response 100 of 416:

Jul 17 16:14 UTC 1997

Hundredth!
Of course, in my opinion, any band should provide 'something more' in it's
live shows than just less 'polish', more noise, and a big crowd.

response 102 of 416:

Jul 18 07:02 UTC 1997

If you're not spending Saturday afternoon and evening at Grexstock '97, you
ought to check out Francis Dunnery, who's playing at the Ann Arbor Rock 103
WIQB Summer Shindig, going on at the Barnstormer, M-36, west of US-23 in
Whitmore Lake.  Francis is ultra-cool...

response 104 of 416:

Jul 18 12:47 UTC 1997

Don't forget the "after art fair" party at the Farmer's Market. Glass
Marimba demonstration, a few artists, Lawrence Bond Miller at 8pm.
Saturday, the 19th, after the grex picnic.

response 106 of 416:

Jul 23 07:26 UTC 1997

Grrr... to think where I live is culturally starved enough that I should
greatly envy you guys.  A glass marimba, eh?  I'd like to see that..

Speaking of musical rambling, I made further preparations to attend Central
Washington University this fall.  Whether or not I start dusting off my old
music theory books and start studying again will depend on which depts.
requirements I can meet first-- teacher certification or music.  I feel a
weird mix of anticipation, anxiety, and nostalgia-- eager to finally let all
my true musical talents shine, but still fearing the unkind remarks some of
my music teachers directed at me.

I wonder where I'll specialize in music.  If I study voice, then I can expect
more of the scant bit of formal training I did receive, and then learning
about the great baritone-basses in the world, and listening to their
recordings (ah but tenors always get the spotlight).  If I return to studying
piano, then I imagine I'll be listening to Thelonius Monk and other jazz
pianists, and try to figure out classical improv before I play jazz comp
again.  I imagine I'll try to tackle Debussy compositions again, swimming
through all the huge, rich chords that were his style.  Most of all, I wonder
if I'll ever pick up a tuba again (I wouldn't be sad if I didn't, although
I loved listening to Roger Bobo).

It's been four years since I studied musical academia.  it will be
interesting-- but then again, so will be visiting the Ann Arbor area someday
for independent studies :)

response 108 of 416:

Jul 23 09:46 UTC 1997

Well, probably the most anticipated release of the summer is finally out, the
new Sarah McLachlan album, _Surfacing_.  Features the current airplay,
"Building a Mystery", a very nice tune, plus nine other great tunes. 
Highlights, after first several listenings, are the sumptuous "I Love You",
the fiercely sensual and savagely accompanied "Sweet Surrender", the
bitterly spiritual "Witness", the spiralling "Black + White", the delicate
and apologetic "Fall of Grace", and the sad "Last Dance" (featuring Jim
Creegan from Barenaked Ladies on upright bass).
 
If this doesn't top _Fumbling Towards Ecstasy_, then it'll take a chair next
to it.  Well-done, again, Sarah.

response 110 of 416:

Jul 23 21:22 UTC 1997

Did anyone actually go to Farmington Hill's Borders to see her?  I heard on
the radio that she was singing stuff there last saturday... The big debate
was to go to Ohio or to Farmington Hills.... relatives won out

response 112 of 416:

Jul 24 07:35 UTC 1997

Well, I said I may never pick up a tuba again, mostly because it doesn't apply
much to elementary music education.  But I did play one again recently after
four years.  I was at a drama production my sis was in, and it was
intermission.  So I snuck into the old familiar h.s. band room (my sis goes
to hs where I did), and found the dept had been able to afford Miraphones (a
VERY nice manufacturer of rotary valve tub).  I couldn't resist, and was
shocked to find that the sound I had was much fuller and cleaner than that
of 4 years ago.  (I had a bad habit of clenching my teeth that I had
difficulty breaking.  I was surprised-- I could make that tuba sing!  The last
time I had that good of a sound was playing a transcription of Cara Mia Ben,
and only after a lot of practice and listening to a recording of Charles
Dallenbach of the Canadian Brass play it, not to mention it was a rare time
I got to play a nice melody for a change.

I mentioned Roger Bobo.  I don't know if he still plays for the L.A.
Orchestra, but he did at the time of the recordings that I listened to.  He
was part of my required listening, and he was phenomenal.  He could play
polyphonics, which is playing two notes at the same time.  Normally,  (one
can't do this, but your lips play one note, and your throat sings another.
I haven't been able to master the technique-- I can't determine which note
my lips will play.  the best way I can describe it is like practicing
ventriloquism while drinking a glass of milk.  He is also well-known among
experienced tuba players for his "Ellie the Elephant" series, which is
whimisical because it is in such a high range for the tuba.  It is especially
high for the standard BBb tuba, which is why he plays it on a smaller F tuba,
which is also more difficult to tune.

I also met Harvey Phillips in person when Spokane had a Tubafest in '92.  He
started the popular Tuba Christmas conventions, where tuba/baritone
horn/euphonium players get together to play Christmas music.  He also started
Octuba, which is an organization of octets of the same kinds of players
(sorry, trombones!).  I got him to autograph my shirt, which I still have :)

response 114 of 416:

Jul 30 14:11 UTC 1997

This comes from "The Irish Emigrant" issue 547. (This week)


- Failure to name a Lou Reed song title resulted in Dubliner Martin 
  Mulready receiving an 18-month jail sentence.  He was actually jailed 
  for stealing a car stereo but might have got off scot-free if he knew 
  something of the repertoire of Mr Reed.  When stopped by gardai he 
  claimed that he owned the stereo but was unable to name any of the 
  songs on the tape inside.

response 116 of 416:

Jul 30 22:01 UTC 1997

Czechoslovakia brings to mind the Plastic People of the Universe,
a dissident Czech rock group who I have never heard anything by.
After the fall of Communism, there was a big boxed set released of their 
recordings.  (Hmm, poking at CD Europe I see that it might be available from 
them, in *sigh* LP format...)
 
The Plastic People had a descendant group, whose name escapes me...
the location of my copy of their CD escapes me as well.

response 118 of 416:

Jul 30 22:57 UTC 1997

 re #116:  When I think Czech, I think "Laibach"..  I'm not even sure
 they are Czech, I may just have some stray mental link connecting the
 two concepts..

response 120 of 416:

Jul 31 09:15 UTC 1997

That reminds me, one of my now-favorite films came out of Yugoslavia:  _Tito
and Me_.  

response 122 of 416:

Aug 1 06:26 UTC 1997

  the "City of Hysteria" people?
  yuck..  didn't like them..

response 124 of 416:

Aug 1 16:49 UTC 1997

(Is he the guy who proved "Zorn's Lemma"?  :)