this experience - so I guess I won't know my 'old' self when I'm better, because I've changed. I've pushed myself closer to the edge of reason than I ever dared to look before. It's a dangerous place - but if you go there, at least you know where the boundaries lie.
I have some new friends that weren't there before. I can't wait to go out to play with them without the pain, without the 'sympathy eyes'...it's gonna rock!
I wonder what the music will do now? Post pain. Apres exploding discs. To the next phase of music I bring pain and recovery, I bring love and support, I bring the edge of reason and the glimpse just beyond. I bring absurdities of gigs on crutches and sleepless nights, and laughter and joy and fear. I have a feeling there's something musically brewing...Donald Fagan says 'she has the right dynamic for the new frontier'. I believe he may have a point.
Thursday 17 February 2011
I saw snowdrops...
It has without doubt been the longest winter of my adult life. Literally and proverbially. To have been through the mental grilling that has been my Masters course, the emotional rollercoaster that has thrown me way off course, and the physical pain that made me cry every day so far this year...
but this week, I saw snowdrops, and I saw daffodils (not open yet, but definitely daffodils). I hung my washing out on the line and phoned my mum, and she was doing the same thing - and we laughed at our delight in small things!
I have been walking without limping for at least 5 days now, and although I still have a tough road ahead with my back (will I ever again be able to shave my legs and have sensation...or will it always be like shaving gammon??!) - I'm definitely on the right path. hey, whats a bit of sciatica between friends? ;)
So, spring is glimmering, and I still believe in fairytales. Now then, what about that music?
I have been writing intensely, incessantly it seems, for months. There is nothing like it for shaping one's musical boundaries, whilst at the same time, extending those boundaries beyond my expectations. I remember some time ago, saying that I should write a little every day, or a lot if the mood takes me - well, I listened to myself, and that is what I have done. There is rarely a day goes by when I am not scribbling some loon idea on my manuscript pad, on the train, on the tube, at Oscar & Ellen's swimming lessons (when I clearly should be watching their every move, and cooing over their achievements, I am jotting a quick sketch for oboe, or trio, or a little song that has popped into my head, Winnie the Pooh style!!)...do you think I'd get marks deducted for 'I've a Rumbly in my Tumbly'?
I received the recording of the Chroma Ensemble piece this week. Ah, Chroma...I never thought I would be able to immerse myself in that sound world, but when I stumbled across the idea of using the imagery from the Chinese painting, it all kind of slipped into place. That, combined with my determination to delve deep into understanding each instrument I write for, so that I can learn about the limitations and the potential sound world for each - it's exciting and challenging - 2 things I base my whole life on eh?!
So the recording sounds class, if not way out there at times. It's kooky, but you know what? It's not bullshit - and I wondered whether it might be.
Gary listened to it with me in my tutorial this week, and he was pretty impressed I think. He said that I managed to absorb myself into that soundworld really effectively, especially as it was new territory for me, and something I was trepidatious about. My response to that was that I like challenges (maybe a little too much??!), and if I am given a project, then I will take it seriously. There is no point blagging anything when doing a MMus at RAM is there? I'm not paying 9k a year to goof off or fake it at any point.
Anyway, Chroma - tick tock. Was pretty good. When I receive the final mixes, I'll pop the recordings on my website. Unless you are way familiar with contemporary styles, I suggest 6 glasses of wine in preparation, and 30 minutes intense audio interrogation from the likes of George Crumb, Phil Cashian, and a touch of white noise, to prepare yourself! if you still don't like it, or don't get it - don't say I didn't warn you!...I wonder what Cao Jingping in Beijing will make of it?
Today, I had a proud moment because I set up the studio for recording all on my own. And got a sound. And recorded. yeah baby - it was a good moment :)
There's lots more projects bubbling away, but musically, composerly, there's something that I've been mulling, and I'd like to share it with you.
thoughts on a postcard please...
