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Sunday, 6 April 2003
41... ::
My recent writing reflects how disturbing I’ve found the war in Iraq. I came across something else quite disturbing this morning.
So in this context, I don’t blame myself for having a hard time getting motivated to celebrate my birthday. But life goes on, and after one of my best friends turned 40 in July 2001, I realized that such celebrations are, at a broader level, important parts of how we stay connected with our social circles, whether the family or a larger group of like-minded people. And at a practical level, given that making music feels vital to staying in touch with who I am, such events are rare opportunities to share music most directly, playing live.
Justin sang and played some of his “sad love songs” with such joy, and said a couple of really heart-warming things.
I played along with a recording of David Borden’s The Continuing Story of Counterpoint, Part 9. Mark Buchanan projected visuals, which were, by all accounts, stunning; I wish I could look at such things while playing without becoming entranced and forgetting to move my fingers!
Then two of my friends/coworkers provided further demonstration that my employer’s audio software engineers could play; we did a series of group improvisations that, in retrospect, I really wish we’d recorded.
It was a wonderful evening; I felt blessed to share the company of so many warm friends, old and new.
This evening I listened to some recorded improvisations I did with my Stuck friends in NY last month, and began scrutinizing them for opportunities to compose and edit them into finished pieces, especially this one:
Hectic days rush by like dreams
Pushing me till I push back
Screaming loud as an attack
But I’m not fighting
I’m willing myself to dance
I’m willing myself to dance– © Chisa
Update (8 Apr): thanks to Ray for the photo.
References:
Kazoo (14 December 2003)
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