| Sing a Song of Sith |
[Jul. 28th, 2008|11:32 am] |
This Friday, August 1st, my choir, Chicago Chorale, will be performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia. We are providing the vocal accompaniment to pieces from Star Wars as part of the John Williams tribute that evening.
For more information/tickets: Ravinia
Lawn seats are only 10$, and there's Metra trains that go there both before and after the concert. |
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| The Onion - Corrections |
[Jun. 15th, 2008|01:49 pm] |
'Last week The Onion published a photo of a man giving the evil eye. The Onion regrets not printing a Hand of Fatima on the opposite page to prevent you from losing all of your livestock, beauty, health, and offspring.' - The Onion, 6/11/08.
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| Wheel of Fortune |
[May. 20th, 2008|05:21 pm] |
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Lacking the distractions that an Xbox 360 or PS3 might offer, I have been free to dedicate myself completely to Mario Kart Wii. As a result, today I have finally gotten gold on all 150 cc circuits, opening up the dreaded Mirror Mode, where all the tracks are mirror imaged (not backwards, as I originally believed). Prior to yesterday, I was completely dedicated to using the Wii Wheel, both arms semi-extended in front of me, with turning in the game isomorphically mapped to my own actions with the wheel. This was working out fairly well both in single-player and online play, but part of me wondered if some of the complaints about this style of play that I'd been reading on the internet had any validity to them. After switching to nunchuck style of gameplay, I was able to beat the two problematic circuits in only a couple of hours, which means that not only is it a superior method, but that the learning curve is also very short. Suddenly, the game is a lot less frustrating, with the exception of le bleu carapace, which can go to hell. |
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| The Passion of Bach |
[Mar. 12th, 2008|08:50 am] |
This coming Saturday, in anticipation of Holy Week, my choir group, Chicago Chorale will be performing Bach's St. Matthew Passion. This is one of the seminal works of the Western musical tradition, and is very rarely performed in its entirety because it is so challenging for both the performers and the audience. It is less a choir work than a Passion Play opera without the staging. Bach's own intention with the work was not performance in commercial venues, but rather that it be part of the liturgical service for Holy Week, with half of the 3 hour performance broken up only by the church service in the middle. In our concert, we are thankfully having an actual intermission.
The concert is at 7 pm on Sat. Mar. 15th, with a pre-concert talk at 6pm.
Tickets and Directions. |
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| Not Like You |
[Jan. 17th, 2008|03:42 pm] |
My dad's in town for the boat show, and so while I'm waiting for the call to pick him up, I'm making him CDs with songs from The Bangles. This goes back to his visit in the summer with my 13-year-old sister in tow, where on the way to the Botanical Gardens we were listening to my CDs. My dad remarked how much he enjoyed the music, but my sister got tired of listening to it after awhile.
A continuation of the small moments of strangeness that define my life. |
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| There Will Be Cake! |
[Jan. 16th, 2008|03:34 pm] |
January 27th is my birthday, and in honor of the miraculous feat that occured on that day (which has not since been repeated), I'll be hosting my traditional birthday fete on the preceeding day of Saturday, January 26th. Consider this a formal invitation if you can read this, and if you do not have my address or phone number, presumably you can acquire that through some channel; otherwise, you should reconsider the legitimacy of your attendance...
Where: My house in Hyde Park
When: Saturday, January 26th 5pm-post midnight
What: Activities will consist of me frying things, including onion rings, chicken, mushrooms, and whatever people bring over. (Note: For people that want to throw down and bring something weird to fry, you should let me know ahead of time, because even the common french fry requires preparation before being given the Nebuchadnezzar treatment. So, if something needs to be frozen, or wrapped in wonton wrapper, or coated with pancake batter ahead of time, I can help you help me help you. Also, I'm not deep-frying bacon, because as the most perfect food, it can deep fry itself in a cast iron pan). Also, there will be cake.