So what interests me is this :
Someone says to you "please write me a piece of music". This is completely open
"it's for my trio - clarinet, violin, cello". This piece is less open - door 1 closes
"it should be around 8 minutes long" - door 2 closes
then the process of composing starts. But each tiny decision that is made closes another door, until the boundaries are set, and the music can be set free, within the space defined. What makes that space? How does a piece come to be happy or sad, light or dark, fast, slow, dramatic, soulful, anything at all???
This is my current quiz. I have a funny feeling it will eat me for a long time. There may be no answer.
I love writing music. It's amazing to start with that open space, and to define it until it is just full enough of the right gestures and sounds to balance, to sing or to cry.
It may have been a long, dark winter, but really...I'm having the time of my life!
bring on the daffodils my friends! xxx
but this week, I saw snowdrops, and I saw daffodils (not open yet, but definitely daffodils). I hung my washing out on the line and phoned my mum, and she was doing the same thing - and we laughed at our delight in small things!
I have been walking without limping for at least 5 days now, and although I still have a tough road ahead with my back (will I ever again be able to shave my legs and have sensation...or will it always be like shaving gammon??!) - I'm definitely on the right path. hey, whats a bit of sciatica between friends? ;)
So, spring is glimmering, and I still believe in fairytales. Now then, what about that music?
I have been writing intensely, incessantly it seems, for months. There is nothing like it for shaping one's musical boundaries, whilst at the same time, extending those boundaries beyond my expectations. I remember some time ago, saying that I should write a little every day, or a lot if the mood takes me - well, I listened to myself, and that is what I have done. There is rarely a day goes by when I am not scribbling some loon idea on my manuscript pad, on the train, on the tube, at Oscar & Ellen's swimming lessons (when I clearly should be watching their every move, and cooing over their achievements, I am jotting a quick sketch for oboe, or trio, or a little song that has popped into my head, Winnie the Pooh style!!)...do you think I'd get marks deducted for 'I've a Rumbly in my Tumbly'?
I received the recording of the Chroma Ensemble piece this week. Ah, Chroma...I never thought I would be able to immerse myself in that sound world, but when I stumbled across the idea of using the imagery from the Chinese painting, it all kind of slipped into place. That, combined with my determination to delve deep into understanding each instrument I write for, so that I can learn about the limitations and the potential sound world for each - it's exciting and challenging - 2 things I base my whole life on eh?!
So the recording sounds class, if not way out there at times. It's kooky, but you know what? It's not bullshit - and I wondered whether it might be.
Gary listened to it with me in my tutorial this week, and he was pretty impressed I think. He said that I managed to absorb myself into that soundworld really effectively, especially as it was new territory for me, and something I was trepidatious about. My response to that was that I like challenges (maybe a little too much??!), and if I am given a project, then I will take it seriously. There is no point blagging anything when doing a MMus at RAM is there? I'm not paying 9k a year to goof off or fake it at any point.
Anyway, Chroma - tick tock. Was pretty good. When I receive the final mixes, I'll pop the recordings on my website. Unless you are way familiar with contemporary styles, I suggest 6 glasses of wine in preparation, and 30 minutes intense audio interrogation from the likes of George Crumb, Phil Cashian, and a touch of white noise, to prepare yourself! if you still don't like it, or don't get it - don't say I didn't warn you!...I wonder what Cao Jingping in Beijing will make of it?
Today, I had a proud moment because I set up the studio for recording all on my own. And got a sound. And recorded. yeah baby - it was a good moment :)
There's lots more projects bubbling away, but musically, composerly, there's something that I've been mulling, and I'd like to share it with you.
thoughts on a postcard please...
So what interests me is this :
Someone says to you "please write me a piece of music". This is completely open
"it's for my trio - clarinet, violin, cello". This piece is less open - door 1 closes
"it should be around 8 minutes long" - door 2 closes
then the process of composing starts. But each tiny decision that is made closes another door, until the boundaries are set, and the music can be set free, within the space defined. What makes that space? How does a piece come to be happy or sad, light or dark, fast, slow, dramatic, soulful, anything at all???
