perlmonger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
perlmonger) wrote2006-10-06 06:14 pm
perlmonger) wrote2006-10-06 06:14 pm
Entry tags:
pig part project
I’ve been intending to post here for nearly a week now, but I’ve thus far been too busy, too knackered or too uninspired (or mostly all three).
Well, here on Friday evening, I’m still knackered and uninspired so this will be disjointed. WhatEVar.
Last Friday,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ramtops and I struggled across the country in an overloaded Thaab to kalunina‘s new flat in Norwich, doing the whole parental support thang of supplying missing bits, setting up broadband/WiFi and cable telly, shopping and, in my case, putting up bogroll holder, bathroom mirror, shelves, clothes hanger poles and curtain rails. This last was a little bizarre as part way through (Mac and Clare were out shopping at the time), Maurice - the entity Mac refers to as “the first Mr Jordan” - turned up and we ended up collaborating in the wielding of power tools in quite a comfortably social way. Not that we’ve ever not got along, just the Clare has Two Dads bit amused me somewhat. After Maurice went home, we all ate Thai and watched Moulin Rouge, which I’ve never actually seen before and loved for its glorious over-the-topness. ramtops wasn’t as impressed, at first viewing at least, but in her wonderful way has since bought me the two-disk special edition, which was nice :)
Anyhow, Clare’s now comfortably ensconced; further developments in her living space are her responsibility for a couple of months at least. And we’re not ever going to make the mistake of driving over on a Friday again. A11 from Thetford to Norwich on a weekday afternoon: Just Say No.
We drove home on Sunday and collapsed like things that collapse. Monday was pretty much a total dead loss for working, but the day brightened considerably with the evening arrival ofpurpleperil to share spaghetti and metaballs, and a bowl of Mac’s lethal chocolate moooose! We sat up talking about, well, just about everything (and quite possibly you too) until sometime gone midnight when the purple one got into her hire car and headed off back Chippenham-ward. It was a very fine evening indeed, and an excellent counter to the various stresses of the weekend. Thanks, Sally! Must do it again soon.
Tuesday, I had a ticket for The Smith Quartet at St George’s. Just me, asramtops didn’t fancy a night of Steve Reich and similar. It was an excellent night; a string quartet sandwiched inside my iPod, which served up Happiness from the Blue Nile, Mamie is Blue from Faust and Poj, Tsygane from Belarus via Pjotr Leschenko on the way into town.
The Smith Quartet were superb, giving us:
Steve Reich - Duet
James Barrett - Stato d’Animo (premiere)
Steve Reich - Triple Quartet
before the interval. Duet was a wonderful opening, the musicians performing seamlessly with their own prerecorded selves for the extra viola and cello parts, but probably the highlight of the evening was the new James Barrett. It really was stunningly (and, in places, foot-tappingly :) good and clearly the musicians thought so as well - it’s a sign of something being right when the performers are so obviously loving what they’re doing; I’m actually smiling now just from the memory. My only regret is that I can’t sit down and hear the thing again: I can only hope that the performance was recorded. Barrett himself was there for the premiere and took a deserved bow.
The third piece, the Triple Quartet didn’t engage me in comparison - perfectly listenable, but nothing more. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt though, at least until I listen to it again, as it’s a complex work that may just require a bit more application. I bought the Quartet’s CD of all three Reich works, so I may report back soon.
After the interval, we were given:
Steve Reich - Different Trains
which is a whole different class of entity. Inspired by both Reich’s own experiences crossing the US by train as a child from 1939 to 1942 (after his parents separated), and the contemporaneous train journeys his fellow Jews were forced to across shadowed Europe, it’s a powerful and moving work that left the audience sitting in silence for long seconds before finally bursting into applause. Not easy listening, but powerful and profound, and thought-provoking.
An encore to follow that is hard, as they said on finally returning to play;
Arvo Pärt - Summa
was a good choice, and a likewise fine ending to the evening before I returned to the car. My iPod offered me Jeff Beck, Prince and (got to respect the music of) Frank Sinatra, none of which felt at all appropriate. The next two random selections were fine though, for the journey across Bristol and home: Then What? from the Quaballah Steppers and Elevator Music 5 from Jah Wobble.
Wednesday was, as they say, another day. Though it did mostly consist of what feels to have been a very successful client meeting. Perhaps I can relax now, and come to terms with being 0x31 tomorrow.
