If the thought/action warrants it, yes.
"Never compose anything unless the not composing of it becomes a positive nuisance to you."
~Gustav Holst
![The View From My Desk.
The last few months of the school year are always the most cathartic ones. Cliché as it is, I can’t help looking out through the window, on this snippet of Amsterdam (Tenth) Avenue between 60th and 61st Streets, with this tease of a view of the Hudson River on the lower left, and see what I’ve taken for granted for the last eight or nine months. I can’t help looking back at the turbulence I’ve gone through in those months, finding my place in this city that never sleeps.
Here I am, during this over-extended stay of mine in McMahon Hall. With my roommates and suitemates gone or in the process of leaving, I find myself staring at the once-adorned walls with my what used to be 7M this year. I realize how much I’ve grown attached to this place and actually, but slowly, find my place in New York City. Funny how last summer, I wanted to leave so badly. And during the first few months of being here, I yearned going back almost too much, overcome by homesickness. And now, really, I don’t want to leave yet. I think I’ve grown to learn how to let life lead the way. Let it do its thing for me. Let it show my way. In six days, I’ll be home. I can’t wait to be home. As I look out my window, while I pack my stuff, I can, with a sigh of relief, pack the memories of this year away, as well (sappy cheese, bleh).
To not sound a Hallmark card: it’s Back to New York [moving up to the Bronx, not Manhattan] in the fall.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m435qnKTze1qd1ivxo1_1280.png)
The View From My Desk.
The last few months of the school year are always the most cathartic ones. Cliché as it is, I can’t help looking out through the window, on this snippet of Amsterdam (Tenth) Avenue between 60th and 61st Streets, with this tease of a view of the Hudson River on the lower left, and see what I’ve taken for granted for the last eight or nine months. I can’t help looking back at the turbulence I’ve gone through in those months, finding my place in this city that never sleeps.
Here I am, during this over-extended stay of mine in McMahon Hall. With my roommates and suitemates gone or in the process of leaving, I find myself staring at the once-adorned walls with my what used to be 7M this year. I realize how much I’ve grown attached to this place and actually, but slowly, find my place in New York City. Funny how last summer, I wanted to leave so badly. And during the first few months of being here, I yearned going back almost too much, overcome by homesickness. And now, really, I don’t want to leave yet. I think I’ve grown to learn how to let life lead the way. Let it do its thing for me. Let it show my way. In six days, I’ll be home. I can’t wait to be home. As I look out my window, while I pack my stuff, I can, with a sigh of relief, pack the memories of this year away, as well (sappy cheese, bleh).
To not sound a Hallmark card: it’s Back to New York [moving up to the Bronx, not Manhattan] in the fall.
Vanderbilt Melodores | 2011 ICCA Wild Card
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I have no words for this.
Except that is what every group should strive for.
- Simplistic arrangement.
- Excellent fashion statement.
- Synchronized choreography.
Tentative schedule next semester.
Pretty much done with core classes after this semester. :D But I feel like I’m screwing myself over on Mondays and Thursdays with that 8:30 and 10. And only one music class. :( Even worse, it’s music history, again.
But hey, Wednesdays and Fridays off.
How to Love | DELILAH
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OK. Let’s be real. The main reason why I love this cover and them so much is because of that super low contralto. OMG.
She’s going down to hella bass town. As in A♭2 and B♭2. More than two octaves below Middle C (C4). And you can hear it!
That and they’re an all-girl group. :D And they’re harmonies and solos were on point.
But, again, let’s be real. That alto. Or I should say, female bass. Sure, it’s special for a soprano to go super high. It’s even more special for an alto to go that low.
No One | Emory University AHANA a cappella
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There has never been a better a cappella cover of this song since this came out four years ago, in my opinion. The arrangement is subdued, and it’s simplicity makes for the better in this case. There are no wannabe-Mariah and Christina riffs, or attempts to do as such. All the voices are true to themselves, and oh. my. freaking. gosh, they blend so perfectly well together. I think the soloist is perfect. The harmonies are perfect.
And, can we take a second to comment on those acoustics? Forreal! I would give anything to sing in such a resonating acoustic environment (That is, unless those are microphones or audio editing).
From The History Boys.
This play… This play is so on point. So poignant. Easily relatable. (With Scripps). (But it’s not a family play). No wonder it got a Pulitzer.
You know, I thought I’d be all hyped up to go back to school. And I am. I even turned my whole outlook on school upside down within 2 weeks. But again, I find myself reluctant and hesitant. This is the third time I’ve been home since the school year started.
I’m about to head to the airport. And I have that nauseating butterflies-in-my-stomach feeling. I really can’t prevent it, can’t I?
