The Internet has made many things possible that were but dreams in days long gone.
It's also ruined the drama inherent in such productions as the Oscars or the Grammys.
Three hours before the event even starts on the very coast that hosts the extravaganza, all over social networks such as FaceBook there are blurbs about who won what.
The worst offender?
The Grammys FaceBook page, itself. It is duty bound to publish every nuance of every performance and presentation. Three hours before we get to see it for ourselves.
This is a case of technology missing the boat.
Missing it? More like sinking it.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
What A Tool - Band In A Box
While technology can be impersonal, daunting & sterile - sometimes it actually does offer mankind a new way of doing something. Improving our lot as humans.
Band In A Box is one such technological application.
- I can scratch chords out and have the program act as a complete band allowing me to hear what I wrote immediately and rather than being a bad representation it sounds like a full arrangement...live musicians.
- I can write notes to a melody line and have the program fill in the chord - IE do the comping for me.
- I can import audio and treat or edit it within BB.
- Transpose from any key to any other.
- Mark a section as the chorus and have the program automatically repeat the chorus where and when I specify.
- Have the program suggest chords for the introduction to the tune.
- It will print anything within the program - your score, your lyrics over the score, & chord charts.
- It also has some bells I don't need, but others might find useful - Ear Training Game - Guitar Tuner - Dynamic Drum Kit et cetera.
The list goes on for a long, long time, The manual is close to four hundred pages. When was the last time you bought software and actually received a comprehensive manual?
Let me qualify that - when was the last time you bought a hundred dollar program and received a comprehensive manual?
It is very reasonably priced. The upgrades are the inclusion of real musicians that were sampled for use. Real Drummer being one.
Prior to BB I had one program for notation and composition, one that would take the score and transform it to a MIDI file for use by other programs. Then I had a program for drums, one for mixing and then another to record and make a final mix down. A program that would capture live playing and transcribe the score. An interactive phrase sampler. And of course - I had more than one type of program for each usage. The better to take advantage of all the different software features available.
If nothing else - BB has cleaned my hard drive considerably.
Seriously - this is technology well used.
Band In A Box is one such technological application.
- I can scratch chords out and have the program act as a complete band allowing me to hear what I wrote immediately and rather than being a bad representation it sounds like a full arrangement...live musicians.
- I can write notes to a melody line and have the program fill in the chord - IE do the comping for me.
- I can import audio and treat or edit it within BB.
- Transpose from any key to any other.
- Mark a section as the chorus and have the program automatically repeat the chorus where and when I specify.
- Have the program suggest chords for the introduction to the tune.
- It will print anything within the program - your score, your lyrics over the score, & chord charts.
- It also has some bells I don't need, but others might find useful - Ear Training Game - Guitar Tuner - Dynamic Drum Kit et cetera.
The list goes on for a long, long time, The manual is close to four hundred pages. When was the last time you bought software and actually received a comprehensive manual?
Let me qualify that - when was the last time you bought a hundred dollar program and received a comprehensive manual?
It is very reasonably priced. The upgrades are the inclusion of real musicians that were sampled for use. Real Drummer being one.
Prior to BB I had one program for notation and composition, one that would take the score and transform it to a MIDI file for use by other programs. Then I had a program for drums, one for mixing and then another to record and make a final mix down. A program that would capture live playing and transcribe the score. An interactive phrase sampler. And of course - I had more than one type of program for each usage. The better to take advantage of all the different software features available.
If nothing else - BB has cleaned my hard drive considerably.
Seriously - this is technology well used.
I cannot recommend this highly enough - good job PG!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thank God For YouTube
As kids learning to play guitar, how did any of us learn contemporary songs?
Tribal knowledge.
We passed the techniques and riffs along from one to another. Mates at school, rivals, friends - it didn't matter; all would sit and trade riffs in order to learn something new. That's what took place at jam sessions. We were teaching each other the art of our craft.
Youtube is making that somewhat passé.
Today I had an audition for a local band.
