Mrow

So I think a virtual to-do list has become moot by this point. I've started (sorta) using my corkboard for that function. But I haven't been writing. Bad Gabe. I desperately need company. I'm getting downright lonely. And when I'm lonely, I'm lazy.

Wow, am I stupid?

THis is, what, the fifth time I've forgotten about blogging for a week? Oy. Well, I did figure one thing out. If I set my phone for two alarms, one at 9:00, one at 9:05, it doesn't wake me up. BUt if I then set me regular alarm for 9:10, somehow it wakes me up better.

So, after a bit of organizing, I found some sheet music I apparently never returned to my choir. The entire madrigal is now on my keyboard. I've also put my to-do list on notecards on my cork board. Which I haven't used in ages. So, now for a shower, and then off to walk a Lola-Bear. O, and some breakfast. Breakfast first.

Hope - Normal - US
Casey - Euphoria - US
Kevin* - Love - US
Marc-André* - Magnetism - Canada
Luke - Music - US

*On Omegle

ANd I met this one guy named Caio. Brazilian, was using a translator, I think, so I couldn't really explain abstract concepts to him. Ah, well.

To-Do: 7/14/09: Jeezy Creezy

Okay, quicky-quick

1)DAMNED LAUNDRY
2)DAMNED HOUSE
3)Clear desk
4)Take one of my poems and start trying to set it to music
5)Puppy-time!

Byebye

To-Do: 7/11/09: YAAAAAWWWN!

Oh my I'm tired this morning.

Wow. ADD. Hour and a half later. TOday:

1)Lola to dog park
2)Laundry
3)Home


Yay.

Down

I find it funny
That we can find beauty
In watching something go down,
Just to drown,
At incredibly high speeds,
Bashing against rocks and weeds,
Tumbling, thrashing, breaking
Blue and green and white, taking
Next to no time to crash
With a singularly sickening splash
Into itself, But since the thing
Is not alive, it is breathtaking.

Watched Taken this evening. Not bad. Interesting plot. Decent acting. Marvelous fight scenes.

To-Do: 7/10/09: Poetry Time!

I like Casey's poem. I think I'll write one now.

How many Times would a Coin have to flip
On it's own in a Street
Before Someone noticed?
How many Times would a Dog have to speak
In proper, clear English
To convince Passers-By that it's real?
How many Times would Gum have to pop
As loud as a Gun-Shot in Winter
To truly have Truth in Advertising?

A Coin, a Dog, and Bubblegum
Ordinary and demure
Yet with a Touch of Fantasy
Simplicity's unsure
If Ordinary's secure


Hm. I think I like it. May add to it later. Now, to do list for the day:

1)Shop with mom
2)Work
3)That darned home for Dominic
4)Laundry, if it kills me
5)Write

Hallelujah

That song is so thoroughly stuck in my head, it's not even funny. I love it. And I even found a key that works for me. B. Oh my. I am ridiculously tired. I'm on line yet again for Twelfth Night, I'm getting really pissed at the virtual line. It makes it virtually impossible, if you'll pardon the pun, to get a ticket. Ah well. I really need to get to sleep. Sorry, Dom. Didn't get everything done today.

To-Do: 7/9/09: Once again, oops

So I've managed yet again to forget to do this stuff. I don't even know for how long. At least a week, I'd think. So, part of my list today will be giving Dom a home. I don't have work today, so I should have plenty of time.

1)Eat/Brush teeth
2)Shower
3)Dress
4)Walk/feed Lola
5)Retrieve Aladren's papers from the elusive filing cabinet
6)Laundry
7)Upper body exercise
8)Read Mother Courage for a bit. If I get into it, so much the better
9)Mow the lawn
10)Make home fro Dominic
11)Clear desk

I think that's about as detailed as I'm going to get today. Can't forget to write later. Even if it's just a long SOC. Here we go!

To-Do: 7/3/09: Just chipper

So today I must

1) Use the chipper to clear out behind the garage
2) go to the Aladren/Wells residence around 2 in regards to Lola sitting.

That's really all for today.

Live Loop Audio Recording

So, I think I accomplished everything I set out to do today. Yay me! Also got over twice as many work hours as I was expecting. Forgot to write down hours and get my paycheck, though. Oopsy. So, I've going to write about live loop music this evening. But first, a break for food. I have not eaten dinner yet, and it's 10:01.

Okay, it is now 10:48. Dinner complete :P

So, as I was saying, live loop music performance. I believe the most popular example is Imogen Heap's Just For Now. She tends toward the almost tribal, vocal harmonies, with basic percussive rhythm. On the other end of the spectrum we've a guy by the name of Dub FX, who uses beatboxing combined with a decently impressive range to create a more electronic feeling song, titled Love Someone. Then, somewhere inbetween, you have KT Tunstall's Black Horse & the Cherry Tree, which uses actual instruments, in additional to vocals, for yet a third completely different sound. These three styles are all created from similar equipment. It seems to me that the live loop performance has created the ultimate platform for solo musicians. Whether multi-instrument-gifted, or just a singer, any independant musician can create a riveting performance with pedals and buttons.

So, Imogen Heap. She, unlike the other two I mentioned, starts with chords. She sings one part at a time , until you start hearing luscious, rich harmonies. Then she puts in a little bit of clapping here, some snapping there, varied rhythmic backup vocals. After all of this has been put into place, she starts the melody. Now, what I like about Just For Now is that Imogne Heap makes great use of removing the parts to make room for variations. This prevents any indivisual section from becoming too busy, overwhelming, or just plain crowded. Her result is very sweet, smooth, full sound.

Now Mr. Dub FX takes a different approach. The main difference is that, as he is a street performer in addition to a recording artist, he describes what he's doing as he's doing it. This way, since he has a much more random audience, anyone can at least partially understand what he's doing. Also, instead of starting with a note, FX starts with the beat. He builds up, in a more predictable way, to an equally impressive song. He uses a completely different style, with different tone quality, but the same equipment.

Now lastly, there is KT Tunstall. She is the only one in this grouping who uses any instruments, in this particular case guitar and tambourine. Like Dub, KT starts with a beat, though hers is made on the body of the guitar, then with muted strumming. Then she builds the basic backup, basic "ooh"s, in thirds. Then she does the guitar pattern and sings the melody. This results in, however, a more folky, bluesy style. Yet still, the same equipment is being utilized.

So all 3 artists, in these songs, are doing live performances with live looping audio recording. While each is in a completely different style, all of them provide a certain sense of creation. The aduience gets to watch and listen to a song being essentially built from the ground up. It also allows for the same free-forming which comes with live performance, but a solo artist can perform the whole song, all parts included. I fthat doesn't create opportunities, I don't know what does. Besides, I'd totally use that equipment. It seems like the perfect way to convey exactly what's in your head, instead of trying to communicate it to band members.



So yes. Holy crap. I just wrote an essay.

Oh, and happy 50th post on the (relatively) new blog to me!

To-Do: 7/2/09: Oopsies

So I missed a couple of days on here. That's not good. I need a physical reminder of where Dominic is, else I forget about him. Well, moving on, here's today's to-do list:

1) Figure out how to get phone schedule to work properly.
2) Shower and dress before Casey arrives
3) Go to dance
4) Go to Hope's house to hang out, probably some math tutoring
5) Fold and PUT AWAY laundry. It's still sitting in baskets.

So, I'm officially done with my music fundamentals class. The final took me all of 10 minutes. I'll sorta miss it, but I hope to never again encounter so much musical ineptitude. Especially Ms. Senator-wannabe.