Thursday, April 29, 2004

Isn't that Funny? Part 2

Well whaddaya know, hard work does pay off! I found out today that my linguistic humor paper won first place in the UMR 3rd Annual Writing Contest in the Humanities Research Paper category! Yay!

So I received a cool-looking, framable certificate, a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore, and a copy of the 2004 Winning Essays book that the UMR Writing Center prints every year. (However, the book won't be ready until next semester.)

To see this stinkin' awesome paper, click here.

Haha, what a joke... By the way, my Chet Atkins paper is almost finished, expect it to be posted in about a week. I actually decided to use some of the material in my previous blog post in my conclusion. I figure that this paper is about as personal as a humanities paper can get, so why not include personal points?

There are only two weeks of school left, then I'm off to work in KC! I am really excited about the prospects of working with Honeywell again, as well as seeing some old friends. I'll be living with former-CCF-worship-leader James Bruce in his house, a little north of where I lived last summer. I'm looking forward to not having my work follow me home every night. Holy moly that will be great! I'll be working on a full-length classical guitar album over the summer, I am purposing to practice more than I ever have before. Of course, I will also be preparing for the EIT, GRE, and for grad school stuff. I also will be doing a lot of reading and goofing off. Busy? Yeah, it will be fun.

This last week has been fantastic! God has been so good, so faithful, so forgiving. Praise be to God the Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives new life day by day and continues to pour his blessings richly upon us!

Focus...

Thursday, April 22, 2004

My new hero...

It is entirely unfitting for a man of true greatness to be forgotten. In my research for my music history paper, I have come to realize the dramatic effect Chet Atkins has had on my life and the lives of quite literally countless others in music and in character.

Chet's musicianship was unparalleled across the realm of American music. He single-handedly changed the face of rock'n'roll, country, jazz, and even classical music. His generosity and character touched the lives of my teachers, Kirk Hanser and John McClellan (I can call him my teacher even though I don't take lessons from him). So dramatically were they affected that as I read Chet's words and what others have spoken about him, I cannot help but realize that his musicality has, in a way, been passed down to me, to be manifested in how I approach and play classical guitar. Though, I could not possibly say I am Chet's successor, he far surpasses anything I will ever accomplish, I can see my growth as springing from him.

No guitarist should play without being a disciple of men like Chet, but not because he had impeccable technique (he did) or that he was famous (he was). He was the penultimate musician, full of life, vibrancy, and energy.

Jerry Reed said, "God was in him, God was speaking to the human race through music when Chet played! It was ethereal... I was transported, swept up in the music."

"Fight mediocrity tooth and nail -- that's my motto!"
- Chet Atkins, Certified Guitar Player

Saturday, April 17, 2004

It is done.

Making the Collegium Musicum CD in FIVE DAYS was definitely the most ambitious, insane, hair-brained idea I think I have ever accomplished.

In a period of nigh 120 hours I have recorded nearly 40 pieces of music in around 60-70 takes, engineered/mixed 25 of those songs (~60min of tracks), bought all materials, produced liner notes, printed CD labels, burned over 100 discs, assembled CD's, and while we were at it I had a radio interview to promote the show. I have done nothing this week besides work on that CD and study for the multiple exams I had this week (oh yeah, and do two homework assignments). I have stared at a computer quite literally for at least 10 hours a day. I have forgotten to eat, forgotten to shower, forgotten to sleep, and probably forgotten other stuff but I can't remember.

Yes, I am a total fool. But now this is done, and it sure feels good!

The performance is tomorrow, 2pm. CD's are $5 if I don't have to ship it. Order one, they're cool...

Saturday, April 10, 2004

Another friendly blogger...

Hey, I added another link today. Sir Omer is a good friend of mine at school and has some interesting insights into theolgy. (CB, he bought at least two of the FOUR VIEWS books!) Check out his latest post (4-9-04) for some thoughts to ponder...

Thursday, April 08, 2004

Latest news...

I have been putting my recording studio to good use this week...

The very first UMR COLLEGIUM MUSICUM cd is scheduled for release on April 18, 2004, following the annual Spring performance at Christ Episcopal Church starting at 2pm.

The cd will contain music of famous English vocal composers from the 15th and 16th centuries on the subject of "Time" as well as instrumental music for sackbutt (trombone), recorder, and *hopefully* viol.

And... we will be selling it for a measly FIVE BUCKS. That's $5 people. Let me know and I'll get you one... Limited supply!!!

So now I'm done with the shameless plug... In other news... there really isn't any other news... Spring break is over and I already miss it. Bummer. At least I have music and books... ;-)

Oh yeah, my roommate's blog is now in the links... Check out Eternal Wanderer. I can't believe he had the nerve to call me a slacker, though, he should know better than that... ;-)