Dreamways

"The Return of the Sweet Dreamer.“ These poignant words headline an article about pop singer Annie Lennox (Jon Pareles, The New York Times, 30 Sep 07). The article was prompted by the release of Ms Lennox‘s new album and its promotional concert tour. Appropriately enough, the article touches upon aspects of Dreamfulness.

Friday evening I had the pleasure of seeing and hearing the self-described "post-folk band from Latvia“, IĻĢI at Denver’s folk music bastion, Swallow Hill folk music center. This Latvia-based group, alive and kicking for 26 years, has been at the forefront of keeping Latvian folk music alive. In contrast to other ensambles that interpret the vast Latvian folk song repertoire in traditional styles, Iļģi have made it their challenge to transform this folk tradition into something living and evolving, rather than a museum piece.

This movie is a stunningly beautiful visualization of an amazing event that occurred on a battlefield in France at the beginning of World War I. This “war to end all wars” had as one of its ghastly features massive armies facing each other for months on end in well-fortified street-like systems of trenches, miserable home for hundreds of thousands of military personnel. Each side literally dug in and hunkered down, living an emotional yoyo between massive stretches of confined boredom and the terror of being shot at or bombed. Trench warfare was about military stalemate.

Piano Pieces by Russell Sherman. "Music, most immune from the sophistry of matter, must yet defend its license to be. To be nothing but a tissue of dreams, epiphanies, and ideals. Yet without the hearth of a reasonable and soaring language, music becomes but a code for the initiated and a commodity for the many. For the young practiioner it becomes a ladder to respectability, a career option, an exercise in pleasing the warlords and gourmands of the profession.  read more »

This was perhaps my sixth viewing of this movie by Sherman Alexie. I've had very strong emotional responses to this film in the past. As the story of a fellow outsidered in all venues of his life, this movie has always felt particularly relevant to my own story. However, last night's viewing felt less evocative than in the past.

This movie is a documentary about rather creative, but at times very unbalanced, artist, singer-songwriter, Daniel Johnston. The devil in his life, looking at it from outside his head, is the instability caused by what many would call bipolar disorder. It is fascinating, how much of his life has been captured as he lived it on video / film, as well as on audio, by himself and by others. There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of such documentation, but it feels peculiar, for instance, to hear the voice of his mother on tape as she is chewing him out.

Piano Lesson. Steve guided and supported me as I walked through all of the Liszt finding patterns. It is so amazing to me, to finally be able to speak the language of theory fluently enough to be able to do this. And I really do have the entire piece!

Steve talked about how surprised he was at the Salon to hear that I have gained coherence regarding Chopin’s Valse Brillante. Some door opened for me, whereby I allow myself to use Chopin’s notes to express my inner world. Also understanding the piece as deeply paradoxical and disturbing, not as „nice.“

The Piano Salon felt successful to me. Pianists in attendance (and performance) were myself, Steve L., Donald, Brad, Steve (Steve’s student), Rachel (Donald’s student), F.

I opened the Salon talking about Madeline’s absence, evoking the Safety and Friendly atmosphere that I hope the Salon will be.

In an hour and a half or so, the third Piano Salon will occur, here at our loft. F received an email from Madeline today, explaining that she will not be attending, that it is all feeling overwhelming, that her nerves are not up to the challenge. This is so sad for me to hear. It is like the Prussian Music Fuhrer has succeeded in intimidating sweet Madeline. This is exactly the dynamic that I hope to subvert with our Salons.

I met with D yesterday. We talked and lunched (curly haired painter Jasper joined us for eats), and rehearsed today’s script. The drive to and from Perry Park was autumnally beautiful, with changing leaves providing moments of gorgeous color. Coming back it rained in varying intensities all the way to Sedalia, giving that gentle valley a certain peaceful ease.