One of the songs on the set list is 'Hey Joe' - Jimi Hendrix. I had always played this song ala Deep Purple. Their arrangement is a Spanish/Flaminco opening that dissolves into the classic song.
Hmmmm...Corky is no longer around to show me a song I need...now. I mean right now!
We have a second audition set for Tuesday.
I went on YouTube and found exactly what I needed. I mean precisely what I needed.
An English gentleman takes 3:11 to show you how to play the entire intro. He breaks it down into easily digested bits. I have this down, now. Tuesday should be a slam dunk.
Now I am both gladdened that such a wonderful source exists as a repository for all things musical and also saddened that the ritual of sitting around in a circle while playing, 'Down By The River' is fading from use.
Unlike the great Library in Alexandria, you needn't leave your home to have access to all the knowledge this Earth has to offer.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Tangent:
Incredibly dismissed and little credited group - The Carpenters.
She had a voice with a rich tone and great range. That they did many covers is a testament to crummy management, not a lack of talent. The few 'original' songs they released were actually very good.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this opinion.
I also like Tom Jones - sue me.
Tribal knowledge.
We passed the techniques and riffs along from one to another. Mates at school, rivals, friends - it didn't matter; all would sit and trade riffs in order to learn something new. That's what took place at jam sessions. We were teaching each other the art of our craft.
Youtube is making that somewhat passé.
Today I had an audition for a local band.
One of the songs on the set list is 'Hey Joe' - Jimi Hendrix. I had always played this song ala Deep Purple. Their arrangement is a Spanish/Flaminco opening that dissolves into the classic song.
Hmmmm...Corky is no longer around to show me a song I need...now. I mean right now!
We have a second audition set for Tuesday.
I went on YouTube and found exactly what I needed. I mean precisely what I needed.
An English gentleman takes 3:11 to show you how to play the entire intro. He breaks it down into easily digested bits. I have this down, now. Tuesday should be a slam dunk.
Now I am both gladdened that such a wonderful source exists as a repository for all things musical and also saddened that the ritual of sitting around in a circle while playing, 'Down By The River' is fading from use.
Unlike the great Library in Alexandria, you needn't leave your home to have access to all the knowledge this Earth has to offer.
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Tangent:
Incredibly dismissed and little credited group - The Carpenters.
She had a voice with a rich tone and great range. That they did many covers is a testament to crummy management, not a lack of talent. The few 'original' songs they released were actually very good.
I know I'm going to get flamed for this opinion.
I also like Tom Jones - sue me.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Customer Service
When was the last time you received a thank you note for a purchase you made?
A hand written note thanking you for you patronage.
I spent $100, it's not as though I singlehandedly revived the local economy. And yet Styles Music of Pomona thought enough to take the time and thank me.
I adore good service. Customer Support is worth its' weight in gold.
So the next band I join will be sending thank you cards to attendees of shows. It's the very least we can do for the people that support us.
New Music:
James Maddock is the new Van Morrison. I absolutely love his music. He speaks of things we all feel in such a way as to elicit strong reactions. I can't stop singing his songs.
Anouar Brahem's new album, 'The Amazing Eyes of Rita' is evocative of early Weather Report. There is something in his tonal palette that causes my mind to be still.
Corinne Bailey Rae's is 'The Sea.' The death of her husband threw her into a well of darkness that transformed her writing. She went from pop Diva to exposing her pain in a coarse, hard and honest way. The sound is light and fluffy, the words are not. Listen to 'Paris Nights, New York Mornings,' and see what I mean.
01/23/2010 Went back to Styles Music today to pickup a stompbox. When I got it home, I found one of the four switches to be inoperable. The unit takes a special power supply, which I have but was missing from the unit in the store - thus my hefty discount. So I packed the power supply and the stompbox up and went back to Styles.I expected some demonstration of the defect would be in order in order to satisfy all parties of the veracity of my claim
Lou, the proprietor say, "You don't like it? Refund whatever you want, man."
"Lou, it's broken, I believe."
