Monday June 09
Much unspoken stress at work right now. Nearing completion of a milestone
as well as end of the fiscal year.
* * *
Later, going with the flow, via Drawing of the Day:
.jpg)
* * *
Tuesday June 10
Lunch with PatR and surprise guests Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (GeorgeM
and ScottB) in building 50. Great to catch up with this creative
crew. George seems to be coming full circle since BTV days - he and Scott
are pitching some pretty cool ideas to Windows big-wigs.
Hope they fly.
Received birthday greetings from PabloM, now in Vancouver. One day early,
but nice to hear from Pablo, nonetheless.
* * *
Drawing of the Day
* * *
Wednesday June 11
Pretty low-key but sweet birthday activities in the evening including a very
cute home-made guitar-shaped cake by Lisa and her mom. And some very
thoughtful gifts. Feeling blessed.
* * *
Drawing of the Day
* * *
Thursday June 12
Final SBRS tracking session this evening with TravisM. We spent the first
part of the evening re-doing some vocals that were not quite up to the standard
of this project. So Travis gave it a go, and after some experimentation
and warm up, he nailed it on the 6th take.
Drawing of the Day
* * *
Friday June 13
Drawing of the Day for Starship Trooper (Instrumental)
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* * *
Saturday June 14
In Port Townsend Washington this weekend for a very special wedding.
I was asked to play during the ceremony and I pulled together a passable version
of Wagner's Wedding March and and solo version of "Good Day Sunshine."
This was a good-vibes event all around. Connected with a few SB and old League fans
who seemed to recognize something in what they heard. Met some very nice
people.
* * *
Later, time to chill with my laptop in the car while Duran Duran pumps away at
the reception upstairs. During the ceremony (after playing a 20 minute
improvised set) I had some time to reflect on the immense energy required to
play solo compared to the relative ease of playing in a group.
Playing
solo is hard.
* * *
Stayed in a castle this evening after the wedding. Some inspiration for
this Drawing of the Day:
Belltower
* * *
Some associative thinking led me to
remember a Curt Golden ensemble piece that became a catalyst in my group playing and
listening.
As I sat down to reflect on on this, I remembered vaguely that about three years
ago, I exchanged some thoughts with Bill Rieflin regarding this piece that we
(the then Seattle Guitar Circle) were struggling with at the time, (Curt
Golden's Vulcanization.)
I think Bill was having some trouble groking the value of this piece, (esp.
given how poorly we were playing it at the time), and
I drafted a response to defend what I saw as the need to work on this piece and
keep it in our setlist:
----- Original Message -----
From: W Rieflin
To: Steve Ball
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 4:24 PM
Subject: If you please,
If you please, tell me why Vulcanization is an important piece - to
Saturday's performance and to Guitar Craft.
Bill
My response:
Bill -
Useful questions: here are a bunch of words. I'm sure many of these will
press our various buttons, and give us all another example of how
differently we experience our own music, and how differently we understand
our experiences, but what the hell.
These words do not replace the experience of:
a) working through the process of mastering this piece,
b) listening to a superbly performed version of this piece,
neither of which you have experienced. Wheter you 'like' the piece or not
misses the point about the value of the piece completely.
* * *
Although this has not been formally articulated or recognized before, it is
clear (to me) that Vulcanization is a Guitar Craft "theme." This means that
it is a pivotal and influential composition in expansion of Guitar Craft
technique and repertoire. The influence of this composition on future Guitar
Craft students has potential to be immense, as was in its power and
influence on me as a student. The practical impact on those who work though
and master the piece will also be immense.
For the individual student of Guitar Craft, Vulcanization enables a form of
accelerated training on multiple levels: release, endurance, modes,
polyrhythm, division of attention, counterpoint, mirrors, symmetry, balance,
form, dynamics, texture, pattern recognition, expanded present moment,
visualization, forgiveness, and will.
Vulcanization, as a composition, is a prototypical Guitar Craft repertoire
in both its micro and macro form: It follows a progression through the organic circle of
thirds (A, C, Eb, F#). It places great practical demands upon the player, as
does all excellent Guitar Craft repertoire. It also places some demands upon
the listener, as does most effective Guitar Craft repertoire.