This is my current quiz. I have a funny feeling it will eat me for a long time. There may be no answer.
I love writing music. It's amazing to start with that open space, and to define it until it is just full enough of the right gestures and sounds to balance, to sing or to cry.
It may have been a long, dark winter, but really...I'm having the time of my life!
bring on the daffodils my friends! xxx
Wednesday 26 January 2011
Mid Life crisis
Not mine, I hasten to add...
What is a mid life crisis anyway?
I think it's that point where you wonder whether the thing you are doing now is the thing that you will always be doing, and whether that 'thing' is what you wanted to anyway....
I'm lucky. I saw my mid life crisis coming a mile off. Went back to university, left my husband, found a new lover, a new house, a new life - I think before the 'crisis' hit. It wasn't easy, but I'm quite pleased that at nearly 38, I'm comfortable in my skin, comfortable with my choices, happy with where I'm heading...
what's the only advantage of having a manic depressive husband who is 18 years older than you?...he's gonna fuck it up first, and you can learn from his mistakes!! I guess that's why the personal blog today. Many of my friends are closer to 25 than 35; so more 1/4 life crisis candidates, which precludes sex with teenagers, or stupid haircuts (ha - look forward to your late 30's my friends!)
You know, I split with my ex nearly 5 months ago, but we still had a 'physical relationship' until this month, when I finally said ENOUGH! I guess I couldn't get my head around him wanting to spend his time with an 18 year old, and yet still come home to me. His excuse?..."I'm a man - who wouldn't want 2 women?"...you can see why I said enough huh? I seriously think he'd have happily carried on with two girlfriends if I hadn't put a stop to it. Poor bugger. Now there's a mid-life crisis personified!!
So, what it comes down to, is always music. So much music everywhere. My sanctuary. My inspiration.
I have turned many corners this week. Today, my piece "Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water" was workshopped by the Chroma Ensemble. It was so breathtaking to hear the 'dots on the page' be transformed into real music, I was quite overwhelmed. i can't wait until the performance on Friday; I put away my humble badge when I say I'm proud of the music I'm making, and I'm proud of the stand I am taking.
Life offers opportunities, and life takes them away.
Next time I will write more of the music. But today, I have a herniated disc in my back which makes me cry when I walk. Today, I am glad that I averted my mid life crisis before it became a joke, today, I look forward to tomorrow, and know that I am lucky, for not enough people look to tomorrow.
I have a rainbow shining over me. it needs rain and sun to shine.
That's me. Rain and sun. Thunder and showers. Faith and Hope. Tra la la...it's gonna be okay :)
nunight friends xxx
What is a mid life crisis anyway?
I think it's that point where you wonder whether the thing you are doing now is the thing that you will always be doing, and whether that 'thing' is what you wanted to anyway....
I'm lucky. I saw my mid life crisis coming a mile off. Went back to university, left my husband, found a new lover, a new house, a new life - I think before the 'crisis' hit. It wasn't easy, but I'm quite pleased that at nearly 38, I'm comfortable in my skin, comfortable with my choices, happy with where I'm heading...
what's the only advantage of having a manic depressive husband who is 18 years older than you?...he's gonna fuck it up first, and you can learn from his mistakes!! I guess that's why the personal blog today. Many of my friends are closer to 25 than 35; so more 1/4 life crisis candidates, which precludes sex with teenagers, or stupid haircuts (ha - look forward to your late 30's my friends!)
You know, I split with my ex nearly 5 months ago, but we still had a 'physical relationship' until this month, when I finally said ENOUGH! I guess I couldn't get my head around him wanting to spend his time with an 18 year old, and yet still come home to me. His excuse?..."I'm a man - who wouldn't want 2 women?"...you can see why I said enough huh? I seriously think he'd have happily carried on with two girlfriends if I hadn't put a stop to it. Poor bugger. Now there's a mid-life crisis personified!!
