As I was reading my music history textbook this evening, I made an interesting discovery.
In the middle ages, the dissonant tritone was avoided in composition. It came to be known as the diabolus in musica. Literally, "devil in music."
The way I was taught in ear training class to "hear" a tritone is by singing The Simpsons theme song.
Coincidence?
I couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
On a More Exciting Note
I realize that my recent school-related posts have sounded fairly cynical.
Yes, school has been a bit stressful, but it has also brought with it exciting things.
Number one on the list is the new piece I've just started.
Oh, it's so haunting, exciting, beautiful, mysterious, and a lot more adjectives that I've yet to discover!
(I'm coming to realize that difficult is among that list!)
I've attached a video of the piece. Come on, now, it's under 7 minutes. And I can promise you won't be more stupid after it!
(And in case you're wondering, it's the first movement of Sonata no. 2 by Prokofiev.)
Yes, school has been a bit stressful, but it has also brought with it exciting things.
Number one on the list is the new piece I've just started.
Oh, it's so haunting, exciting, beautiful, mysterious, and a lot more adjectives that I've yet to discover!
(I'm coming to realize that difficult is among that list!)
I've attached a video of the piece. Come on, now, it's under 7 minutes. And I can promise you won't be more stupid after it!
(And in case you're wondering, it's the first movement of Sonata no. 2 by Prokofiev.)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Burden Is Lifted
After a few long days of shouldering 25 pounds of textbooks, notebooks, piano literature, lunch, etc., and carrying a very conspicuous little suitcase with my "new" clarinet, I have finally received a locker!
*This is where I would like to insert the biggest smiley face ever!*
I am truly thankful.
Additionally, I'm thankful to be surviving the first week of school fairly well. There have been a few mix-ups, to say the least, but the end is in sight.
The end of the week, that is.
:)
As a side note, I'm LOVING practicing again!
Oh, and get this: my easiest class this semester is statistics. Did your face just get all scrunched because you're totally confused? No, no, this doesn't mean I've suddenly become a whiz at math (those sorts of miracles do not happen), it only means that my other classes are more challenging and more time-consuming. In fact, I've dropped my online class, because I just wouldn't have been able to do it all.
Oh, how confused the students in my statistics class must have been when I walked into the engineering building - hunched over like a turtle, backpack weighing me down, clarinet case in hand - huffing and puffing after my 10-minute hike, trying desperately to move into a small stadium seat for the 50-minute class period.
No more, my friends. This kid's got a locker!
And everyone rejoiced!
(Hey, at least my metronome wasn't going off, too!)
*This is where I would like to insert the biggest smiley face ever!*
I am truly thankful.
Additionally, I'm thankful to be surviving the first week of school fairly well. There have been a few mix-ups, to say the least, but the end is in sight.
The end of the week, that is.
:)
As a side note, I'm LOVING practicing again!
Oh, and get this: my easiest class this semester is statistics. Did your face just get all scrunched because you're totally confused? No, no, this doesn't mean I've suddenly become a whiz at math (those sorts of miracles do not happen), it only means that my other classes are more challenging and more time-consuming. In fact, I've dropped my online class, because I just wouldn't have been able to do it all.
Oh, how confused the students in my statistics class must have been when I walked into the engineering building - hunched over like a turtle, backpack weighing me down, clarinet case in hand - huffing and puffing after my 10-minute hike, trying desperately to move into a small stadium seat for the 50-minute class period.
No more, my friends. This kid's got a locker!
And everyone rejoiced!
(Hey, at least my metronome wasn't going off, too!)
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