"Okay," he replies and proceeds to depress the switch in question a few times.
"Seems to be intermittent, sometimes it feels as though it's engaging, and other times...".
So I swapped the faulty pedal for another pedal altogether. I really didn't want to replace the faulty one anyway...I needed the other pedal more. Lou plays with the register and all is made right with the world.
That is the type of service that garners customer loyalty of the greatest order.
Have I mentioned that I absolutely despise Guitar Center?
A hand written note thanking you for you patronage.
I spent $100, it's not as though I singlehandedly revived the local economy. And yet Styles Music of Pomona thought enough to take the time and thank me.
I adore good service. Customer Support is worth its' weight in gold.
So the next band I join will be sending thank you cards to attendees of shows. It's the very least we can do for the people that support us.
New Music:
James Maddock is the new Van Morrison. I absolutely love his music. He speaks of things we all feel in such a way as to elicit strong reactions. I can't stop singing his songs.
Anouar Brahem's new album, 'The Amazing Eyes of Rita' is evocative of early Weather Report. There is something in his tonal palette that causes my mind to be still.
Corinne Bailey Rae's is 'The Sea.' The death of her husband threw her into a well of darkness that transformed her writing. She went from pop Diva to exposing her pain in a coarse, hard and honest way. The sound is light and fluffy, the words are not. Listen to 'Paris Nights, New York Mornings,' and see what I mean.
01/23/2010 Went back to Styles Music today to pickup a stompbox. When I got it home, I found one of the four switches to be inoperable. The unit takes a special power supply, which I have but was missing from the unit in the store - thus my hefty discount. So I packed the power supply and the stompbox up and went back to Styles.I expected some demonstration of the defect would be in order in order to satisfy all parties of the veracity of my claim
Lou, the proprietor say, "You don't like it? Refund whatever you want, man."
"Lou, it's broken, I believe."
"Okay," he replies and proceeds to depress the switch in question a few times.
"Seems to be intermittent, sometimes it feels as though it's engaging, and other times...".
So I swapped the faulty pedal for another pedal altogether. I really didn't want to replace the faulty one anyway...I needed the other pedal more. Lou plays with the register and all is made right with the world.
That is the type of service that garners customer loyalty of the greatest order.
Have I mentioned that I absolutely despise Guitar Center?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Too Many Variables
When I received my first electric guitar I had nowhere to plug it in, no amplifier. Friends being what they were back then, I borrowed many amps until the day came when I bought my first.
From there I began to craft my tone. I loved Hendrix, Poco & Santana. I bought a few pedals, but in those early days of electronic stomp boxes there was a dearth of choices.
A Cry Baby Wah, a MXR Distortion + and my Super Six Reverb - I was complete.
I had a thick and creamy tone for Santana and Hendrix and the cleans were crystal clear for Poco.
Almost forty years later I have a collection of amps, four to be precise. Six stomp boxes I no longer use and eight that I currently use everyday. A threesome of guitars.
Too many choices.
The tonality is infinite. And while that is an awesome title for a piece, it can drive a person mad.
Nowadays, every pedal includes some form of equalization, or EQ. A way to affect the tone, by either regular Bass/Treble controls or though levels of boost - of the effect itself.
My Distortion + had a Volume and a Distortion knob and the On/Off switch. The original didn't even have a power indicator.
Look at all the dials and knobs in the picture below.
All this has made the soundman even more important as there is no way to adjust sound in a live setting by reaching down and fiddling with your pedalboard knobs. It's hard enough to position each pedal so that you can easily stomp the On/Off switch let alone knobs and dials that are often on the vertical surface of the pedal in an effort to save space.
From Left to Right - Tuner - EQ - Phase Shifter - Compressor - dropping down to second row - Chorus - OCD - Satchurator - Wah.
From there I began to craft my tone. I loved Hendrix, Poco & Santana. I bought a few pedals, but in those early days of electronic stomp boxes there was a dearth of choices.
