Ottevanger's Omphaloskeptic Outpost

[lukeottevanger]

Shocking, but (hopefully) not appalling!

You refer to the coincidences? No, thankfully never appaling, just confirmatory. The composition of Ophrueois, particularly, was littered with many of these concidences (of time, place, symbolism, name etc. etc.) and strangely enough it was at least in part those coincidences that kept me ploughing on with what was quite a labour-intensive score - 'Come on Luke, keep going, there must be something to this piece after all....' But Ophruoeis is far from the only example.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Yes, indeed, that quasi-dominant hadn't escaped me - and it's one of those binding factors I mentioned previously, and I'm very grateful to it.

If I speak in a slightly impassive tone as if I had nothing to do with any of this, that's because to a large extent that's true. Elegy ending with a D minor chord and Ascent opening in something like G minor were foregone conclusions before any sort of planning happened, for various reasons. Likewise the prominence that G is given throughout Elegy - as the first note, as the note on which those repeated timp/cello/clarinet raps occur... - is fortuitously echoed in Ascent, which is 'all about G', as is revealed more and more, until it is finally the only note left.

Interesting. Must have another look/listen...

[karlhenning]

You refer to the coincidences? No, thankfully never appaling . . . .

No, they wouldn't be ; )

Shocked and appalled is just such an entrenched phrase . . . I was dithering. (You don't mind my dithering occasionally? I'll try to keep it quiet.)

[karlhenning]

How's the Ascent, Luke?

[lukeottevanger]

The Outpost is the place to dither, of course. Expressly desgined for the purpose. Here, we offer a home for all those who wish to dithering or to sit on a 'musing tuffet' (© Guido). 

[lukeottevanger]

How's the Ascent, Luke?

Progress is being made. But it would have been quicker simply to climb Everest, wouldn't it?

[karlhenning]

Progress is being made. But it would have been quicker simply to climb Everest, wouldn't it?

The grooming facilities are certainly unparalleled:

http://www.youtube.com/v/0F2SJS6B1wQ

[lukeottevanger]

Indeed, the facilities are unparalleled. Witness my daughter's favourite photo of Everest (hope you can read the caption):

[karlhenning]

Brave chap, answering the call at that altitude.  Things may be apt to freeze off at those temperatures . . . .

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Brave chap, answering the call at that altitude.  Things may be apt to freeze off at those temperatures . . . .

A hero, indeed.

[lukeottevanger]

It rather puts a new light on all my symbolic talk of the summit of a mountain being a single point, infinitely small (no disrespect to this climber, but the cold does seem to have shrunk things somewhat).

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

It rather puts a new light on all my symbolic talk of the summit of a mountain being a single point, infinitely small (no disrespect to this climber, but the cold does seem to have shrunk things somewhat).

Now I understand the shrinkage of your time signatures!

[Guido]

LOL!

[karlhenning]

Meter shrink . . . we can talk about it, now . . . .

[Ugh!]

39 pages, gasp, I need to apply for a research grant to browse through the outpost  A mountain indeed, but the ascent will be rewarding I am sure... 

[Guido]

39 pages, gasp, I need to apply for a research grant to browse through the outpost  A mountain indeed, but the ascent will be rewarding I am sure... 

Absolutely!

[lukeottevanger]

Yes, and it's 39 pages of continuous, searing, intense, waffle intellectual debate. Honest.

[lukeottevanger]

Almost as an aside, although Ascent is still not entirely finished, I am sorely tempted to leave it hanging for a while longer in order to embark on another orchestral project which is tempting me. If I'm right, once started, it won't be a piece which takes long to compose - I know, roughly, how it will work already - and the idea is to have two pieces to offer to the conductor of February's concert. Who knows, maybe he'll even want to do both!

Working title for the new piece, just to tantalise a little: White modulations

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Almost as an aside, although Ascent is still not entirely finished, I am sorely tempted to leave it hanging for a while longer in order to embark on another orchestral project which is tempting me. If I'm right, once started, it won't be a piece which takes long to compose - I know, roughly, how it will work already - and the idea is to have two pieces to offer to the conductor of February's concert. Who knows, maybe he'll even want to do both!

Working title for the new piece, just to tantalise a little: White modulations

Interesting news, Luke! (I haven't been very active here lately. My wireless connection ran into problems last Saturday.)

[Guido]

Working title for the new piece, just to tantalise a little: White modulations

Oooophff! Consider me tantalised.