What (should you bring): Yourselves, beer (if you desire such things with fried food), and any other celebratory beverage. I have a pretty diverse bar selection, but that can change over the course of the night. Also, no cake. There will already be cake; in fact, I'm eating some right now. So moist and delicious. Pies or confections are fine. But don't fret over bringing anything but yourselves. Wii will be played, fun will be had.
Feel free to let me know if you'll be in attendance in the comments. It will help the logistical planning of the day. |
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| Stand and Deliver |
[Dec. 6th, 2007|01:10 pm] |
This Sunday will be Chicago Chorale's performance of Handel's Messiah. It's at 2:30 this Sunday at Church of the Holy Family at 1040 W. Roosevelt Road. You can purchase tickets here or at the door. The location is convenient to both mass transit and parking.
Last night was the choir's first time in the space and our first and last dress rehearsal. We can only have the one dress rehearsal because that's all we can afford to pay the orchestra for, consisting as it does of 18 baroque ensemble players. Getting there early, I was able to listen to the vocal soloists singing along with the instruments and was pretty satisfied with the sound the space was capable of supporting. It's not bad, considering the place was built 150 years ago. Much better from last year, when we performed at the K.A.M Isiah Israel temple in Hyde Park, which is quiet as the tomb, though to be fair, it's not like it was designed with the 'temple choir' in mind. Another big benefit of the space is that the area where the choir and orchestra is set up is huge. And it's also tiered, so we don't have to set up any risers, which will make things less cramped and stressful. This, combined with an excellent orchestra, led to a wonderful rehearsal last night, which gives me great pleasure and anticipation for the concert this Sunday. I was somewhat less enthusiastic about this performance 2 months ago, because the Messiah performances I had been in previously hadn't been of a good quality. However, being part of a quality ensemble like this has restored my enthusiasm for this Christmas tradition. Particularly for those of you who have never heard Handel's Messiah before, I strongely encourage you to attend. |
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| Bringing Out the Dead |
[Oct. 27th, 2007|12:52 am] |
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Next weekend, November 3rd at 8 pm is my next concert with Chicago Chorale where we will be performing Jesu, Meine Freude by Bach and Howell's Requiem. The title of this posts relates to both the proximity of the concert to All Saint's Day on the ecclesiastical calender, and to the Howell's piece. Howell never intended for the piece to be performed; he composed it as a form of catharsis in response to the death of his son. It encapsulates his negative feelings towards God in response to his son's death, and after composing it, he stuck it in a desk drawer and never revealed it to anyone (though some of the themes from it did find its way into other works he did). After his death, it was discovered by some students of his, and thus an aural treasure was saved from the memory hole. The Bach piece is short but intense, in the same way that car ride through downtown Chicago at 120 mph would be short, but intense. Anyways, if anyone reading this will be attending, leave me a message in the responses field so I will know to look for you. Those unable to attend this concert should feel free to attend our Messiah performance the first Sunday in December, although if you must choose one performance to attend, I would make it this one. |
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| Dus Dus Revolution |
[Oct. 17th, 2007|10:47 am] |
Here's something for ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) mollpeartree: a Bollywood version of a popular karaoke game for the Playstation 2. Sadly it's only being released in Europe so far, and since games have region encoding akin to DVDs, we'll just have to leave the enjoyment of singing along with with the movie to the playback singers. I'll leave it to Bollywood aficionados to weigh in on the quality of the song selection, but it can't be too bad because even I recognize a few of the songs. |
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| I, for one, welcome our brain-eating overlords |
[May. 26th, 2007|07:50 pm] |
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52%Mingle2 - Free Online Dating |
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| With Strings Substitute |
[Mar. 22nd, 2007|02:15 pm] |
Next weekend is my choir group's annual Lenten Concert.
Info is here:
www.chicagochorale.org.
If you would like to purchase tickets from me directly, you presumably have my contact info. The Saturday concert is the one with a reception afterwards, but it's in Bridgeport. The space is beautiful, and is the site of all of our CD recordings. The Sunday show, however, is conveniently located downtown (near the Hancock Bldg.).
