Comments on: A Silence, Serving It Up http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/ Ridiculous Pursuits, Solemn Matters Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:20:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: marta http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-702 marta Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:08:39 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-702 Andrew Bird is good at those kinds of juxtapositions.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('702','marta'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('702','marta','Andrew Bird is good at those kinds of juxtapositions.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Andrew Bird is good at those kinds of juxtapositions.
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]]> By: John http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-672 John Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:22:29 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-672 <a href='#comment-666' rel="nofollow">@Sarah</a> - The two B's definitely offer different rewards. (That Alex, in <i>A Clockwork Orange</i> -- book or movie -- favors "a little of the old Ludwig van" was no surprise. "A little of the old Johannes Sebastian" would make no sense at all for that character.) It always does surprise me to learn that Bach is favored by a spiritual soul, and Beethoven by an intellectual. Bach seems to me the essence of mathematical precision; Beethoven, of emotion run riot. Now that I think about it, maybe that's the key to <i>not</i> being surprised...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('672','John'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('672','John','<a href=\'#comment-666\' rel=\"nofollow\">@Sarah<\/a> - The two B\'s definitely offer different rewards. (That Alex, in <i>A Clockwork Orange<\/i> -- book or movie -- favors \"a little of the old Ludwig van\" was no surprise. \"A little of the old Johannes Sebastian\" would make no sense at all for that character.)\r\n\r\nIt always does surprise me to learn that Bach is favored by a spiritual soul, and Beethoven by an intellectual. Bach seems to me the essence of mathematical precision; Beethoven, of emotion run riot. Now that I think about it, maybe that\'s the key to <i>not<\/i> being surprised...'); return false;">Quote</a></div> @Sarah – The two B’s definitely offer different rewards. (That Alex, in A Clockwork Orange — book or movie — favors “a little of the old Ludwig van” was no surprise. “A little of the old Johannes Sebastian” would make no sense at all for that character.)

It always does surprise me to learn that Bach is favored by a spiritual soul, and Beethoven by an intellectual. Bach seems to me the essence of mathematical precision; Beethoven, of emotion run riot. Now that I think about it, maybe that’s the key to not being surprised…

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]]> By: John http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-671 John Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:06:33 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-671 <a href='#comment-653' rel="nofollow">@marta</a> - I'd never heard of Andrew Bird (hmm, and never saw a purple cow...) and had never heard "Measuring Cups," either. So I downloaded the song from Amazon and think yeah, you might be right. There's no real refrain in the song, but there are clear breaks between each verse and the next, and the start of a verse <i>is</i> signaled by a soft drumbeat or strum, and once even by Bird's voice sort of scatting between verses. (On another note, the phrase "Grimm and Gorey" is a brilliant juxtaposition.) Very nice reCaptcha. Mine is less so: skill forgets. Something else to worry about. :)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('671','John'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('671','John','<a href=\'#comment-653\' rel=\"nofollow\">@marta<\/a> - I\'d never heard of Andrew Bird (hmm, and never saw a purple cow...) and had never heard \"Measuring Cups,\" either. So I downloaded the song from Amazon and think yeah, you might be right. There\'s no real refrain in the song, but there are clear breaks between each verse and the next, and the start of a verse <i>is<\/i> signaled by a soft drumbeat or strum, and once even by Bird\'s voice sort of scatting between verses.\r\n\r\n(On another note, the phrase \"Grimm and Gorey\" is a brilliant juxtaposition.)\r\n\r\nVery nice reCaptcha. Mine is less so: skill forgets. Something else to worry about. :)'); return false;">Quote</a></div> @marta – I’d never heard of Andrew Bird (hmm, and never saw a purple cow…) and had never heard “Measuring Cups,” either. So I downloaded the song from Amazon and think yeah, you might be right. There’s no real refrain in the song, but there are clear breaks between each verse and the next, and the start of a verse is signaled by a soft drumbeat or strum, and once even by Bird’s voice sort of scatting between verses.

(On another note, the phrase “Grimm and Gorey” is a brilliant juxtaposition.)