So, what it comes down to, is always music. So much music everywhere. My sanctuary. My inspiration.
I have turned many corners this week. Today, my piece "Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water" was workshopped by the Chroma Ensemble. It was so breathtaking to hear the 'dots on the page' be transformed into real music, I was quite overwhelmed. i can't wait until the performance on Friday; I put away my humble badge when I say I'm proud of the music I'm making, and I'm proud of the stand I am taking.
Life offers opportunities, and life takes them away.
Next time I will write more of the music. But today, I have a herniated disc in my back which makes me cry when I walk. Today, I am glad that I averted my mid life crisis before it became a joke, today, I look forward to tomorrow, and know that I am lucky, for not enough people look to tomorrow.
I have a rainbow shining over me. it needs rain and sun to shine.
That's me. Rain and sun. Thunder and showers. Faith and Hope. Tra la la...it's gonna be okay :)
nunight friends xxx
Saturday 8 January 2011
A New Year...
And may it be full of wonder...
2011? Mine is pretty mapped out in some ways, but so unknown. I learned some important lessons in 2010, and like all lessons, some came at quite a cost. However, I am heading into this year with positivity and hope. What do I need to get me through this year? There's always things we need to hang onto, and mine are music, friends and family - funny, because in my world, the three things often intertwine, and the edges are blurred - well, that's fine. I'd hate to be specific!
I remain, through all - a 'determined little fruit', and it is that tenacity that will keep me going when I get tired or lose my focus. It happens eh?
So, what of the music then?
I am delighted to say that in the past couple of weeks, I have completed 2 projects. The soundtrack for the animated movie is now done - just needs mastering. It was a tough one, because of it's 'horror' theme, which is not my bag at all, so I decided to avoid the cliche low strings, diminished chords, and instead explored ways that one can manipulate the recorded voice in order to create suspense. Every sound on the movie is made by either my voice or Oscar & Ellen; but you wouldn't know. I played around with such glorious effects as pitch shifters, and ring modulators and other logic gadgets that spin and warp and delay the sound to a whole new environment. For example; I ran a delay on a short intake of breath, which (unintentionally, I admit) made it sound like an echoing heartbeat. Nice.
So that's 2 projects ticked off...
Chroma. Ah yes. I have lived and breathed Chroma over the Christmas break. I now have 4 movements completed! In fact, the running time of the whole piece is supposed to be 8 minutes, and I have closer to 12, but that can be amended and edited after the workshop with the musicians - which is not until the week of the performance, but I'm sure Gary will give me some advice on that when I see him on Tuesday anyway. After some perseverance, I managed to get hold of the Chinese artist Cao Jingping, who's painting I used as the inspiration for the composition. I have taken elements of the picture, entitled 'Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water', as the different movements. So there's 'Shapes in the Water', which explores the overlapping range of the violin and alto flute. 'Covered Walkways', in which I drew the image of the bridge on manuscript paper and used the resulting pitches as my reference material for the piano. This is 'covered' by interlocking themes in the flute and clarinet. 'Sunlight and Shadows' uses all 4 instruments, with the violin 'shadowing' the other parts. I used a contemporary 'cut out' style score which took bloody hours to achieve in Sibelius, but it now looks just as I want it to, which is great. 'The Crane' is a movement for solo bass clarinet, using harmonics and maybe just a wee touch of jazz (oh, I couldn't help myself!) - the bass clarinet is so juicy!
Oh, I got distracted - yes, I tracked down Cao Jingping through an art gallery in Beijing, and emailed him of my project. He sent me a beautiful reply, saying that he is delighted that I have found music in his art, and is most happy for me to use the title of his painting as the title for my piece. He also sent me an article from a Beijing newspaper about the way that he works, and it was so spiritual. He employs Taoist principles in his visualisation of the world, saying that the way the camera and digital media view the world is not the way it really is to experience and view a place.
