According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, some 94 percent of 128th notes feel that they are viewed by musicians as notes to fear rather than notes to love and cherish. The survey found the outlook of 256th notes to be even more dismal. These statistics engendered profound sadness in my heart. Why do we, as musicians, force notes into this hurtful hierarchy? Notes no more choose than their rhythmic value than we choose our height. The two most obvious ways to bring termination to this present cycle of injustice and marginalization is to refuse to make rhythmic distinctions between notes when playing, and also boycott all musical performances and recordings that do not act likewise.
Change is needed. Equality is demanded. Do your part to make music the language of (impartial) love.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Rite of Spring the Videogame
I recently undertook the massive task of taking one of the most epic pieces in the orchestral (and ballet) repertoire - Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring - and putting into video-game form for the masses. The plot would be like the ballet's. In Stravinsky's words, “I had a fleeting vision that came to me as a complete surprise ... I saw in imagination a solemn pagan rite: sage elders, seated in a circle, watching a young girl dance herself to death. They were sacrificing her to propitate the god of spring”. Game play will consist of mashing buttons to make the young girl dance to her death. A health bar near the top of the screen will gauge progress. The background music will be Pierre Boulez's recording of the Rite with the New York Philharmonic.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
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