Philip Glass - NPR Interview

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The day before the first interpreted performance of "Cyrano," I finished Philip Glass' memoir, "Words Without Music." It was a pleasure to read about his process, the challenges he didn't let keep him from pursuing what he knew was his path, and the amazing other musicians, artists, theatre people he encountered and worked with and studied with along the way. Who influenced his music and his development; how he thinks.

He was interviewed on NPR and you can listen to it from the website: "The World Music Education of Philip Glass." There is a transcript available if the audio is not accessible.

I'm taking an online poetry class right now, and this week one discussion thread is about inspiration (it's more complicated than that - but the basic premise of this particular discussion is about what inspires us as poets). For me, Philip Glass' music can be an inspiration for writing poetry; sometimes other types of writing, as well - but when I listen to his music, poetry is what tends to come out, or prose written in a more poetic style.

Yes, I am still a Philip Glass fan.

Philip Glass - Memoir + A Video

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I am currently reading Philip Glass' memoir, "Words Without Music." If you know me or have followed my posts for a while, you probably know that I am a big fan or his work. I even made a trip to Berkeley a few years ago when his "Einstein on the Beach" was being performed, because that was the closest to home on the tour.

His memoir reads more like a biography in my opinion. But he does have some good stories to tell, he met and worked with some amazing people on his journey. I am enjoying learning more about his beginnings, his passions, his day jobs, and especially more about his music. How he approached his life's work, meanings, how he developed his style, his sounds.

So since his book is my primary read outside of the theatrical scripts I'm preparing to interpret, I've also been listening to his music.

I just wanted to share one piece of his music. He has many. This was just a random video of something I found online - String Quartet No. 3 "Mishma," VI.

A Story in Pictures : Travel Ahead

Not too long to wait now. Soon I will be traveling to California for a few days off; almost a week. The purpose of the trip, as I've mentioned before, started with seeing Philip Glass' "Einstein on the Beach" in Berkeley. The length of the trip was set, but the details have expanded and changed. Now I will be visiting Bonnie Hearn Hill and her writing group one day, then to Berkeley and "Einstein...", followed by Olympia Dukakis in "Elektra" at A.C.T. in San Francisco the following day, and then a day of rest before. I return home.

Radical Writing Advice: Story Time

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As I begin typing this post, I'm not sure where it's going. Yes, I know.

But what about your platform, Dot? Your image. You should plan it better, you should know what you want to say before you put it out there.

Surely you're not going to just wing it and fly it? At least look like you have something to say!

Part of what I write about when I write about writing is the process. So that's what this writing is most likely to be about: process. And in that process, something other writers can use may emerge. Or maybe think, I'm not alone out here.

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The topic is making decisions. It is a writing related decision and it is a taking care of me as a whole person decision.

Here's the dilemma. In a couple or so weeks I'm driving down to Berkeley to see the touring performance of Philip Glass' "Einstein on the Beach." I knew I wanted to go when I first saw that it was being performed, which was a while ago. The stops of the tour weren't yet posted and I was hoping for something nearby. Berkeley is the closest stop; although I would love to see it in New York, too. But Berkeley is do-able.

I purchased my ticket and would plan the trip later. Then I decided to take a few days on either side of the 4-hour performance to have a vacation, see the sites, allow enough time to drive. Since I bought my car 18 months ago, I've wanted to take it on a long drive. The furthest I've been able to go since then is Seattle. So Berkeley seemed perfect.

Then I started thinking, "Hey, since I'll be 'in the area,' I should try to see Bonnie Hearn Hill." Being three hours away from her is "in the neighborhood" compared to our homes, which are nearly 13 hours apart. So I wrote an email and we started a correspondence about a visit.

My original - no, my second - plan was to drive half way on the day I left and stop overnight. Not push too much driving in one day. Then I thought maybe stop in Ashland, take in a play. Maybe. Then get to Berkeley the second day. Have time to chill and relax and settle; and see the performance on the third day. Then I would have a couple of days to take BART into SF, sleep in, write, walk, whatever I wanted to do. Then come home.

My original thought was drive straight through to Berkeley in one day - the day before the performance.

And, as I already said, with my second plan, I realized that since I was driving, I could pop on down to see Bonnie. It's no further than from Portland to Seattle and I've made that a day trip before. That seemed like a very good plan. Visit Bonnie and then start the trip home from Fresno and divide that up over two days.