A Cry Baby Wah, a MXR Distortion + and my Super Six Reverb - I was complete.
I had a thick and creamy tone for Santana and Hendrix and the cleans were crystal clear for Poco.
Almost forty years later I have a collection of amps, four to be precise. Six stomp boxes I no longer use and eight that I currently use everyday. A threesome of guitars.
Too many choices.
The tonality is infinite. And while that is an awesome title for a piece, it can drive a person mad.
Nowadays, every pedal includes some form of equalization, or EQ. A way to affect the tone, by either regular Bass/Treble controls or though levels of boost - of the effect itself.
My Distortion + had a Volume and a Distortion knob and the On/Off switch. The original didn't even have a power indicator.
Look at all the dials and knobs in the picture below.
All this has made the soundman even more important as there is no way to adjust sound in a live setting by reaching down and fiddling with your pedalboard knobs. It's hard enough to position each pedal so that you can easily stomp the On/Off switch let alone knobs and dials that are often on the vertical surface of the pedal in an effort to save space.
From Left to Right - Tuner - EQ - Phase Shifter - Compressor - dropping down to second row - Chorus - OCD - Satchurator - Wah.
Friday, January 15, 2010
As the Days Grow Longer...My Mind Goes Blank
When I am in the house writing, the tunes tend to be longer and not as pleasing.
When I am wandering about and inspiration hits me, the tunes are short and sweet. Rousing, catchy...easily my better material.
So as the Winter begins to wane my wanderings get longer and the number of tunes that are inspired and not constructed get larger.
Why does inspiration play such a larger role outdoors than inside?
Same boring view inside?
Well, not much changes outside either, same trees, same neighbors and their worlds.
Private musings don't do well in the house. It's hard to concentrate with noise that is close by. By walking I free my mind. Do you sit in the house without making noise or otherwise 'doing' something. I tend to read or I listen to music. But I find it nearly impossible to sit still and do nothing in a chair.
The act of walking allows me to do nothing. Riding my bike allows me to do nothing.
Sitting in the house prevents nothingness!
Why the need to move and accomplish things in the house when none exists outside of the house?
And why do a very few indoor activities allow that mindless 'do-nothingness?'
If I sit in the living room with my guitar, I can just play without thinking about it - similar to taking a walk.
Interruptions are more frequent, though.
I think a lot of it is that my mother spent a lot of time finding things for me to do as a child. Imbued in me the need to remain in motion when indoors.
More balance is needed.
When I am wandering about and inspiration hits me, the tunes are short and sweet. Rousing, catchy...easily my better material.
So as the Winter begins to wane my wanderings get longer and the number of tunes that are inspired and not constructed get larger.
Why does inspiration play such a larger role outdoors than inside?
Same boring view inside?
Well, not much changes outside either, same trees, same neighbors and their worlds.
Private musings don't do well in the house. It's hard to concentrate with noise that is close by. By walking I free my mind. Do you sit in the house without making noise or otherwise 'doing' something. I tend to read or I listen to music. But I find it nearly impossible to sit still and do nothing in a chair.
The act of walking allows me to do nothing. Riding my bike allows me to do nothing.
Sitting in the house prevents nothingness!
Why the need to move and accomplish things in the house when none exists outside of the house?
And why do a very few indoor activities allow that mindless 'do-nothingness?'
If I sit in the living room with my guitar, I can just play without thinking about it - similar to taking a walk.
Interruptions are more frequent, though.
I think a lot of it is that my mother spent a lot of time finding things for me to do as a child. Imbued in me the need to remain in motion when indoors.
More balance is needed.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
St-200 Turbo Tuner
What a marvelous tuner in a stompbox!
- Mutes output when engaged
- Incredibly accurate +/- 0.02 cents
- True Bypass
- Alternate Tunings and Temperaments
- Fastest Tracking I've ever seen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bY9H7ec6_0
Watch the video of the Turbo Tuner head to head against the Peterson Strobe.
It is amazing the way it tracks as the guitarist begins playing the Major Scale.
