A Revelation; Perhaps Simple
This weekend was good. I mean, I think the chatters phrase "meh" works well. I finally got to do my Palladin quest in EQ2, paid bills, etc. I saw a movie this weekend. Through my lifetime I have seen 3 types of movies. They are "bad" movies (EX: Papirazzi & Club Dread), "okay" movies (EX: Blade & Finding Nemo) and finally "recommended viewing" (EX: Saving Private Ryan & Phantom of the Opera). I really can't stand when someone says a movie is good because it sets a precedent. A movie that is recommended is one that is worth 2 hours of your life to view and experience. Perhaps you will hate it, but its worth seeing. That is up for discussion because what is worth seeing is relative. So am I tricking myself here? At least the term along with a brief (and brief I mean in the strictest of sense (EX: The Pianist; movie about a Jewish pianist in his struggle to survive in German occupied Waraw.)) is is neutral in emotion but offers the filter that this movie is not crap. *sigh* My head hurts because I realize the hint of relative perspective killing my argument. I viewed a movie this weekend called "Zelary". It is recommended viewing. In Czech with English subtitles, it is the story of a woman and her escape from the Gestapo into the arms of an unexpected love. It strikes me how I live and have lived life almost exclusively addressing my feelings and those whom I love dearest. I think, I love, I breath, I feel. How much do I understand that everyone around me does the same? And that revelation blows my mind. At the same time that it makes me feel incredibly small, it lifts a huge burden off me. When I imagine my friends working, talking and driving home alone: they are thinking about random things like I do. I think I come closest to emotionally understanding this concept with my wife. So if everyone feels the same ways (roughly and with exceptions), then I realize the huge potential humanity has for progress whether it be philosophically, scientifically, or artistically. This idea that my parents love, feel, think, and breath also illuminates my relationship with them. I can't say that I suddenly have a perfect understanding, but it puts their actions, the motives and other things that happen in perspective to my own wishes and thoughts. One day I will be them and my children will be me and they will think the same way. Or will they? My guess is yes because this would explain the huge gap between teens and parents when it comes to communication and understanding. I have begun to play my piano. Its a humble start. I have played before off and on, but not seriously and outside of jamming with the rock band. I haven't sat down and practiced for a while either. Teaching this fella piano has reinvigored this desire to play. I have brought revived some old and new music. The piano needs to be tuned, and the keys need to be refinished, but the sound of the old piano is mature and the action is fair. In no particular order:- Sinding - Rustle of Spring
- Sibelious - Romance
- Chopin - 3 Polonaises, a Nocturne and a Sonata
- Rachmoninoff - Etude
- Beethoven - Sonata
- Schumann - Impromptu
- Czerny - 8 Measure Studies
- Scales!
posted by FM Hradek @ 2/07/2005 03:32:00 PM
2 Comments:
OH! OH OH! Great post, I'm gonna comment at greater length, but for right now I have to do homework... so, in a little while. :-)
First off, nice writing! Good point about movies. I agree about the middle category, usually people divide their consumption into "liked it" or "hated it," but with any media that can be an art form (all media?), there will always be Bruckheimers (D), Spielbergs(B-), and Gilliams (A+). And yes, that scale is subjective. I think any art should [note: subjective "should"] probably be gauged by what state it puts the viewer/participant in, be it bored nausea (Bruckheimer), satisfied thoughtfulness (Spielberg), or electrified wonder (Gilliam). I will try and find Zelary, it sounds intriguing!
The next subject of your post is are-eh-dee RAD. Did you see "I [heart] Huckabees?" It's kinda about that. I loved that movie, and if you haven't seen it it's definitely recommended. I think it comes out on DVD soemtime soon here. Feb 22, just looked it up. Anyway, I think that does explain a huge gap between teens & parents; teens only know one side of the game. Hm. Heavy stuff.
I'm SO VERY happy you're playing the piano. Perhaps next time I'm there I'll bring my tuning wrench again... though it is in Tacoma, hm, we'll see how the itinerary works out, whenever it finally does. Anyway, which Ratchmanikoff etude? & Which Beethoven Sonata? I know what you mean about the concertos. I wanted to play one of those, too, but I have to get back into better shape before that can happen. I brought 8 books of sheet music up: the 21st Mozart concerto, the Beethoven sonatas, Chopin Etudes, Ballades & Scherzi, Liszt Technical Exercises, and the Rachmaninoff Prel's & Et's. I'm right now in the phase of brushing up the Mozart concerto, because paying close attention to note lengths and finger mechanics as stylistically required really seems to get my fingers in shape fast. I've been trying to think about a big project; I'm thinking a late Beethoven sonata, and definitely something bigger, grander. Like, probably the Beet. op. 106 or 109 and uhhhhhh a scherzo? Or maybe I'll go to the sheet music library and have Hava check out something for me. Dunno yet. But it feels so good! Thinking hard about music is the greatest thing in the world, yes? Ahhhh. Keep us updated! And how was/is teaching?
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