I am delighted to have his support for my project, and will send him a copy of the score and a recording of the concert once it is done.
Rafal. I sent the first drafts of the accordion piece to Rafal just before Christmas, and have some great feedback from him. Now that Chroma is nearly there, I want to turn my attention to Rafal's piece - I'm going to spend some time on that in a minute. It's called 'Wycieczka', which is Polish for 'journey'. Seemed appropriate given the massive journey I am on. Yer, looking forward to getting on with that one.
Last, but not least, is my collaboration with Tiff, the choreographer. She's a gem, and we had a great afternoon together this week putting some ideas in place. I'll talk more about that next time...some mathematical undertone already creeping into this piece. Ooh!
ouch; I just remembered the MAX MSP piece for Chris Redgate. I'm still freaked by that program. Best get to it then...
Well, I wish you a happy and interesting year, or even week eh? Let's take things a little at a time!
xxx
2011? Mine is pretty mapped out in some ways, but so unknown. I learned some important lessons in 2010, and like all lessons, some came at quite a cost. However, I am heading into this year with positivity and hope. What do I need to get me through this year? There's always things we need to hang onto, and mine are music, friends and family - funny, because in my world, the three things often intertwine, and the edges are blurred - well, that's fine. I'd hate to be specific!
I remain, through all - a 'determined little fruit', and it is that tenacity that will keep me going when I get tired or lose my focus. It happens eh?
So, what of the music then?
I am delighted to say that in the past couple of weeks, I have completed 2 projects. The soundtrack for the animated movie is now done - just needs mastering. It was a tough one, because of it's 'horror' theme, which is not my bag at all, so I decided to avoid the cliche low strings, diminished chords, and instead explored ways that one can manipulate the recorded voice in order to create suspense. Every sound on the movie is made by either my voice or Oscar & Ellen; but you wouldn't know. I played around with such glorious effects as pitch shifters, and ring modulators and other logic gadgets that spin and warp and delay the sound to a whole new environment. For example; I ran a delay on a short intake of breath, which (unintentionally, I admit) made it sound like an echoing heartbeat. Nice.
So that's 2 projects ticked off...
Chroma. Ah yes. I have lived and breathed Chroma over the Christmas break. I now have 4 movements completed! In fact, the running time of the whole piece is supposed to be 8 minutes, and I have closer to 12, but that can be amended and edited after the workshop with the musicians - which is not until the week of the performance, but I'm sure Gary will give me some advice on that when I see him on Tuesday anyway. After some perseverance, I managed to get hold of the Chinese artist Cao Jingping, who's painting I used as the inspiration for the composition. I have taken elements of the picture, entitled 'Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water', as the different movements. So there's 'Shapes in the Water', which explores the overlapping range of the violin and alto flute. 'Covered Walkways', in which I drew the image of the bridge on manuscript paper and used the resulting pitches as my reference material for the piano. This is 'covered' by interlocking themes in the flute and clarinet. 'Sunlight and Shadows' uses all 4 instruments, with the violin 'shadowing' the other parts. I used a contemporary 'cut out' style score which took bloody hours to achieve in Sibelius, but it now looks just as I want it to, which is great. 'The Crane' is a movement for solo bass clarinet, using harmonics and maybe just a wee touch of jazz (oh, I couldn't help myself!) - the bass clarinet is so juicy!
Oh, I got distracted - yes, I tracked down Cao Jingping through an art gallery in Beijing, and emailed him of my project. He sent me a beautiful reply, saying that he is delighted that I have found music in his art, and is most happy for me to use the title of his painting as the title for my piece. He also sent me an article from a Beijing newspaper about the way that he works, and it was so spiritual. He employs Taoist principles in his visualisation of the world, saying that the way the camera and digital media view the world is not the way it really is to experience and view a place. I am delighted to have his support for my project, and will send him a copy of the score and a recording of the concert once it is done.