Very nice reCaptcha. Mine is less so: skill forgets. Something else to worry about. :)

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]]> By: Sarah http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Sarah Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:53:06 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-666 Not sure which one you mean because so many of Beethoven's pieces are structured like that- which is why people usually either love or loathe him, depending on how they react to that suspense. I've always been a Bach lover myself- I've had enough tension for a lifetime, which, unfortunately, meant I struggled with allowing the tension to build in my novel...<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('666','Sarah'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('666','Sarah','Not sure which one you mean because so many of Beethoven\'s pieces are structured like that- which is why people usually either love or loathe him, depending on how they react to that suspense. I\'ve always been a Bach lover myself- I\'ve had enough tension for a lifetime, which, unfortunately, meant I struggled with allowing the tension to build in my novel...'); return false;">Quote</a></div> Not sure which one you mean because so many of Beethoven’s pieces are structured like that- which is why people usually either love or loathe him, depending on how they react to that suspense. I’ve always been a Bach lover myself- I’ve had enough tension for a lifetime, which, unfortunately, meant I struggled with allowing the tension to build in my novel…
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]]> By: John http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-660 John Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:57:47 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-660 <a href='#comment-658' rel="nofollow">@Sarah</a> - Dang -- I should've just asked you! :) That was WAY more coherent than my own description of the effect, and yeah, that seems to be it. (Did do a Google search on the phrase "penultimate note" -- haven't seen any country-music references yet, mostly classical, but looks like it might be the official name after all.) Until I moved here to the Deep South in the 1990s, I had heard very little country music unless it had also crossed over to pop/Top 40 radio. Even thereafter, though, it's only been in the last few years that I've really <i>listened</i>-listened, if you know what I mean. To embarrass myself further, I'll say that there's "a Beethoven symphony" (I want to say the 1st) which has a movement consisting of a long series of musical teases, the intensity of which mounts to the point that it almost becomes impossible NOT to realize you're being kept in suspense. The payoff, when it finally arrives, is very welcome.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('660','John'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('660','John','<a href=\'#comment-658\' rel=\"nofollow\">@Sarah<\/a> - Dang -- I should\'ve just asked you! :) That was WAY more coherent than my own description of the effect, and yeah, that seems to be it.\r\n\r\n(Did do a Google search on the phrase \"penultimate note\" -- haven\'t seen any country-music references yet, mostly classical, but looks like it might be the official name after all.)\r\n\r\nUntil I moved here to the Deep South in the 1990s, I had heard very little country music unless it had also crossed over to pop\/Top 40 radio. Even thereafter, though, it\'s only been in the last few years that I\'ve really <i>listened<\/i>-listened, if you know what I mean.\r\n\r\nTo embarrass myself further, I\'ll say that there\'s \"a Beethoven symphony\" (I want to say the 1st) which has a movement consisting of a long series of musical teases, the intensity of which mounts to the point that it almost becomes impossible NOT to realize you\'re being kept in suspense. The payoff, when it finally arrives, is very welcome.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> @Sarah – Dang — I should’ve just asked you! :) That was WAY more coherent than my own description of the effect, and yeah, that seems to be it.

(Did do a Google search on the phrase “penultimate note” — haven’t seen any country-music references yet, mostly classical, but looks like it might be the official name after all.)

Until I moved here to the Deep South in the 1990s, I had heard very little country music unless it had also crossed over to pop/Top 40 radio. Even thereafter, though, it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve really listened-listened, if you know what I mean.

To embarrass myself further, I’ll say that there’s “a Beethoven symphony” (I want to say the 1st) which has a movement consisting of a long series of musical teases, the intensity of which mounts to the point that it almost becomes impossible NOT to realize you’re being kept in suspense. The payoff, when it finally arrives, is very welcome.

