I played the cello last night

I played the cello last night.

I had a cello lesson last night in the backroom of a music store near my house. It is a small shop crammed full of fascinating instruments. If I have time before my lesson I stand in front of the singing bowl rack, hitting the variously-sized singing bowls with the little hitter things, wishing I had spare money for a couple, and a few other things. I wonder if it drives the woman who runs the shop crazy, or if she is used to it.

The backroom is the most crammed-full room in the store, with lots of merchandise boxed on shelves and a carpet on the floor, and just enough room for my teacher to hold lessons. I couldn’t say if the acoustics are good there, or bad, although I supposed if they were terrible she wouldn’t be holding lessons there.

I have been learning a cello sonata by Benedetto Marcello. We sat there last night, playing it, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t sound beautiful.

Not just better than the previous lessons. It sounded really nice.

I always low-ball and so on but I had to smile while we played and think, this is what I have been taking lessons for ten years for.

Twelve years, whatever.

Although, it wasn’t actually why I took lessons. I took up the cello thinking I might learn something about the cello, and appreciate music better; get a peek through the window into the House of Music or something.

I thought I’d try it for a few years and give it up.

So it wasn’t exactly the attainment of a goal last night, it was more like a pure, unexpected bonus, that blessed little moment.

I would have hugged my teacher afterwards, but the room was small and I didn’t want to knock over a cello or freak out my teacher.

So, yes, despite jetlag and so on, I played the cello last night.

Thanks, Alena.

Thanks, Uncle Phil.

Thanks, Ruth.

Thanks, family.

Thanks, friends.

Thanks, life.

Metropolis

Alpha and I watched Metropolis at the Konzerthaus in Vienna last night, while a 66-piece orchestra played the music. It was neat. I didn’t fall asleep once. Metropolis was shortened rather drastically after release, and the original version was lost, I guess. The film was (IIRC) restored in 2001. Then a longer version was discovered in Argentina, so it was restored again. The Argentine version was, however, only 16mm so there are quality and cropping issues. The discovery of the longer version also made it possible to restore the score, pretty much, which had also been incomplete.

Or something.

I should be a journalist, shouldn’t I.

We will be seeing a few more silent films with live music at the Konzerthaus, we bought a subscription. I really like the idea of composing film music, so I am looking forward to seeing them.

Best-selling metamorphosism blog book progress report

Have completed initial rough editingĀ  (i.e. cutting code-like stuff and hopeless posts) from 1865-2006. Bugging me how many posts got truncated in moves/exports/migrations/??? Without fail, if there is a comment such as, “That last paragraph was the best thing you ever wrote,” the last paragraph is missing.

The perfect way to spend St. Patrick’s Day

Watch the music videos Gamma and I have made:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE6D425DBE5B6623E

Maybe don’t watch them all at once. They could, potentially, get a little monotonous. Gamma thinks maybe I ought to try a little structure.

Stasis Man

I miss my kids. I miss the one in Australia most, because she is so far away. I hope she is doing well.

I miss the other one less, because I see her every day, but I still miss her when she’s not around.

I love those guys.

I was at a party. A friend said, hey you got a haircut.

Yeah you like it, I said.

It looks good, she said. Half poet, half Nazi.

Okay, I said.

I love my friends too. Three people sent me links via various media to the badgermin when I asked for theremin design suggestions.

I was going on about a middle rail in the freeway lanes for electric cars to Gamma again today. It would eliminate the need for big batteries, I said, which is the only way electric cars will ever be affordable. She said I should tell someone, so I’m telling you.

I was thinking about Teh BUg. I liked that comic, but I don’t feel buglike anymore.

I dunno.

Maybe I should do a different comic strip. Stasis Man! A superhero who thinks he’s glued to the wall.

My cello teacher sorta scolded me about not knowing the circle of fifths yet, so I’m reading up on that.

Reading up. It’s like, half a page. Depending on the size of the picture of the circle of fifths.

Stasis Man!

Teenaged beach blanket vampire

(Gamma surprised me twice in connection with this song, first by letting me talk her into recording the vocals, and then again by taking the lyrics and recording a completely different version with a friend.)

Goldschmutz Death Valley

January 17th is Art’s Birthday. I doubt I will get anything else done in time, so here is my present to art. Happy Birthday, Art.

The film is footage from the Prelinger Archives, again. The soundtrack consists of an altered (slowed-down) drum track, Jomox T-Resonator, and electric cello run through various effect devices.