Now it's several weeks past all of those options coming up. And I have a new option to throw into the mix.

Bonnie invited me to visit her writing group, and bring something to read. This is exciting. I've been hearing about her writing group since I was reconnected to her. I've read about it online. And it seems like a very good writing group. Of course I want to go. But, wait, it's the second day of my little vacation. At 9:30 am.

Still. Not impossible. No. But I certainly won't be staying overnight in Ashland!

For those who don't know me well, I'm a master at trying to make everything fit. If I shift this thing in my schedule and slide in that thing, and the other thing that this other person wants to do goes here, and if I skimp a little on sleep and and and. You get the picture. I did that very well. I am actually an excellent multitasker. The problem with all of this is that I sometimes forgot to take care of me or got my priorities mixed up and there were some less than optimal personal things which happened. Enough of that.

So, when I start "figuring out" - those can be trigger words.

But the opportunity to meet the members of this group is something I want to do. It seems like an opportunity that I don't want to pass up right now. And I have to be careful to not push myself physically too much in that way.

My thoughts have been:
- no, I can't make it to the group.
- I can drive all the way from Portland to Fresno in one day, crash in a hotel and sleep and go to the group.
- I can drive to Berkeley on day one; then get up early to drive to Fresno.
- no to the preceding idea; that means leaving Berkeley by 6:30a; for those who don't know, I'm not an early morning person.
... and a few others.

I've ran this idea by a few people and I think, finally, I have a plan. With flexibility. And I guess that is the key - at least for me. I will drive down towards Fresno, and stop at a town along the highway that is about 2 hours from there. Going to Berkeley adds about an hour to the total time. That way, I can get up at a more reasonable for me time and get to the writing group. And, while it will be a long drive for sure, it seems do-able and, with short stretch and restroom stops, I won't get in that late. Do-able.

And I realized that I can have this plan, and leave it open for change. I'm not going to make a hotel reservation in a nearby town - there seem to be a bunch of them along the highway. I'm going to see how I feel and what seems like a good place to stay. And it leaves it open, if I need to, to stop earlier and not go to the writing group. I don't think that will happen, but I need that option. I could be wrong about my back and knee being fine to make that long of a drive in one day - but I don't think so.

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I'm excited to meet these people.

I'm excited to see "Einstein on the Beach." All 4 hours of it. Yes.

I'm excited to get a little time away from all work. And to take a little road trip in my car.

I've checked my priorities, I've checked in with my heart and body and soul to see what is the true desire, and I believe I've found it. And I'm not closing out the option of stopping if I need to.

In a way, this is keeping writing high on my priority list. There aren't many things at this point in my life, after a few lessons the universe has handed me, that I would even consider doing this for. But to spend time with Bonnie and her writing group, to spend time talking about writing and sharing writing - this I will do.

And I believe that both the performance and the time with these accomplished and talented writers will be inspirational and an energy boost to get NaNoWriMo 2012 to a great kickoff for me, not too long after I get home.

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Yes. To Fresno and the writers. To Berkeley and the Philip Glass epic production. To me, and listening to what I need, too.

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Where I Live and Write

I like where I live: Portland, Oregon. I've thought of living other places, but Oregon is home. Oregonians take pride in being Native Oregonians, though I think those numbers are dwindling, or at the least the ratio of natives to non-natives is lower. I can't claim being a pure Native Oregonian; but I"m close. The first four years of my life were spent in a nearby state; but I've lived in Oregon since that time. Most of the time has been in Portland and there were a couple of interspersed chunks of time in Salem.
 
Sometimes I wish I would have been braver and lived somewhere else. Or wonder what opportunities I missed or how I would be different if I had lived in other cities. And if I would have come back.
 
A number of years ago my partner and I considered New York City. Probably Brooklyn. We loved it there. Loved going into Manhattan, walking around Brooklyn. I spent nearly four weeks there a few years ago, working, staying at a friend's place in Brooklyn, taking the train into Manhattan to work, to see plays, to see dance performances. I went to Prospect Park to see Philip Glass perform with the Kronos Quartet; and if you've followed my posts for long, you know I love Philip Glass' music.
 
