News for the week of 26 May 2019

Wed – Jared’s peace plan and Netanyahu’s role as Prime Minister have hit road blocks. Jared’s plan does nothing for Palestine, state-wise, except offer investment incentives. This after Trump declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel and planned to move the US embassy there increased the lopsided US diplomacy and eroded trust from all parties except Israel.

Wed – Mueller speaks to Congress about his report for ~9 minutes. Though a little unclear, he suggested that even without prosecution the investigation had to happen to get facts and witnesses on record. Also, Congress, or whomever, should follow up.

Thu – Members of the Trump administration requested that the USS John S. McCain be “hidden” from Trump during his visit to Japan. The Navy first denied then admitted that the request was made, but said that it was not fulfilled.

Thu – Trump tweets that the US will add a 10% tariff on Mexican goods on July 10th until they stop the flow of immigrants. This makes Americans pay more and makes life harsher in Mexico and so possibly increasing immigration.

Fri – Mass shooting in Virgina Beach. 13 deaths, five injuries. 148 for the year, this was the 143rd with five others on Saturday. The shooter had resigned from his city job hours before.

News for the week of 19 May 2019

Mon 20 May 2019 – Trump losing court battles regarding taxes and finances and legislation.

Mon 20 May 2019 – Russian fighter jets and bombers intercepted by US warplanes off of Alaska. Not a lot of reporting on this. Probably just a distraction from the cyber threat?

Tue 21 May 2019 – McGahn doesn’t show up to House hearings after subpoena issued.

Fri 24 May 2019 – Escalation of tension in Iran. Troops to be sent to the region and $8.1B in weapons being sold to Saudi Arabia and UAE. Effectively move moves in a proxy war.

Fri 24 May 2019 – Huawei ban continues (“trade blacklist”), Google and others granted 3 month license to continue business with them. Huawei cannot buy parts from US companies.

Orchestral Study #5 (variations)

  1. Orchestral Study #1 (flowing and hymn-like)
  2. Orchestral Study #2 (driving and chaotic)
  3. Orchestral Study #3 (adagio with melisma)
  4. Orchestral Study #4 (allegro)
  5. Orchestral Study #5 (variations)
  6. Orchestral Study #6 (space)
  7. Orchestral Study #7 (dialogue)
  8. Orchestral Study #8 (toccata)
  9. Orchestral Study #9 (seven interludes)
  10. Orchestral Study #10 (rupture, slowed down and from different angles)
  11. Orchestral Study #11 (a crowd, disassembled)
  12. Orchestral Study #12 (thesis)

I say this every time, but this one felt like a failure early in and, except for the last section, still does. It’s because the muddy harmonies and overfull orchestration that I could never get right. It reminds me of a watercolor when you layer too many colors: a grayish, uncertain mess. This one also took the longest to complete because of my unhappiness throughout. Lesson learned?

The goal was a passacaglia-type work, but I think of it now as four variations without a theme. My intent always drifts as the ideas start to reveal themselves. The first section doesn’t have the clarity to come across as a thematic jumping off point, but it does set the harmonic structure for the three sections that follow. Second section: a chatty variation with runs swapped across the instruments. Third: long held notes in the horns while oboe, bassoon, and violas jump around noisily as background radiation. Fourth: the longest and the one that flowed out very naturally. A brash, more harmonically clear and confident statement split in the middle and the ending with a more uncertain theme using solo violin, viola, and cello.

Next up may be a sonorist piece. I’m using a classical orchestra just for simplicity (it’s enough of an effort to learn with just this limited palette) so I’m not sure how well that style will communicate.

orchestral-study-5