It’s not that I don’t want to go back to school. No, not this time. It’s about me leaving everything that I’m used to. It’s about leaving home. And leaving my family. And leaving my friends. And even leaving my car.
It’s partially because I’m the only one I know who’s from Sacramento who goes to Fordham. I feel like I’d be better leaving if someone I know were to go with me. There’s the problem.
I want to bring all of Sacramento to New York. Gosh, I feel like Patrick Star now…
Nothing in the big city reminds me of the city of trees. Besides, well, the trees.
Anyway. Life…
A lot’s happened. Yes. A lot.
For me, it’s a new year. And a new decade. Holla at being 20. But in one short month of being back at school, I feel much better about being away from home. I think I can go as far as saying that I think I’ve moved on.
In contrast to being extremely disconnected at school last semester and this constant and perpetual yearning for what I really missed the most, I think I’ve filled what felt like this massive void in my life.
I can say that I have control over what I want know; I have control over where I want my life to go. I think that’s the new year doing it.
——-
- I turned 20.
Part of that felt like I needed to act my age and quit nitpicking at every single thing that was wrong with what I saw. I don’t even know why I didn’t realize that last year. That, and I feel like being away from home for this long has taught me me just that.
- I went on the Fresh-Vision retreat.
In retrospect, I should have done that in the beginning of the school year. I still think I wouldn’t have changed that experience for a bit. For me, that was the turning point of my school year. During that weekend, I solidified some of the decisions that I wanted to make at the time. And I met new people. Good people. Great friends. I felt like I actually belonged at Fordham.
- I got more involved.
After going on retreat, I made it a point to spend more time at Rose Hill, the other campus, which, in my opinion, is honestly where I’ve been wanting to be. It’s not urban, and everyone knows I’m not an urban person. I got sick of the gray (but that was just the surface value of what I felt). Honestly, if there were one reason why I liked Rose Hill better than Lincoln Center, it would be that it looked and felt so much like Jesuit. So, voluntarily, I practically quadrupled my schedule, that now I spend my nights in the Bronx. Band on Mondays and Thursdays; Filipino Club (FUPAC) and Praise & Worship on Wednesdays.
- I actually have music classes this semester.
Chromatic Harmony and Broadway Musicals could not make my freshman year any more defined. I freaking love Dr. Ott. He is amazingly awkward that it’s so hilarious. LOL, but really, he’s the best. I got involved in his Composer Workshop on Friday: meaning that I have to compose something for String Quartet by the end of next month (not too excited about that). And Dr. Stempel and his class is really interesting.
- I applied for an internal transfer to Rose Hill and got accepted.
Like that wasn’t going to happen. I had that planned since the middle of last semester. But I’m excited to feel great about everything.
- I’m starting an a cappella group here at Lincoln Center.
It’s not that I didn’t completely appreciate my time so far at Lincoln Center. It’s a great thrill to live in the city. It’s a great opportunity in such an iconic place. But I’ve found that within this campus of actors and dancers (pretty much), my place is in this type of performing. I love a cappella music, as pretty much everyone else in the world knows. So, nothing else would be extremely happy. And I don’t mind commuting next year from the Bronx.
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This’ll get annoying real quick. But something in me is making me feel guilty about transferring to the Bronx. I actually am starting to assimilate even more here in Lincoln Center. More and more people here have made some lasting impressions in my head. I love my teachers. I couldn’t have asked for better roommates. I’m starting to actually love the city.
I hate doing this “in retrospect” thing. But God leads us to where we need to be and where we will flourish, right? Here’s to looking forward to the best.
Cells Planets | cover by SEDONA ACADEMY of CHAMBER SINGERS
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OK. I love this song. I’ll just put that up front. Possibly the best crossover choral arrangement ever. Good for you, Vince Peterson. Thank you, Chanticleer, for singing this first and introducing this to the world.
Anyway,
Notable je ne sais quoi about this cover:
- It’s actually a really good version in a half step above (G♭ major) the actual key of the arrangement (F major). (Chanticleer’s was in E major).
- They have good enough basses to support the whole a cappella sound.
- The dops were clear and flawless. The two soloists compliment each other really well.
- Measures 46-49 (3:10-3:28) | The tenor soloist takes over the lyric, and then both soloists harmonize on measure 49. Genius! and Flawless!
- Measures 55-59a (3:55-4:10) | The soloists take care of the lyric, no soprano and bass doubles. It’s more intimate that way.
- The solo ad lib section becomes a duet! And it’s good. And that/those tenor(s) who’s hitting those full-fledged tenor Cs (C5) at that point during their countermelody… I envy them.
- That C6 kiss and riff at measure 73 (5:07-5:08)! Ugh! So perfect.
I’m being a choral geek again. Sorry. I could go on and on and on and on about this song and how freaking perfect and eargasmic it is.