Faster and faster he plays and while the Peterson balks, the Turbo Tuner continues to accurately track the changes in pitch. All for $60 less than the Peterson and it ships free. They included a skid pad if you don't use a pedal board. This tuner is a must for gigging people.
Disclaimer - I do not work for Sonic Research nor was compensated in any way. I paid retail. I always do.
I just tend to gush over things that please me.
- Mutes output when engaged
- Incredibly accurate +/- 0.02 cents
- True Bypass
- Alternate Tunings and Temperaments
- Fastest Tracking I've ever seen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bY9H7ec6_0
Watch the video of the Turbo Tuner head to head against the Peterson Strobe.
It is amazing the way it tracks as the guitarist begins playing the Major Scale.
Faster and faster he plays and while the Peterson balks, the Turbo Tuner continues to accurately track the changes in pitch. All for $60 less than the Peterson and it ships free. They included a skid pad if you don't use a pedal board. This tuner is a must for gigging people.
Disclaimer - I do not work for Sonic Research nor was compensated in any way. I paid retail. I always do.
I just tend to gush over things that please me.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Broken Bells Part Trois
In case no one looks at the comments posted here, I will repost the second email from representatives for the Broken Bells in it's entirety.
A couple of posts ago I brought out a tune by the Broken Bells called, 'High Road' In my piece was a link to a streaming replay of the song. A day after I posted the piece I received an email from Web-Sheriff asking me to remove the links.I thought the move by them ham handed and said so in my follow up (see below).
Well, lo & behold - a response of a decidedly unexpected nature arrived as a comment today.
It shows someone reads my little corner of this garden and that is gratifying, even if it is the enforcement wing.
It also shows that people make mistakes - this much we should expect...none of us are perfect.
But it's how they react when the mistake is pointed out that defines them.
In this case, Web Sheriff did the right thing.
So we can follow the song title and all take the High Road.
For history: The piece was how I can enjoy a song through the sound of the melody and the lilt of the lyrics without including the content of those words.
This song is angry and dark, but the way the voices drawl, the way the song bounces in beat, sound so different to me. It could almost be a love song, were it not for the words.
Web Sheriffs reply:
WEB SHERIFF said...
WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com
Hey 'E' / MotM,
On behalf of Columbia Records, Monotone and Broken Bells, many thanks for plugging "Broken Bells" / the artists’ eponymous album on your blog (street date 9th March) ... .. and apologies that someone asked you to remove your stream of "The High Road", as this is actually one of the official preview / promo tracks for fans and bloggers to post / host / share etc ahead of release ... .. thanks, also, on behalf of the label, management and artists for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material generally and, if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, then full length versions of "The High Road" (as above) and "Vaporize" are / shall be available to link to / post / host etc at www.brokenbells.com ... .. for further details of the new album, on-line promotions, videos and 2010 shows, check-out the official site, as well as the artists’ MySpace at www.myspace.com/brokenbells and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/brokenbells ... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news, preview material and on-line promotions.
Thanks again for your plug and sorry for the inconvenience.
Regards & All The Best for 2010,
WEB SHERIFF
January 10, 2010 12:05 PM
A couple of posts ago I brought out a tune by the Broken Bells called, 'High Road' In my piece was a link to a streaming replay of the song. A day after I posted the piece I received an email from Web-Sheriff asking me to remove the links.I thought the move by them ham handed and said so in my follow up (see below).
Well, lo & behold - a response of a decidedly unexpected nature arrived as a comment today.
It shows someone reads my little corner of this garden and that is gratifying, even if it is the enforcement wing.
It also shows that people make mistakes - this much we should expect...none of us are perfect.
But it's how they react when the mistake is pointed out that defines them.
In this case, Web Sheriff did the right thing.
So we can follow the song title and all take the High Road.
For history: The piece was how I can enjoy a song through the sound of the melody and the lilt of the lyrics without including the content of those words.
