(no subject)

[sen_no_ongaku]

I will be busy, indeed.

Up until I leave on July 3, my daily schedule will look something like this:

8am: Breakfast
9am-12pm: Presentations/workshops
12pm: Lunch
2pm-5pm: Presentations/workshops
5pm: Dinner
7pm-10pm: Concerts/presentations/workshops
10pm: Booze @ Steelhead Brewery

It's already been a blast just hanging out with a bunch of composers and being able to say things like, "I'm really into pandiatonic clusters," and be understood. I've already had conversations about minimalist counterpoint, whether music can be said to have a 'language', the state of musical pedagogy in America as opposed to Brazil, etc. There are over 50 composers here, and it's a pretty diverse bunch, writing all kinds of music, from all kinds of backgrounds. Most of the folks here are smart and interesting, and I'm glad to have gotten a chance to get to interact more with kenjari, whom I'd vaguely known for a while.

For the first half of the symposium, each composer will be giving a 20-60 minute presentation on their music, and we'll have three-person focus groups with the director, Robert Kyr, somewhere in there. Once Fireworks arrives, those presentations will be replaced by open workshops on our pieces, as well as little panel discussions on topics in which people are interested.

Something kind of charming is that it's clear that many of us still relish our time alone; we went to a rehearsal of Osvaldo Golijov's La Pasión según San Marcos, and the first 10-15 to arrive (myself included) seemed to conscously stake out some space alone. We'll all be in close proximity for a while, and it'll be really important to each of us, I imagine, to carve out time to be away from the pressures of socializing.

This is my night off; my roommate and I worked out a deal whereby he skipped last night's rehearsal and had our room to himself, and I'm skipping tonight's concert to have our room to myself. I'm trying to pace myself socially (and just energy-wise), and I've been looking forward to being alone tonight all day. Tomorrow will be plenty social.

It's kind of interesting to see everybody in the pre-clump stage, as each of us tries to figure out with whom we best click (again, myself included). Part of me hopes that the clumping doesn't get too sticky...but at the same time, there are already one or two folks who with whom I think I'd prefer not to spend time.

Last night, I further confirmed that I just don't like beer. I ordered a sampler of five at the Steelhead, and...well...ugh. The drinking isn't so bad, but the aftertaste makes me feel as I've just eaten gravel. I'll just stick to Peche Lembic and, in the meantime, find some other affordable booze of choice for gatherings at the bar.

Also, food at the dining hall is really quite good. Thankfully, I will be walking a great deal.

Comments

[traglar.livejournal.com]

Bob Kyr is a nice enough guy, but his music's a little... squishy; make sure you're still using your powers for evil when you get back, ok?

[sen-no-ongaku.livejournal.com]

I think I'll be OK. I may not hear any of his music at all, actually. I'll only really be interacting with him in a "focus group" with two other composers for 90 minutes.

[2h2o.livejournal.com]

Which of your pieces will be workshopped? I'm having fun imagining Statler and Waldorf heckling modern compositions.

[sen-no-ongaku.livejournal.com]

Just the one I wrote for them, Skyful of Junk.