Well, here on Friday evening, I’m still knackered and uninspired so this will be disjointed. WhatEVar.
Last Friday,
ramtops and I struggled across the country in an overloaded Thaab to kalunina‘s new flat in Norwich, doing the whole parental support thang of supplying missing bits, setting up broadband/WiFi and cable telly, shopping and, in my case, putting up bogroll holder, bathroom mirror, shelves, clothes hanger poles and curtain rails. This last was a little bizarre as part way through (Mac and Clare were out shopping at the time), Maurice - the entity Mac refers to as “the first Mr Jordan” - turned up and we ended up collaborating in the wielding of power tools in quite a comfortably social way. Not that we’ve ever not got along, just the Clare has Two Dads bit amused me somewhat. After Maurice went home, we all ate Thai and watched Moulin Rouge, which I’ve never actually seen before and loved for its glorious over-the-topness. ramtops wasn’t as impressed, at first viewing at least, but in her wonderful way has since bought me the two-disk special edition, which was nice :)Anyhow, Clare’s now comfortably ensconced; further developments in her living space are her responsibility for a couple of months at least. And we’re not ever going to make the mistake of driving over on a Friday again. A11 from Thetford to Norwich on a weekday afternoon: Just Say No.
We drove home on Sunday and collapsed like things that collapse. Monday was pretty much a total dead loss for working, but the day brightened considerably with the evening arrival of
purpleperil to share spaghetti and metaballs, and a bowl of Mac’s lethal chocolate moooose! We sat up talking about, well, just about everything (and quite possibly you too) until sometime gone midnight when the purple one got into her hire car and headed off back Chippenham-ward. It was a very fine evening indeed, and an excellent counter to the various stresses of the weekend. Thanks, Sally! Must do it again soon.Tuesday, I had a ticket for The Smith Quartet at St George’s. Just me, as
ramtops didn’t fancy a night of Steve Reich and similar. It was an excellent night; a string quartet sandwiched inside my iPod, which served up Happiness from the Blue Nile, Mamie is Blue from Faust and Poj, Tsygane from Belarus via Pjotr Leschenko on the way into town.The Smith Quartet were superb, giving us:
Steve Reich - Duet
James Barrett - Stato d’Animo (premiere)
Steve Reich - Triple Quartet
before the interval. Duet was a wonderful opening, the musicians performing seamlessly with their own prerecorded selves for the extra viola and cello parts, but probably the highlight of the evening was the new James Barrett. It really was stunningly (and, in places, foot-tappingly :) good and clearly the musicians thought so as well - it’s a sign of something being right when the performers are so obviously loving what they’re doing; I’m actually smiling now just from the memory. My only regret is that I can’t sit down and hear the thing again: I can only hope that the performance was recorded. Barrett himself was there for the premiere and took a deserved bow.
The third piece, the Triple Quartet didn’t engage me in comparison - perfectly listenable, but nothing more. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt though, at least until I listen to it again, as it’s a complex work that may just require a bit more application. I bought the Quartet’s CD of all three Reich works, so I may report back soon.
After the interval, we were given:
Steve Reich - Different Trains
which is a whole different class of entity. Inspired by both Reich’s own experiences crossing the US by train as a child from 1939 to 1942 (after his parents separated), and the contemporaneous train journeys his fellow Jews were forced to across shadowed Europe, it’s a powerful and moving work that left the audience sitting in silence for long seconds before finally bursting into applause. Not easy listening, but powerful and profound, and thought-provoking.
An encore to follow that is hard, as they said on finally returning to play;
Arvo Pärt - Summa
was a good choice, and a likewise fine ending to the evening before I returned to the car. My iPod offered me Jeff Beck, Prince and (got to respect the music of) Frank Sinatra, none of which felt at all appropriate. The next two random selections were fine though, for the journey across Bristol and home: Then What? from the Quaballah Steppers and Elevator Music 5 from Jah Wobble.
Wednesday was, as they say, another day. Though it did mostly consist of what feels to have been a very successful client meeting. Perhaps I can relax now, and come to terms with being 0x31 tomorrow.
no subject
The rest sounds ... well, I feel for you. Utterly knackering.
no subject
As to other events, all comments elsewhere apply...