This song is angry and dark, but the way the voices drawl, the way the song bounces in beat, sound so different to me. It could almost be a love song, were it not for the words.
Web Sheriffs reply:
WEB SHERIFF said...
WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com
Hey 'E' / MotM,
On behalf of Columbia Records, Monotone and Broken Bells, many thanks for plugging "Broken Bells" / the artists’ eponymous album on your blog (street date 9th March) ... .. and apologies that someone asked you to remove your stream of "The High Road", as this is actually one of the official preview / promo tracks for fans and bloggers to post / host / share etc ahead of release ... .. thanks, also, on behalf of the label, management and artists for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material generally and, if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, then full length versions of "The High Road" (as above) and "Vaporize" are / shall be available to link to / post / host etc at www.brokenbells.com ... .. for further details of the new album, on-line promotions, videos and 2010 shows, check-out the official site, as well as the artists’ MySpace at www.myspace.com/brokenbells and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/brokenbells ... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news, preview material and on-line promotions.
Thanks again for your plug and sorry for the inconvenience.
Regards & All The Best for 2010,
WEB SHERIFF
January 10, 2010 12:05 PM
Friday, January 8, 2010
Forget Broken Bells
I received an email from their lawyers to remove the link in my piece about the band Broken Bells.
It linked the song, 'High Road,' not for downloading, mind you - for streaming.
I looked this morning and found no less than eleven sites with the song for play...
I'm a musician, I pay for music I want.
I do not encourage downloading content in any manner other than legally.
But if their label won't bother to have the various clips removed from youtube and the other sites it tells me they are just targeting small sites. My blog for instance. I would wager if I had linked youtube instead, I never would have received the threatening email.
Since the record industry has not figured a new way to deliver content they have resorted to suing end users in an effort to send a message.
The trouble is they have lost sight of the audience. Their customers. Bothering the listener and not the pirates who churn out forged CD/DVDs or the sites that provide links to download content is a misguided effort to control distribution.
Forget that.
Here is the email:
WEB SHERIFF has left a new comment on your post "Two Minds With But A Single Thought":
WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com
Hi E,
On behalf of Columbia Records, Monotone and Broken Bells, many thanks for plugging "Broken Bells" / the artists’ eponymous album on your site (street date 9th March) ... thanks, also, on behalf of the label, management and artists for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material and, if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, then full length versions of "The High Road" (as already featured by you) and "Vaporize" are available for fans and bloggers to link to / post / host etc at www.brokenbells.com ... .. for further details of the new album, special pre-orders, on-line promotions, videos and 2010 shows, check-out the official site, as well as the artists’ MySpace at www.myspace.com/brokenbells and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/brokenbells ... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news, preview material and on-line promotions.
Thanks again for your plug.
Regards & Season’s Greetings,
WEB SHERIFF
It linked the song, 'High Road,' not for downloading, mind you - for streaming.
I looked this morning and found no less than eleven sites with the song for play...
I'm a musician, I pay for music I want.
I do not encourage downloading content in any manner other than legally.
But if their label won't bother to have the various clips removed from youtube and the other sites it tells me they are just targeting small sites. My blog for instance. I would wager if I had linked youtube instead, I never would have received the threatening email.
Since the record industry has not figured a new way to deliver content they have resorted to suing end users in an effort to send a message.
The trouble is they have lost sight of the audience. Their customers. Bothering the listener and not the pirates who churn out forged CD/DVDs or the sites that provide links to download content is a misguided effort to control distribution.
Forget that.
Here is the email:
WEB SHERIFF has left a new comment on your post "Two Minds With But A Single Thought":
WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com
Hi E,
On behalf of Columbia Records, Monotone and Broken Bells, many thanks for plugging "Broken Bells" / the artists’ eponymous album on your site (street date 9th March) ... thanks, also, on behalf of the label, management and artists for not posting any pirate links to unreleased (studio) material and, if you / your readers want good quality, non-pirated, preview tracks, then full length versions of "The High Road" (as already featured by you) and "Vaporize" are available for fans and bloggers to link to / post / host etc at www.brokenbells.com ... .. for further details of the new album, special pre-orders, on-line promotions, videos and 2010 shows, check-out the official site, as well as the artists’ MySpace at www.myspace.com/brokenbells and YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/brokenbells ... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news, preview material and on-line promotions.