Thanks |
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| Concert |
[Nov. 17th, 2006|12:28 pm] |
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As noted in WFMT's 'Three to See', my choir group Chicago Chorale is performing Brahms's German Requiem at KAM Isiah temple in Hyde Park at 8 pm this Saturday. So, if you don't have anything better to do, I can highly recommend it. The pianos are excellent, and the space is nice as well. |
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| Random Chinese Wisdom Generator |
[Oct. 9th, 2006|01:10 pm] |
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He who wields his weapon with virtue will win the fight, but he who wields virtue as his weapon will win the day. |
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| Ow |
[Sep. 15th, 2006|05:16 pm] |
After some dithering, I've decided that getting hit by a car doesn't qualify as something requiring 'emergency' care.
Bruise pictures forthcoming. |
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| Through the Looking Glass: Sonnet LXI |
[Jun. 20th, 2006|03:43 pm] |
Near-too-all others with off far me
From where else wake dost thou, whilst I watch thee.
Forsake thy forever watchman, the play to defeat.
Rest. My, doth that love, true, own mine awake eye.
Mine keeps that love. My is it great.
So not is much, though love, thy (k)no(w).
O jealousy, thy of tenor and scope.
Theme in hours idle and shames out.
Find to pry to deeds, My!, into home from far.
So, from thee send'st thou that spirit, thy it is.
Sight, my, mock do thee to like shadows
While broken be should slumbers
My desire, thou dost.
Night weary thee to eyelids heavy.
Open keep should image they will
Thy, it is.
This is Shakespeare's Sonnet LXI...backwards. We were doing some spirit breaking against a guardian painting that was programmed using this Sonnet in princeofcairo's Dramaturgy game. Considering the purpose, which was to subdue and put to sleep a guardian spirit, it's pretty uncanny the phrases that get spelled out. Particularly, 'While broken be should slumbers/My desire, thou dost.' |
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| Goodby to Goodchild, on a very special '24' |
[Feb. 1st, 2006|11:27 pm] |
This Saturday all capable of reading this are invited to the annual eclipse of the Super Bowl by my own Birthday Party. Festivities start at 3 pm and continue until 3 am, or to the last person standing. I'm upgrading to a big black cauldron for deep frying, so the usual (chicken, mushrooms, onions, fries, etc.) will be on the menu as well as whatever people bring to be cast into the gaping mouth of the crucible of boiling oil. Also, I will be showing the complete Aeon Fluxx animated series, American Pie (which I haven't seen despite being an Allyson Hannigan afficianado), and other things from the Virgin Megastore stack. Also, I will have kaynorr bring over Guitar Hero for duelling guitar action.
In any event, please contact me through any channels you have available to let me know if you are coming so that I can purchase sufficiently excessive quantities of food. |
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| I have altered the terms of our agreement |
[Oct. 28th, 2005|04:19 pm] |
I am officially promoted to Project Manager next month, with all the rights and responsibilities that go along with that. Definately getting a cell phone, might be getting TiVo, though I don't want to get bogged down with a cable contract if I move, so I will have to think on it.
I'm especially looking forward to the vacation days before the holiday season starts, but I"m sure health insurance will also be helpful. |
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| I shall return |
[Jul. 11th, 2005|07:54 am] |
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Am going to Japan today. If anyone needs to reach me, they can do so electronically. Requests taken. Will arrive home fifteen minutes before I left on the 19th. If I'm not back by then, call the President. |
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| As though you had to guess... |
[Apr. 19th, 2005|10:16 pm] |
Androgynous
You are 52% male! | If you're a guy:
You're about as masculine as Orlando Bloom
If you're a girl:
You're about as feminine as Orlando Bloom
Note: 0% male means you're all female, 100% male means you're all male.
Okcupid won't let me change the name of the variable depending on your
score. | | |
My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: | You scored higher than 33% on male |
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| Live From WFMT |
[Apr. 18th, 2005|10:10 am] |
Turn the dial to 98.7 this evening at 8 pm and you will me and the rest of Chicago Chorale singing live from the WFMT studio.
Thanks. |
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