Rafal. I sent the first drafts of the accordion piece to Rafal just before Christmas, and have some great feedback from him. Now that Chroma is nearly there, I want to turn my attention to Rafal's piece - I'm going to spend some time on that in a minute. It's called 'Wycieczka', which is Polish for 'journey'. Seemed appropriate given the massive journey I am on. Yer, looking forward to getting on with that one.
Last, but not least, is my collaboration with Tiff, the choreographer. She's a gem, and we had a great afternoon together this week putting some ideas in place. I'll talk more about that next time...some mathematical undertone already creeping into this piece. Ooh!
ouch; I just remembered the MAX MSP piece for Chris Redgate. I'm still freaked by that program. Best get to it then...
Well, I wish you a happy and interesting year, or even week eh? Let's take things a little at a time!
xxx
Friday 17 December 2010
Jingle Bells all the way!
I friend of mine facebooked me this week and asked how nice it must be to be at the end of term. Well, I guess I'm not commuting, but the pressure is heavy as tescos birthday cakes!
It is nice to be home for a while. Especially in this bizarre siberian weather. My little car, which has been so loyal, broke down today :( The RAC reckoned about a 5 hour wait, and suggested I try to get the kids home. Poor OJ has been poorly this week anyway, so we set off into the cold. Randomly, we stumbled across some carol singers, and a kindly priest offered to take us home. Now that's nice. Oscar got so cold, he was coughing like a loon, and when we got out the car, poor little chap was sick, just from coughing. Hot chocolate, manuka honey, bath and cuddles soon straightened him out, but my stress levels were through the roof! However, the new 'healthier' me, opted for a fresh mint tea to calm the nerves, which worked a treat.
Anyway; of the music? It's hard not to get overwhelmed, but I figure the best thing to do is write music. It gets me out of my head, and gets me closer to achieving my goals, so it's a double whammy. I am really glad to have found a time management technique that works well for me - I set my iphone timer to 25 minutes, and will not do anything except write in that time. Then I have a 5-10 minute break, where I do things like write this blog, or send an email, or check my receding bank balance! It's great. if I can get 4 or more of those in a day, I see real progress.
So here's the lay of the land;
Chroma ensemble piece - 8 minutes, due Jan
Accordion piece for Rafal - sketches asap
Animation project - due 6 Jan
Choreographer Collaboration - due 13 Feb
Oboe piece using live electronics -due 3 Feb
New projects coming up in Jan...phew
Plus gigs; choir, christmas, NYE, new solo performance venue 6 Feb. Blahblah.
Teaching is done until 5 Jan. That's a good thing!
My Chroma piece is based on a piece of contemporary Chinese art 'Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water' by Cao Jingping - taking different elements of the textures as influences for the musical material, which is working well here. It occurred to me last night, that Cao Jingping might like to know what I'm up to, so I sent an email to an art gallery inBeijing, who are currently exhibiting his work, to see if they can put me in touch with him. I hope he gets in touch. Would just be interesting...
Oh - the music theatre piece went down a storm. The snow finally abated on the Saturday, and I was able to get up to London for the performance. Fancy the first time you ever hear the music the you wrote being played at the performance! It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I have had ever! Luckily, it worked though. The singers were pleased as punch, and the trumpet player said he loved the muted trumpet part. Generally, great feedback. Crikey - what a trip!
LVP completely rocked out at Lauderdale house last week. Class gig! We had Tim Whitehead guesting on sax (we sung one of his compositions), Kenny Wheeler was there (we sung a few of his compositions), the lovely Nikki Iles trio backing us up (Yi, we sung one of Nikki's too!)
It was just a beautiful vibe in the room.
Can't wait til Sunday's gig at the 606. All our classic tunes. Will be a riot! (Oh please don't let the silly snow stop me from getting there)
Next year's performance of the Jon Hendricks vocalese for choir over Miles Ahead (Gil Evans), has been confirmed - Jon has asked us to all get a copy of the album and listen to it every day before we go to bed, and first thing in the morning. So I am. I put it on when I go to bed - think I'll have the first 3 tracks sorted, but might never get to hear the rest; am usually so exhausted by the time I finally turn in! There is a version of Nature Boy on there. My fave song of all time - I sing it to OJ every night, bless my little man.