We could see ourselves living in New York City/Brooklyn. It's so very different than here and yet there was something very familiar and comfortable.
 
In New York City I'd be at the heart of theater and publishing. I'd be in the city that never sleeps. I'd have an amazing list of performances to see year-round. We'd be able to fly to European countries so much cheaper and in so much less time. So much creativity and possibility and energy.
 
I could also see myself living in Taos, New Mexico. Sort of. Our first trip there we fell in love. I understand that there are more famous people and other people with money buying up properties and that things are changing. But I hope the downtown/oldtown plaza is still there. Still the same. It touched both of us and we talked about moving there. It really was pretty unrealistic for me as a sign language interpreter: there is a School for the Deaf in Santa Fe, which is a couple of hours away through the mesas and which, in winter, would be a challenge though I know I'd get used to it and adapt. But two hours in good weather would make it longer or impossible in the winter. And another option is a work place I know in Albuquerque, which is even farther away. So as much as we loved Taos and it touched our hearts and creative spirits, it was not practical.
 
So here I am - we are - still in Portland. I've been here many years and suppose this is where I will stay until I"m not living on the earth any longer. And that's okay.
 
This is Home. And this is where I sleep and walk, swim, work, write. There is more to explore here and I am so fortunate to have the options of beach, mountains, forests, desert all within short drives. And a bigger city experience a few hours north in Seattle. It's beautiful and I'm not sorry I've landed here, that I live here, that I haven't left.
 
I read a story about how this video was made (on KATU) and then I watched the video. Beautiful. 
 
 

Philip Glass is 75

Today is Philip Glass' birthday.

Philip Glass is an inspirational and inspired musician and his work crosses many genres. He has written operas, numerous film scores, theatrical pieces, and more. He has collaborated with many other well-known musicians; a few of my favorite collaborators are Ravi Shankar, Yoyo Ma, and Kronos Quartet.

His music has accompanied me on many creative pursuits, including silk paintings, pottery making, and his work is often playing when I write. I often drive with his music in my car sound system. I've set up a Philip Glass personal Pandora station.

Today I was driving and listening to NPR - which is where I learned that today is Glass' birthday. They also had an excerpt of an interview Ira Glass (his first cousin once removed) did with him in the late 90s, which you can listen to here. They also provide this link to listen to Movement I from his newest work, Symphony No. 9.

One other thing I learned from the NPR program is that I now have a new name for his style of music. Not that I've ever consciously tried to slot his music into any particular genre category. Anyway - NPR calls him "one of the fathers of minimalist music." That fits; I'll take it. But what I really liked is that his style is also called Pattern Music. I've never heard that style label before - but I am going to look into it. "Pattern music" seems to fit with some other things I like in terms of performance and I want to research it a little more and see where it all fits together. One example is a dance/choreography style (I'm not sure it's called "style" - dance is another area I want to learn more about) which is called scoring; also minimalist yet so effective and leaving so much room for creativity and inspiration. Pattern Music - I like it.

Thank you, Philip Glass, for all of your music.

And below are a few of my favorites, or excerpts from some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Einstein on the Beach Medley (Bed, Knee Play 4)

Einstein on the Beach: The Changing Image of Opera (1984) - Part 1

Heart Beats / Naqoyqatsi

Ragas In Minor Scale

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NaNoWriMo day 9

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Today was a long day, with a couple of two hour breaks and a haircut (thank you, Brian!). I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to make the daily average word count. But I did. I used my first break to get lunch and take a nap. Then, following my haircut, I had dinner and wrote - I got in about 1300 words. It all worked out. I then had another half hour "lunch" break at my part-time job and, since I didn't need to eat a second dinner, I - tada - wrote. I squeezed out another 850 words in about 20 minutes (if only I could maintain that pace for longer period of time, with coherence, of course).

My new total word count (yes, I made the daily average) is 16,754.

And here's a little musical/poetry/opera/performance break for all the NaNoWriters out there - or anyone else who wants to just listen for a few minutes. This is from one of my favorite composers, Philip Glass; it's "Knee 5" from Einstein on the Beach.



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Razor's Edge for 10/29/10

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NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. Yes, it is almost here. Sunday night at midnight or Monday morning at midnight depending on your perspective.

 

nanonanonano Wri Mo

 

So, as I prepare for my sink into the land of other NaNoWriters, this video I found seems to fit perfectly. And a soundtrack from one of my favorite composers: Philip Glass.