The demands upon the player enable:
- a structured development of a flexible relationship with time signatures
progressing from 5/8, 6/8, 7/8, 8/8, 9/8, 10/8, 11/8, 12/8, 13/8, 14/8
- an practical introduction to extended polyrhythm against a slow pulse
- a practical introduction through the diatonic modes
- a pathway leading from the simple to the complex; beginning with what is
possible and gradually moving toward the impossible
- When played well it is synchronized, gentle, textural, challenging, and
relaxed. Like listening to a finely crafted switch watch: gentle and
precise.
* * *
The importance of this piece for listeners:
- Vulcanization functions as a wake up call: it is a means for developing
expanded awareness and a guided progression from simplicity to complexity,
from consonance to dissonance. It is designed to gradually shock casual
listeners; it is an aural equivalent of a hypnotic optical illusion that
alters perception if the attention is engaged in the details.
- it is a guided fractal tour of Guitar Craft history; it has thematic roots
in 1981's 'discipline' and leads through a brief history of Guitar Craft
style polyrhythmic ensemble work;
- it is an aural representation of a complex Celtic knotwork; twists, turns,
symmetries, asymmetries, always looping back on itself;
- it is a metaphor for the complex, overlapping, interwoven, alternating
harmonies and discord which accompany all group work;
- it is a metaphor for the bittersweet progression from innocence to
experience which accompanies progression through the GC processes;
- it is a practical doorway to a new way of listening and hearing: can I
hear what is going on within the textures sprayed out among five diverse and
diverging parts?
Pretty long-winded way of saying that, in my view, Vulcanization is a
pretty important piece of music in the grand scheme of Guitar Craft repertoire.
Hope the ACE captured a good take of this.
* * *
Drawing of the Day:
* * *
Sunday June 15
Riding the ferry home from Port Townsend after brunch with some wonderful
friends. A beautiful Seattle day. Brunch flew so quickly that I failed to
notice how the sun was beating down on my poor skull. A red head will
accompany me into this next week.
* * *
Called my Dad this afternoon to wish him a happy Father's Day. Let him know that
I had sent him copies of the 3 CDs I've been working on. Not sure if he
will really like them or not, but I'm sure he will appreciate the endeavor.
Even at 64, my Dad has recently been beginning to sing solos for his church
choir. When I was home last, he showed me a PC program he was using to
practice singing and reading scores. He's also writing a novel.
These impulses I have clearly come from something that came with the package.
* * *
8:40pm, back home, tired, sunburned, and with a pile of homework to do before
the week ascends.
* * *
At this point, the primary remaining tasks to complete the CD project include:
1) Decision on mastering
a. is it necessary ?
b. can I afford it ?
2) Decision on inclusion and running order
3) Complete artwork for 3 inserts, jewel cases, on-CD, and box-set box
4) Registration of cover songs with Harry Fox:
* * *
Drawing of the day:
* * *
home
Monday June 16
Drawing of the Day
BootlegTV: "It
is possible to suffer without achieving the aim"
* * *
Tuesday June 17
Drawing of the Day
* * *
Wednesday June 18
Drawing of the Day
* * *
Thursday June 19
Re-org details beginning to surface at work. Nothing to lose sleep over -
funny how I've come to view the 'reorg' process as directly related to 'Work'
ideas involving intentional processes designed to keep us from falling into
habit and pattern. Amazing to watch how a 50,000 person ship turns a
corner.
* * *
Looking to get some more Whidbey Island shows in the calendar with help from
PatR. Nothing definite yet, but plans in the works.
* * *
Live rehearsal at HQ with TM - Travis has a new song cooking (words and music!)
A happy little ditty with hooks galore and a rather Promethian arrangement...
* * *
Drawing of the day:
* * *
Friday June 20
Drawing of the day:
Gravity has reappeared as a piece that needs to be on this CD project.
* * *
Saturday June 21
Drawng of the Day
* * *
Sunday June 22
Drawing of the Day
Getting close to completion: almost all of the 'song tiles' are complete for 45
songs. Did I mention that I have not been sleeping much lately -- I am
tired...?
The score this week:
Art = 1
Fear = 0
* * *
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