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]]> By: Sarah http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-658 Sarah Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:12:41 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-658 When I was a singer back in high school (Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Folk, etc) we called that note the penultimate note, though I doubt that's an official term. I don't hear a specific note being played in the silence you mention in these two songs, but the intention is to play or sing the penultimate note in such a way that there is a quality of sustained tension that carries the listener over the silence, or shift, and into the next part of the song, or in these two cases, the chorus. This effect is often especially noticable in country music, which likes to signal its intention that "here comes the chorus!" hence the common effect of a big chord strum. It's a very hard thing to teach, or quantify- it has more to do with knowing eactly how to maintain a connection through such a shift, by somehow moving toward the next note with your whole being. Think of a trapeze artist- they let go of one bar to catch the next, but if they do it with enough grace, movement and intention, you hardly notice they ever let go of one to grab the other, but you do know that "here is something new". If watcher does notice long enough to actually begin to wonder or worry if the connection will be made, then you've broken the spell of seamless movement.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('658','Sarah'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('658','Sarah','When I was a singer back in high school (Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Folk, etc) we called that note the penultimate note, though I doubt that\'s an official term. I don\'t hear a specific note being played in the silence you mention in these two songs, but the intention is to play or sing the penultimate note in such a way that there is a quality of sustained tension that carries the listener over the silence, or shift, and into the next part of the song, or in these two cases, the chorus. This effect is often especially noticable in country music, which likes to signal its intention that \"here comes the chorus!\" hence the common effect of a big chord strum. It\'s a very hard thing to teach, or quantify- it has more to do with knowing eactly how to maintain a connection through such a shift, by somehow moving toward the next note with your whole being. Think of a trapeze artist- they let go of one bar to catch the next, but if they do it with enough grace, movement and intention, you hardly notice they ever let go of one to grab the other, but you do know that \"here is something new\". If watcher does notice long enough to actually begin to wonder or worry if the connection will be made, then you\'ve broken the spell of seamless movement.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> When I was a singer back in high school (Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Folk, etc) we called that note the penultimate note, though I doubt that’s an official term. I don’t hear a specific note being played in the silence you mention in these two songs, but the intention is to play or sing the penultimate note in such a way that there is a quality of sustained tension that carries the listener over the silence, or shift, and into the next part of the song, or in these two cases, the chorus. This effect is often especially noticable in country music, which likes to signal its intention that “here comes the chorus!” hence the common effect of a big chord strum. It’s a very hard thing to teach, or quantify- it has more to do with knowing eactly how to maintain a connection through such a shift, by somehow moving toward the next note with your whole being. Think of a trapeze artist- they let go of one bar to catch the next, but if they do it with enough grace, movement and intention, you hardly notice they ever let go of one to grab the other, but you do know that “here is something new”. If watcher does notice long enough to actually begin to wonder or worry if the connection will be made, then you’ve broken the spell of seamless movement.
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]]> By: marta http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-653 marta Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:40:53 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-653 I'm too intimidated and never sure what I'm listening for. I thought of the song Measuring Cups by Andrew Bird, but then I thought maybe not. If something else occurs to me, I'll let you know. Oh, and the recaptcha today--twice charming<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('653','marta'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('653','marta','I\'m too intimidated and never sure what I\'m listening for. I thought of the song Measuring Cups by Andrew Bird, but then I thought maybe not. If something else occurs to me, I\'ll let you know.\r\n\r\nOh, and the recaptcha today--twice charming'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I’m too intimidated and never sure what I’m listening for. I thought of the song Measuring Cups by Andrew Bird, but then I thought maybe not. If something else occurs to me, I’ll let you know.

Oh, and the recaptcha today–twice charming

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]]> By: John http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-647 John Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:40:08 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-647 <a href='#comment-643' rel="nofollow">@marta</a> - Thanks. Love to know if you come up with any others. Er, this assumes that I actually made it clear what to look for.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('647','John'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('647','John','<a href=\'#comment-643\' rel=\"nofollow\">@marta<\/a> - Thanks. Love to know if you come up with any others. Er, this assumes that I actually made it clear what to look for.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> @marta – Thanks. Love to know if you come up with any others. Er, this assumes that I actually made it clear what to look for.
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]]> By: marta http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2008/10/a-silence-serving-it-up/comment-page-1/#comment-643 marta Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:03:17 +0000 http://johnesimpson.com/blog/?p=1230#comment-643 I love music but am terrible at talking about it or understanding it. Now you've made me want to go check a few songs for the moment and see if I understand what you're trying to point out.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('643','marta'); return false;">Reply</a> - <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('643','marta','I love music but am terrible at talking about it or understanding it. Now you\'ve made me want to go check a few songs for the moment and see if I understand what you\'re trying to point out.'); return false;">Quote</a></div> I love music but am terrible at talking about it or understanding it. Now you’ve made me want to go check a few songs for the moment and see if I understand what you’re trying to point out.
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