 

• Why is the first car there?
• Why is there a second car?
• Who are the people on the steps?
• What happens next?

 

Watch the video.
Set your timer for 8-10 minutes (you choose!).
Write.
Or dance - I could see this as a dance.
Go!

 

 

 

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Razor's Edge for 5/14/10

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Tonight I interpreted a play, "All in the Timing" by David Ives. I interpreted this same play at a different location several years ago and it was a positive experience that stuck in my mind. It became one of my favorite plays. It is actually six one-acts put together into one night of theatrical enjoyment; some more than others - but they're all good.

One of my favorites is "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread." People who know me know I am a Philip Glass fan. Particularly his operas, the two movies: Koyaanisqasti and the other one whose name I can't remember right now - generally his more "avant garde" music (like Knee, Einstein on the Beach). Tonight's rendition of this one-act set was not my favorite; I thought they destroyed Ives' intention of using Glass' style and made it into something different which lost all meaning of why it was even written that way. And that's just my opinion. Some audience members obviously enjoyed it - laughed, applauded. Could be my theatrical snobbery (which I don't really have; especially if you compare me to my friend and true theatrical and literary snob A.L., who even admits it from time to time) or my fondness for Glass and for the original as-written one-act. But it didn't work for me.

But even the altered one-act and the rest of the uneven production touched the pace of life around here recently. Not only by my own observation, but of my friends and the current threat of upheaval in one sector of my professional life - the pace of everything on the go, of too much and too little simultaneously, of things happening out of context or suddenly. Random. Juxtapositions that don't fit, or conflict, contrast, confuse.

S0 I decided to go with the flow, rather than against it, and have built this week's Razor's Edge around the theme of Philip Glass and time.

Razor's Edge instructions: You are, of course, free to observe the prompt parts in any order; to use one or two or all - as my writer friend, Christi, has just done in her own work, my instructions to you are to Follow The Energy. I suggest watching the video, looking at the pictures, then read the word prompt (which is part of a line in the Philip Glass one-act) and write. Write for 8 to 10 minutes. Let it rest for 5 minutes or an hour. Share what you wrote with someone. If you feel so inclined, free free to post your writing here under the comments.

VIDEO:

PICTURES:

WORDS:

I saw her lying on the beach and mistook her for ...

clip art clock is from FunDraw

photos & artwork from Serena Barton's blog
excerpt from "Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread" by David Ives

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Razor's Edge: 3/19/10

Before you look at the prompts today, let your mind drift. Close your eyes if it helps, and let your mind drift to a place of calm, quiet, and reflection. After you have let go of the things that fill your mind or pull your attention away from your creativity, inhale deep and release it slowly and steadily.

Start the music video, keep your relaxed mind open, and take in the pictures. When you feel ready or when the song has ended, let your creativity flow. Put pen to paper or fingers to keys, pick up the brush/pen/pencil, put notes on the clefts, dance.

Create.

Go - for 8 minutes. Express what is inside of you and ready to come out.




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[music by Philip Glass]

Cascade Lakes Relay: leg 33

I made this video of leg 33 of the Cascade Lakes Relay two weeks prior to the event. I went over to central Oregon to scope out part of the route in addition to doing the 10k of the Smith Rock Sunrise Classic. This was the leg I specifically trained for. I made this video so that I would know what the -1372 elevation change over 6 miles pretty constantly downhill really looked like.

Imagine this same stretch of the road with no cloud cover. The temperature was 20 degrees higher, the sun beating down on walkers and runners alike, while the baked pavement radiated the heat back up through shoes. And no rain.



Looking at the video now, it seems way different than how it was on August 1st. The road was much wider when I was a walker on the edge. The turns seemed bigger and more intense. Interesting to have the whole scope change with the change in, literally, vehicle: inside a car versus in shoes on the side. And the rain would have been welcome! It did cloud over the last couple miles of the relay, but the base temperature was still mid-90s.

The relay was an amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again next year. We're already planning.

The music is from Passages, by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar.

[note for those who may be wondering, "what's up with the little bouncing buddha thingy?": I've made periodic short videos for one of my blogs, Dashboard Buddha Films, of travel in and around the city. This video is posted there, too.]