Thanks again for your plug.
Regards & Season’s Greetings,
WEB SHERIFF
Monday, January 4, 2010
Life Is Music That Never Ends
Themes change.
Movements end.
Meter, timing shift.
But the sound never stops. There are periods when the music is quiet, so quiet that one can miss hearing it at all.
If you stop...and wait...the sound swells again. Life signals you when you least expect it.
THAT is truth.
When you look for something, you tend to lose sight of everything else.
When you stop looking, merely sit and listen...what you sought may come to you.
As the Rolling Stones astutely observed, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find...you get what you need."
And sometimes what you need coincides with what you want.
Is that luck? Providence?
Is life symmetrical? No, not in the least. Life is mostly unfair.
I would be willing to wager that even the most downtrodden upon this Earth have cause to celebrate and imagine that there is someone suffering more than they.
Why does this happen?
Why does there seem to be a tendency to find a balance point when by all rights we should spiral into darkness.
Many times we do not see nor hear the help all around us. We block it out.
Friends take many forms. Some will be able to help some will not be able for reasons of their own.
Like anything else of the heart, it takes chemistry.
Without that attraction we ignore the offers of solace. And that the offer itself may be a plea, we lose sight of that as well.
How we feed on pain! It is gnawing rather than nourishment It is chewing on a bone when the main course stands before you.
Why?
When the heart is full of love, We can confront the greatest obstacles, we can do the impossible.
When in despair (sorry, Marilla) we can eschew help? We can forgo food. Very similar abilities to tackle things that seem mostly beyond our capabilities.
But the timing means all the difference between feast or famine of the soul.
So when you hear nothing but your own cries you are blocking out the very music you need.
The traditions of a New Orleans funeral are to play somber memorial music on the way to the grave. On the way home, the party begins! The dirge ends and the swing begins.
Even if you don't feel it at the moment, dance...move to the music.
You and the music will synch...you will hear the change in the song.
Movements end.
Meter, timing shift.
But the sound never stops. There are periods when the music is quiet, so quiet that one can miss hearing it at all.
If you stop...and wait...the sound swells again. Life signals you when you least expect it.
THAT is truth.
When you look for something, you tend to lose sight of everything else.
When you stop looking, merely sit and listen...what you sought may come to you.
As the Rolling Stones astutely observed, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find...you get what you need."
And sometimes what you need coincides with what you want.
Is that luck? Providence?
Is life symmetrical? No, not in the least. Life is mostly unfair.
I would be willing to wager that even the most downtrodden upon this Earth have cause to celebrate and imagine that there is someone suffering more than they.
Why does this happen?
Why does there seem to be a tendency to find a balance point when by all rights we should spiral into darkness.
Many times we do not see nor hear the help all around us. We block it out.
Friends take many forms. Some will be able to help some will not be able for reasons of their own.
Like anything else of the heart, it takes chemistry.
Without that attraction we ignore the offers of solace. And that the offer itself may be a plea, we lose sight of that as well.
How we feed on pain! It is gnawing rather than nourishment It is chewing on a bone when the main course stands before you.
Why?
When the heart is full of love, We can confront the greatest obstacles, we can do the impossible.
When in despair (sorry, Marilla) we can eschew help? We can forgo food. Very similar abilities to tackle things that seem mostly beyond our capabilities.
But the timing means all the difference between feast or famine of the soul.
So when you hear nothing but your own cries you are blocking out the very music you need.
The traditions of a New Orleans funeral are to play somber memorial music on the way to the grave. On the way home, the party begins! The dirge ends and the swing begins.
Even if you don't feel it at the moment, dance...move to the music.
You and the music will synch...you will hear the change in the song.
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