Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
More correspondence
Sent 12/19/09
Dear Robert,
Alan
recieved 12/20/09
dear alan,
Monday, December 21, 2009
What prompted "A wave from San Cugat"
Dear Robert
Robert's reply, sent 12/09/09
Dear Crafty,
A wave from Sant Cugat!
Each course is unique, each course is a multiplicity of courses. So, whatever the course was for you, is as valid as "my course". My own approach is to arrive, with an aim or two or three, and see what is possible. Then the course takes on a life & lives of its own, and I respond as I am able. What happens is pretty much outside my capacity to control.
The centre of gravity of my own work is increasingly towards supporting those who have a measure of competence. The standard of the Beginners here at Sant Cugat is so low that I am despairing of how to be useful.
One of the strengths of The OCG is that, whatever level of competence on the instrument & quality of personal presence we are able to bring, we have opportunities to contribute & participate & shape what is taking place, to our own degree.
Taking this into a public arena is risky. Long experience suggests that members of the public have limited degrees of patience, attention & support available, for ventures that fall upon their ears from outside the mainstream. So, it is useful during the unfolding event to have available something which can invite back wandering ears. At Sant Cugat for The OCG I last February 27th. we had ZUM. For The OCG II we had the TTA team comprising the inner circle.
You feel that the performance at Freemont Abbey, that the OCG was a toy, a gimmick, even a joke, and the real work presented, and the real ‘music’ was solely Tuning The Air. This is not my view, even a little. From your perspective it became a vehicle to present and promote Tuning The Air, to put them on the map, so to speak. This is not my view either.
One of my declared aims was to support the work of the Seattle Circle; and I feel the performance did that. But that wasn’t the extent of the course, nor the only focus of my interest.
I felt that the “Gnarlies” were perceived as less than, unaware and unawake, a nuisance, and most strongly, not good enough, by many, especially the TTA team. Personally, this sense that there is, in GC, a cult of personality, of chosen or anointed ones, and tolerant condescension for the rest…
Clearly I don’t speak for others, including the TTA team. For myself, I don’t have much resonance with these views, while agreeing that cluelessness & dopiness is as part of Guitar Craft as anything else in the world.
My own primary difficulty stems from not knowing how to help members of the Team where there is little basic competence in, for example, counting & circulating. Even after more than 24 years, a familiarity with C major into 3 octaves in the first five positions continues to be an exception rather than a basic skill. Similarly, counting in 5 or 7 while circulating in time is not complex, yet remains an exotic accomplishment for many. What to do with this? Well, very soon, this will no longer be my responsibility!
… there were many moments of beauty and ‘music’ in our House of Guitars… and many wonderful moments too over the whole period, in addition to the disappointments, opportunities missed & mistakes that were not-quite-the-teachers they might have been.
And now a time is coming to an end.
Thank you for coming to Raft Island: I was happy to see you there, not quite knowing if we would meet again.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Monday - Workday
It's been a relatively slow period at work the past few weeks. There'll be a flurry of activity, scrambling to get things done, then nothing for a few days. Difficult to pass the time like this; I'd prefer it to be busy all the time. This is seasonal, and will pass.
Things at home are good.
The YGT had it's first official meeting this past Saturday. Good work on new music. Great to hear ideas intended for 3 guitars with 3 guitars. KP brought his Mandola and his Acoustic Bass. The Bass sounded great on one of the new pieces. We currently have 3 unfinished new things, and MB presented another idea as we ran out of time. Now to finish them, and perform them in March at the HVFG.
Still waiting at work for offical word on next week. I pray that the company will close.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tuesday - Workday
Great weekend; Friday night I went with some co-workers to see Umphrey's Magee at the Nokia Theatre. As close to a perfect concert going experience as I believe is possible. Arrived about an hour early, go front row seats, with waitress service. Unobstructed view of the stage. Sound was great. Then band was incredible. If you are not familiar, Umphrey's is a "jam band" that instead of being influenced by the Grateful dead or Phish, they're influenced by King Crimson. All are killer players, the 2 guitarists and drummer especially. They've been playing together so long that they are able to improvise and regroup, stopping on a dime and changing direction. They played for about a half hour before the first vocals were sung. One continuous "jam" with snippets of songs - a chorus here, then more improv, a verse there of a different song, then off again, only to regroup and finish competely together. Great vocals, 4 part harmony, too.
Got home after 2 AM and had to get up at 8 for couples therapy. Good session. Then home to a nap, then out tp MB's to rehearse for the YGT slot at the benefit show that evening. Devise a setlist, settle some arrangement issues and depart for Nyack. Arrive to find a pretty caotic situation, the organizers intentions are noble, but there's an aboundance of unprofessionalism and negative energy. Mark and I begin to soundcheck, arrange direct boxes. KP arrives and the trio soundchecks sucessfully. It's then necessary for us to seperate from the proceedings, so we find an empty classroom and rehearse our set. We aim to bless the space with our set, intentional goodwill sent out.
Our set was OK, considering we haven't really rehearsed as a trio before performing. But we know the material well enough. Ambitious to attempt "Blackjack" but it will never get finished if we shy away from it. Strong connection between the 3 of us throughout the performance. A very generous, if sparse audience. In the end, a positive, necessary experience.
Afterwards, the 3 of us go out for a Mexican dinner. Good food and converstion. Set a date for our next (first) rehearsal.
Sunday was also an early rise, 8:00. Dan and I go to church, then out clothes shopping and food shopping. Relax in front of the TV, football, with my guitar in my hands. I enjoy just playing, clearing my mind and not directing my hands.
Out to a meeting in the evening, then home to an hour of calestenics. Dan and I watch "The Wire". Then to bed.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Wednesday - Workday
Yesterday I stayed home sick; asthma creeping up on me. A good day to recharge my batteries. I would have stayed home today, but I had my weekly therapy session scheduled for 8:00 AM. With some luck, I'll be able to go home early.
Had a great Thanksgiving break. Sitting and proctising guitar every day. Thursday I cooked a feast; duck, chestnut stuffing, spinach, pumpkin soup, while K and Dan painted the playroom. Met with MB and worked on stuff for the YGT show this Saturday and some new music. A lot of family time; saw "The Fountain" (Good) and "Casino Royale" (Very Good). Also played pool with Dan; beat him cleanly once and almost beat him 2 other time, but I called the wrong pocket on the 8 ball.
Friday is Umphrey's Magee at the Nokia Theatre.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Monday - workday
Met with Mark on Saturday and worked on new music. Mark presented a melody line and I quickly came up with a complimenting chordal/bassline. A magic moment; if you looked carefully, you could see the light bulbs going on over our heads. A strong connection to the source. Exciting.
Kevin P. drove up from Queens to play with Mark and I at the HVFG open mic. The YGT (Yorktown Guitar Trio) in it's first public performance. This time we performed before we ever rehearsed. It was good, though. Since much of the new music Mark and I are working already has 3 parts, this trio format seems to be a naatural fit. And Kevin wanted to continue in April with the YGP anyway. Welcome back, Kevin.
Sunday was an early rise then to Church. Goood to see Billy J. there. Then home to lunch and then to drop K and Miles off to the Veteran's Day parade. Then burgers on the grill for dinner. Out to a meeting, then some football. (Giants suck!).
Turns out I won this week's football pool.
K is not feeling well. She spent the bulk of Friday at the Hospital, with no answers. Still feeling bad, today. Puzzling.