Okey dokey - I've oer-run my 10 minute break, so it's back to work for me, next 25 minutes going on the clock...
Merry Christmas one and all.
Ding Dong Merrily on high :)
x
It is nice to be home for a while. Especially in this bizarre siberian weather. My little car, which has been so loyal, broke down today :( The RAC reckoned about a 5 hour wait, and suggested I try to get the kids home. Poor OJ has been poorly this week anyway, so we set off into the cold. Randomly, we stumbled across some carol singers, and a kindly priest offered to take us home. Now that's nice. Oscar got so cold, he was coughing like a loon, and when we got out the car, poor little chap was sick, just from coughing. Hot chocolate, manuka honey, bath and cuddles soon straightened him out, but my stress levels were through the roof! However, the new 'healthier' me, opted for a fresh mint tea to calm the nerves, which worked a treat.
Anyway; of the music? It's hard not to get overwhelmed, but I figure the best thing to do is write music. It gets me out of my head, and gets me closer to achieving my goals, so it's a double whammy. I am really glad to have found a time management technique that works well for me - I set my iphone timer to 25 minutes, and will not do anything except write in that time. Then I have a 5-10 minute break, where I do things like write this blog, or send an email, or check my receding bank balance! It's great. if I can get 4 or more of those in a day, I see real progress.
So here's the lay of the land;
Chroma ensemble piece - 8 minutes, due Jan
Accordion piece for Rafal - sketches asap
Animation project - due 6 Jan
Choreographer Collaboration - due 13 Feb
Oboe piece using live electronics -due 3 Feb
New projects coming up in Jan...phew
Plus gigs; choir, christmas, NYE, new solo performance venue 6 Feb. Blahblah.
Teaching is done until 5 Jan. That's a good thing!
My Chroma piece is based on a piece of contemporary Chinese art 'Shadows of Trees on Sunny Water' by Cao Jingping - taking different elements of the textures as influences for the musical material, which is working well here. It occurred to me last night, that Cao Jingping might like to know what I'm up to, so I sent an email to an art gallery inBeijing, who are currently exhibiting his work, to see if they can put me in touch with him. I hope he gets in touch. Would just be interesting...
Oh - the music theatre piece went down a storm. The snow finally abated on the Saturday, and I was able to get up to London for the performance. Fancy the first time you ever hear the music the you wrote being played at the performance! It was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences I have had ever! Luckily, it worked though. The singers were pleased as punch, and the trumpet player said he loved the muted trumpet part. Generally, great feedback. Crikey - what a trip!
LVP completely rocked out at Lauderdale house last week. Class gig! We had Tim Whitehead guesting on sax (we sung one of his compositions), Kenny Wheeler was there (we sung a few of his compositions), the lovely Nikki Iles trio backing us up (Yi, we sung one of Nikki's too!)
It was just a beautiful vibe in the room.
Can't wait til Sunday's gig at the 606. All our classic tunes. Will be a riot! (Oh please don't let the silly snow stop me from getting there)
Next year's performance of the Jon Hendricks vocalese for choir over Miles Ahead (Gil Evans), has been confirmed - Jon has asked us to all get a copy of the album and listen to it every day before we go to bed, and first thing in the morning. So I am. I put it on when I go to bed - think I'll have the first 3 tracks sorted, but might never get to hear the rest; am usually so exhausted by the time I finally turn in! There is a version of Nature Boy on there. My fave song of all time - I sing it to OJ every night, bless my little man.
Okey dokey - I've oer-run my 10 minute break, so it's back to work for me, next 25 minutes going on the clock...
Merry Christmas one and all.
Ding Dong Merrily on high :)
x
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